Zuiderpark a.k.a. South Park

In only ten minutes from the centre of The Hague, you have a fantastic park called Zuiderpark.

This park is very popular by the citizens of The Hague. There is a variety of things to do like: jogging, rollerskating, skateboarding and many more. This is also an outstanding place for a picnic or a family barbecue.

In the summer there is every year a free pop festival.
Parkpop is grown to a festival with almost 250.000 visitors.
Also in summer there are stand up comedians playing in the open theater.

For all those people who are getting hungry. There is a opportunity to eat pancakes in restaurant "de Paviljoen".

Madurodam was officially opened on 2 July 1952. This amusement park has a very interesting history. It was established for two reasons: as a war monument and as a charity foundation. The joint initiators were Mrs. B. Boon-van der Starp and Mr. and Mrs. J.M.L. Maduro.

Madurodam has always had a special relation with the Dutch Royal Family. It was a great surprise when the then Queen of the Netherlands, Juliana, consented that her daughter, the 14-year old Crown Princess Beatrix, should become the mayor of the miniature city. Until her accession to the throne in 1980 she fulfilled her job as mayor. Through the years, many members of the Royal Family have attended special events in Madurodam. On 2 July 2002 Queen Beatrix revealed the new Golden Coach on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Madurodam.

All the models, railway lines and decorations are manufactured by Madurodam itself. A lot of work goes into readying a model to be installed in the miniature town. For example, the model of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol took two years and four months to complete. Madurodam staff calculate the scaled down dimensions on the basis of architectural drawings. Moreover, detailed photographs are taken of the real building. The plastic (it used to be wood) is cut to the right shape and dimensions using a moulding cutter. Then the decorators and technicians finish the building. Because the models have to spend an average of 30 years outside they receive regular maintenance.
To show the Dutch street image as realistic as possible, a great attention is given to the surroundings of the scale models. Plants are an important part of that. Madurodam primarily uses small-leafed trees and shrubs and frequent pruning is the only way they can keep these trees down to sixty centimetres when they normally grow to be fifteen metres high. Some trees have been here since the miniature city was opened.

Madurodam is one of the places in the Hague you've to visit. Especially for the kids, it's fun city!!!

The opening times: 13 March up to 25 April daily: 9:00 - 20:00 and from 26 April to 31 August daily: 9:00 - 22:00