What to do
IUPAC|CHAINS2023 is the reason to go to The Hague in The Netherlands. If you are already here: stay, enjoy and explore everything The Hague and surrounding cities have to offer. Below you can find some inspiration of sites to visit close to the venue: interesting for you and your accompanying partners.
The displayed distance is measured from the venue World Forum in The Hague.
About:
Kunstmuseum Den Haag is one of Europe’s largest art museums with 160,000 works of art. The museum has a leading collection of modern and contemporary visual art, fashion and applied art. With no fewer than 300 of his works of art, it is also the international home of Piet Mondrian. Only here does Mondrian’s life and development towards abstract art unfold before your eyes. And that among famous predecessors and contemporaries such as Monet, Picasso and Kandinsky and followers such as Sol Lewitt, Francis Bacon and Louise Bourgeois. In addition, the museum has one of the world’s finest and largest collections of Delft Blue. From typical blue-white to sparkling red, snow-white and even Delft black; from 17th century flower vases to contemporary tulip vases by Dutch designers.
For more information about current and upcoming exhibitions look at their website: https://www.kunstmuseum.nl/en/exhibitions
Kunstmuseum presents its internationally leading art in one of our most important masterpieces: the beautiful Art Deco building by the architect H.P. Berlage. The building is an ode to beauty: it makes the art shine and visitors feel at home. In the intimate cabinets, beautiful corridors and monumental hall, daylight radiates everywhere, and the building exudes quality and luxury. From the bronzed brass to marble floorboards, from beautifully woven bricks to brightly coloured tile fields. The Kunstmuseum is a work of art for the arts. This special combination of architecture, art and beauty visits the Kunstmuseum unique and a must see during a visit to The Hague.
Contact details:
Kunstmuseum Den Haag
Stadhouderslaan 41
NL-2501 CB Den Haag
www.kunstmuseum.nl/en
About:
The Dutch theme park is a fun day out for young and old alike. Visit the whole country in just one day! Discover the highlights and heritage of the Netherlands in Madurodam through over 338 model buildings, the remarkable stories behind our attractions, and numerous interactive activities. Visit Klein Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum, the Royal Palace or see what a real Dutch cheese market looks like. You can even weigh yourself in cheese here. Everything is built to a scale of 1:25 including miniature trains, boats, and cars driving around. Visit our attractions to learn more about the rich history of the Netherlands. Enjoy remarkable stories, such as the ability of the Dutch to turn water into land. And did you know that New York used to be Dutch?
Contact details:
George Maduroplein 1,
2584 RZ The Hague
https://www.madurodam.nl/en
About:
It is the seat of the International Court of Justice, the only judicial organ of the United Nations not located in New York, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. This beautiful Neo-Renaissance style building, which was the winning design of an architecture competition in the early nineteen hundreds, and the organisations it houses have given The Hague worldwide recognition as the international city of Peace and Justice.
The Eternal Peace Flame burns beside the entrance to the Peace Palace. The first peace flame in the Netherlands was placed beside the entrance gates to the Peace Palace on 18 April 2002. The monument bears the inscription: “May all beings find peace”. Since 2004, the monument has been surrounded by the World Peace Path, which consists of a path of 196 large and small stones from 196 countries. Some of these stones are unique: they include, for example, a piece of stone from the Berlin Wall and a stone from Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for many years.
The Peace Palace can be viewed under the supervision of a guide. Booking in advance is required. An interactive exhibition can be viewed in the Visitor Centre.
Contact details:
Carnegieplein 2,
2517 KJ Den Haag
https://www.vredespaleis.nl/?lang=en
About:
The Palace Noordeinde (‘Paleis Noordeinde’) with its gracefully landscaped garden is situated on the Noordeinde. Compared to other European palaces, Noordeinde is modest and located at a wonderful location on one of The Hague’s shopping streets. After looking at the latest fashion, you could suddenly find yourself at the gates of this working palace.
Palace Garden
The Palace Garden is located behind Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, next to the Royal Stables. The garden is open to the public daily. Frederik Hendrik, the son of William of Orange, had the gardens landscaped for his mother at the beginning of the seventeenth century. Known in those days as the ‘Princesses’ Garden’, the park was full of romantic flowerbeds, ponds, fountains and marble statues. The garden was given to the Municipality of The Hague in the twentieth century and it is now a normal park by Dutch standards, as well as a great place to picnic on summer days. Bask in this wonderfully regal setting for a while, sandwiched between the Royal Stables, the working Noordeinde Palace and the Royal Archives.
Noordeinde
The chic Noordeinde district of Willem-Alexander’s working palace is primarily known for its distinctive fashion boutiques, galleries and art and antiques dealers located in beautiful art nouveau buildings. Jewellers, antique dealers and galleries are interspersed with coffee cafés and restaurants, which makes Noordeinde worth visiting for anyone. During four weekends in the summer the palace is open for visits.
Accessibility
Noordeinde is easy to reach by car, tram and bike. There are plenty of parking opportunities in the vicinity. The nearest parking garages are Noordeinde parking in Heulstraat and Parkstraat parking garage in Oranjestraat. Noordeinde is a fifteen-minute walk from Central Station. A number of trams stop at the Kneuterdijk stop.
Contact details:
Noordeinde 68,
2514 GG The Hague
https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/noordeinde-palace
About:
Since its opening on July 18, 2015, De Pier has been open daily and all year round. De Pier has been completely renovated and converted into a real Food Boulevard where you will find a high-quality range of street food concepts, restaurants, bars, innovative shops, our Ferris wheel and our 11 luxury PierSuites.
Contact details:
Strandweg,
2586 JK Den Haag
https://www.pier.nl/en/
About:
The Mauritshuis is not only located in a beautiful 17th-century city palace, furthermore it is one of the 14 best art museums in the world according to the online art platform “Artspace”.
The Mauritshuis shows the best of Dutch paintings from the time of Rembrandt and Vermeer. In the heart of The Hague is the world-famous collection, with masterpieces such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, The Goldfinch by Fabritius, and The Bull by Potter.
Collection
The Mauritshuis has been officially a museum since 1822 and has been given the name Royal Picture Gallery. The permanent collection consists of more than 200 paintings by Dutch and Flemish masters by Stadtholder William V, Prince of Orange (1748–1806), each with a special story. In 2022, the Mauritshuis will celebrate its 200th anniversary as a museum and this will be celebrated grandly with exhibitions and events.
Contact details:
Mauritshuis
Plein 29,
2511 CS Den Haag
https://www.mauritshuis.nl/en/
About:
The Louwman Museum is a place where you can admire 130 years of progress, technical innovation, and design in a unique collection of 275 showpieces. The unique private collection, collected by two generations of the Louwman family, represents passion and conveys a beautiful picture of the development of mobility. From the first electric car, which is already more than a century old, to the most dazzling designs of the 20th century. Be inspired and immerse yourself in the history of the automobile during your visit.
The collection includes Ferraris, Maseratis, Alfa Romeos, and other well-known sports and racing cars. Cars that were once used by famous people like Elvis Presley, James Bond, Steve McQueen, and Sir Winston Churchill are also part of the collection. In addition to the extensive automobile collection, the Louwman Museum offers much more. The special collections of art in cars, miniatures, posters, trophies, and even airplanes also invite you to visit.
Enjoy grandma’s apple pie with fresh brewed coffee, a delicious seasonal salad, or the dutch Bitterballen with a drink. This extraordinary restaurant on Museumplein serves traditional food and drinks at any time of your visit. The room is characterized by the high ceiling and the historic shops with characteristic facades.
Contact details:
Leidsestraatweg 57,
2594 BB Den Haag
tours@louwmanmuseum.nl
https://www.louwmanmuseum.nl/en/
Innovation plays a major role in today’s world. To Delft, this is nothing new, though. The historic town has seen the creative forces of innovation at work for centuries. Delft potters were already successfully manufacturing the ever-popular Chinese porcelain 400 years ago. Delft blue earthenware has been the city’s most important export since the 16th century. Delft’s own Johannes Vermeer was the first painter to use the camera obscura and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek invented the microscope in Delft. Clearly, the spirit of innovation has been alive in Delft ever since. Despite its rich heritage, Delft has its sights firmly set on the future. Making history the Delft way means pushing the envelope, technologically and culturally. The city boasts leading knowledge institutions like TNO and the Delft University of Technology, well-known museums, and interesting galleries. We also offer the much-loved back streets and the intimate, tree-lined squares with their lively terraces bursting with atmosphere. Delft’s historic city center is a favorite haunt of visitors and the city’s highly educated, internationally-oriented inhabitants alike. Delft’s must-sees? We cannot choose. As the city is compact, its treasures can be easily explored on foot. Will you tell us your experiences?
Follow in the footsteps of Rotterdam’s locals, to experience the city as it really is. For local delicacies, visit the Rotterdamse Oogstmarkt, a delicious and sustainable farmers’ market on Noordplein. Look for yourself in the 1664 mirrors of Depot Boijmans Van Beuningen, the very first public art depot in the world. Take a watertaxi to Marconistraat: the port industry can still be felt here, alongside the new Makers District M4H, which houses a lot of creatives (Studio Roosegaarde, Atelier Van Lieshout). Rent a bike to explore the area, take a look at the Floating Farm where futuristic farming takes place. Then visit the nearby Weelde, a creative free state where you can stop for a drink and a snack. The most beautiful park is Het Park at the Euromast, where lush greenery and iconic architecture meet right next to the city centre. When visiting Het Park, don’t forget to stop by the hidden historic gardens of Schoonoord. More local tips? Check www.dorotterdam.com.
The city of Amsterdam looks back on a long and exciting history, priding itself on a rich cultural life, stunning architecture and a diverse population. In every neighbourhood, you will find a lively range of restaurants, cultural venues and attractions. Though the coronavirus outbreak has put some activities on hold, there is still plenty to enjoy safely. If you’ve only got a day (or even a few hours) to explore Amsterdam, you’ll want to get the most out of your time here. Thankfully, it’s possible to get a good taste of the city’s best sights, attractions and experiences if you know where to go. The Hortus Botanicus offers a tranquil haven from the hustle and bustle of the city surrounding it and contains over 6,000 different indigenous and non-native trees and plants. LAB111 is a quirky cult cinema located in a monumental old pathological anatomical laboratory in Amsterdam. And, at Micropia, you’ll experience the smallest and most successful of life forms. Experience the city as the locals do with this page dedicated to all of the city’s hidden gems and off-the-beaten-track adventures. Ready to plan your trip?
Other activities
Music Festival
Combine visiting the Netherlands with visiting a music festival. Dutch Valley is one week earlier and Mysteryland directly connects to the congress.
More information can be found here
Amusement Parks
Would you rather visit an amusement park prior to or after the congress? We recommend the Efteling for a fairy tale experience and Walibi Holland for a more thrilling adventure.
Escape Room
In Voorburg (only 40 minutes by public transport from the venue) you can play Molly’s Game with 2-5 players. This escape room is designed by Down the Hatch and was voted #2 in the 2022 Top Escape Rooms Projects Enthusiasts’ Choice Awards (TERPECA).
Visit their website for more information and book your spot!
“After 400 games this is the most well designed room I’ve played. The level of attention to detail throughout this room creates an incredibly immersive atmosphere and the game flow is simply perfect. Sharing any more would spoil the experience – go play this game!”