Geography of The Hague
Hague, The, (Dutch: 's Gravenhage or Den Haag), Netherlands, a city, the seat of the Dutch government, and the capital of Zuid (South) Holland province. It lies near the North Sea, 32 miles (51 km) southwest of central Amsterdam. While Amsterdam is officially designated as the national capital, all government business is conducted at The Hague, where the sovereign resides. Among government buildings surrounding the Binnenhof, or Inner Court, is the 13th-century Ridderzaal (Hall of the Knights). Parliament meets nearby. Mauritshuis Art Gallery, built as a palace in the 17th century, has a fine collection of Rembrandt paintings. The Hague has almost no heavy industry.
The Hague has been one of Europe's chief diplomatic centers since the 1700's. The Palace of Peace was completed here in 1913 with funds donated by Andrew Carnegie. It has housed the Permanent Court of Arbitration, Permanent Court of International Justice, and International Court of Justice.
Population: 442,356.