The Hague

The Hague breathes coffee. For centuries, the aroma of freshly roasted beans has set the city’s rhythm. From luxurious salons in the seventeenth century to today’s trendy espresso bars, coffee acts as a bond between people from all walks of life.

In 1664, the first Dutch coffeehouse opened on the Korte Voorhout. Coffee was expensive then, reserved for the well‑to‑do. Yet the beverage quickly grew in popularity. Around 1750, the average resident of The Hague preferred coffee over beer, thanks in part to large‑scale imports from Java. The Hague dialect still knows the term Haags bakkie for a half‑full cup and bakkie pleur for a strong black coffee.

The coffee landscape changed again in 1934 when Wiener Konditorei introduced the first espresso machine. This move ushered in the era of Italian coffee style, with compact shots and creamy crema. Cafés became meeting places where politics, art and sport were discussed over a steaming espresso.

- Lola Bikes & Coffee, Noordeinde, combines cycling culture and top-quality coffee, with no laptops to encourage conversation.
- Koffiebranderij BOON roasts on-site and lets guests choose their own bean for a personalized filter or espresso.
- Single Estate Coffee Roasters in the Zeeheldenkwartier serves traceable single‑origin coffees; barista champions showcase their skills there.
- Capriole Café on the Fokkerkade is housed in an old paint factory, and in 2018 it won the title 'Most Beautiful Coffee Bar'.
- Hop & Stork in the Passage combines latte art with artisanal chocolate and treats guests to a complimentary bonbon.

These spots show how The Hague brings together craftsmanship, design and a sense of community. Smaller coffee houses, often generations old, also open early to provide construction workers and market traders with a simple cup of comfort. In this way, tradition lives alongside innovation.

The Dutch drink an average of 8.4 kilos of coffee per year. Residents of The Hague stick to two fixed coffee‑timemoments: late morning and mid‑afternoon. At home, filter coffee still dominates thanks to its simplicity and familiar flavour.

At the same time, demand for premium and ethically responsible beans is growing. More and more cafés offer single‑origin pour‑overs, flat whites and plant‑based milk. Young professionals consciously choose direct‑trade, while tourists like to koffie verkeerd (Dutch café au lait) try a koffie verkeerd, half coffee, half milk.

Since 2015, The Hague has held the title of Fairtrade Municipality. More than 160 local businesses have served certified coffee since then. Municipal buildings serve only Fairtrade drinks and make this visible in their showcases.

- During Fairtrade Week, market stalls and festivals promote fair‑trade coffee.
- Start‑up Ge‑zwam collects used coffee grounds with an electric van and cultivates oyster mushrooms on them.
- More and more businesses use a deposit system for reusable cups such as WeCup.
– Hotels recycle coffee grounds into soap and scrubs, turning waste into value.

These initiatives reduce CO₂ emissions and enrich the city with circular solutions, National plans such as the Green Deal Coffee for compostable pads are also gaining local support.

The Hague remains a testing ground for sustainable innovations and flavourful experiments, From coffee candy Haagse Hopjes to barista competitions, the city cherishes its rich coffee culture and continues to add new chapters, A next visit to the royal city therefore is not complete without a freshly brewed Haags bakkie in a café of choice.