The Binnenhof is the cluster of buildings around an inner courtyard in the centre of The Hague where the Dutch parliament has met for centuries. It grew out of a 13th-century hunting lodge of the Counts of Holland, and its Gothic Ridderzaal (Hall of Knights) still hosts the King's Speech each September. Right now the whole complex is closed for a major renovation, expected to last until summer 2031, but its best face, reflected in the Hofvijver pond, is still there to see.
The Binnenhof at a glance
- Where: between the Hofvijver pond, the Buitenhof and the Plein in central The Hague
- Built: from 1229, when Count Floris IV bought land here; the Ridderzaal dates from the second half of the 13th century
- What it is today: the seat of the Dutch parliament, the prime minister's office and ministries, currently a construction site; parliament works in temporary premises elsewhere in the city
- Time needed: 30 minutes for a walk around the outside and along the Hofvijver
From hunting lodge to parliament
In 1229 Count Floris IV of Holland acquired land by a pond at the edge of the dunes for a hunting lodge. His son, Count William II, began a great reception hall but died in 1256 before he could use it; his grandson Floris V finished it. First called the Great Hall, it later became known as the Ridderzaal. Around it grew the inner court that gives the Binnenhof its name, while the village of The Hague grew around the court.
Later the complex housed the States of Holland, the States General and the stadtholders of the House of Orange. In 1619 the statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was beheaded on a scaffold in front of the Ridderzaal after a political and religious power struggle with Prince Maurits. Since 1849 the Senate has met in the former hall of the States of Holland, and the House of Representatives sat in the old ballroom of Stadtholder William V until 1992. The prime minister has worked in the small tower called the Torentje since 1982.
What to look for
- The view across the Hofvijver from the Lange Vijverberg: the long row of parliament buildings rising straight out of the water, with the Torentje on the corner.
- The Torentje, a small octagonal 14th-century tower first used as a summer house by the counts and now the prime minister's office.
- The twin towers and big rose window of the Ridderzaal, visible over the scaffolding from the gates.
- The Stadhouderspoort, the gate completed in 1621 that was reserved for the stadtholder, on the Buitenhof side.
- The statue of Oldenbarnevelt on the Lange Vijverberg, facing the place where he was executed.
A ceremony that has moved out
On Prinsjesdag, the third Tuesday of September, the King rides in a royal coach from Noordeinde Palace to read the Speech from the Throne to both houses of parliament, and the government presents its budget the same day. The Ridderzaal is the traditional setting, but while the Binnenhof is being renovated the ceremony takes place at a temporary venue nearby, so check where it is held if you are in town that week.
Tips for your visit
- Go to the Lange Vijverberg in the early morning or at dusk for the classic reflection of the Binnenhof in the Hofvijver.
- Expect fences and scaffolding until about summer 2031; the courtyard is not open to visitors during the works.
- Walk around the complex clockwise from the Buitenhof to the Plein to see the gates and façades from every side.
- Combine it with the Mauritshuis, which stands on the corner of the Hofvijver right next to the Binnenhof.
Nearby
- Mauritshuis: a 17th-century palace with Dutch Golden Age paintings, including Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring; next door.
- Gevangenpoort: the last surviving outer gate of the counts' castle, used as a prison for centuries and now a museum; a couple of minutes' walk.
- Het Plein: a square of cafés and government buildings with a statue of William the Silent, just behind the Binnenhof.
- Prince William V Gallery: a small 18th-century picture gallery next to the Gevangenpoort, with paintings hung frame to frame.
See The Hague with World City Trail
Our The Hague scavenger hunt turns the city centre into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around two hours, with about 36 minutes of walking. It includes places such as Escher in Het Paleis, the Mauritshuis and Het Plein.
If you prefer a different format, The Hague also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play The Hague scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of The Hague →
Play the outdoor escape game in The Hague →
Facts checked in October 2026.