Koninklijke Haagsche
The Royal Hague plays over some of the most dramatic golfing dunes in continental Europe at Wassenaar, minutes from The Hague. The current course dates from 1938, designed by Harry Colt's firm with C.H. Alison leading the work, and it is regularly rated the finest course in the Netherlands: a par 72 of about 6,251 yards where the wind and the land do the defending.
Photo: Chris van Eijk via Google.
The verdict
The Haagsche is the oldest golf club in the Netherlands, founded in 1893, and since 1938 it has occupied a heaving stretch of coastal duneland at Wassenaar that most architects could only dream of being handed. Harry Colt's firm drew the plans and C.H. Alison led the build, his signature visible in the deep, boldly flashed bunkers and the dramatic green sites benched into the sand hills. The Royal title is no decoration either; the club has long ties to the Dutch royal family.
What makes the Royal Hague special is the scale of the land. The fairways rise and plunge through dunes bigger than many true seaside links enjoy, blind shots and heroic carries follow one another, and the wind off the nearby North Sea changes the course daily. It tops the Dutch rankings year after year, and with weekday visitor access and The Hague's hotels ten minutes away, it is the essential round on any Netherlands golf trip, ideally paired with Kennemer and Noordwijkse for the full Dutch dunes triangle.
Koninklijke Haagsche at a glance
- Course opened
- 1938
- Designer
- Colt firm, C.H. Alison
- Type
- Dunes
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,251 yds
- Green fee
- About 250 EUR
Designer, course date, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. The club was founded in 1893; the present Wassenaar course opened in 1938. Published visitor fees are about 250 euros per person, about 155 euros for members of Dutch NGF affiliated clubs and about 65 euros when introduced by a member (indicative, 2026 published rates). Always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The round moves immediately into the big dunes, and the early holes establish the rhythm: drives over crests to fairways you trust rather than see, then approaches to greens set in natural amphitheaters of sand and sea buckthorn. Alison's bunkering is the punctuation, deep faces cut into the dune slopes exactly where a slightly loose shot wants to finish.
The mid round stretch through the highest ground is the heart of the course. Several par 4s play from elevated tees across valleys, the wind quartering and the correct line shifting daily, and the par 3s ask for everything from a flighted short iron to a driven long one. At about 6,251 yards the card looks gentle; into a sea wind the course plays every bit a championship test, which is why it has hosted the Dutch Open and the KLM Open across the decades.
The closing holes descend toward the clubhouse with The Hague's skyline beyond the dunes, demanding two of the day's most precise approaches when the match is usually still alive. It is golf of constant movement and decision, the kind of classical design that explains why architects still make pilgrimages to study Colt and Alison's work here.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Visitors welcome Monday to Thursday, and Friday before 11 am; weekends are for members |
| Green fee | About 250 euros per person; about 155 euros for members of NGF affiliated Dutch clubs; about 65 euros if introduced by a member (indicative, 2026) |
| Requirements | Valid handicap certificate from your home club; handicap limit 24; four ball groups are not allowed |
| Booking | Book in advance through the club office; spring and autumn weekdays offer the best availability |
| Getting there | Wassenaar, about 15 minutes from The Hague and 40 minutes from Amsterdam Schiphol |
| Best months | May to October for the best turf and light; the dunes drain superbly, so shoulder season golf is excellent |
Access rules and fees verified June 2026 from the club's published visitor information; policies change, so always confirm directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The Hague is the natural base, ten to fifteen minutes from the club, with grand hotels around the government quarter and the beach resort of Scheveningen on its doorstep. Wassenaar itself is one of the Netherlands' most exclusive villages, leafy and quiet, with boutique stays close to the gates.
The smart itinerary bases once and plays three. The Dutch dunes triangle puts the Royal Hague, Kennemer at Zandvoort and Noordwijkse within 45 minutes of each other along the coast, three Colt era dunes courses that together stand comparison with any short golf trip in continental Europe. Amsterdam is under an hour away for the bookend nights.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around The Hague.
Build a Netherlands golf trip
We arrange the Royal Hague tee times within the visitor windows, pair it with Kennemer and Noordwijkse and book the hotels between them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Koninklijke Haagsche questions
Who designed the Koninklijke Haagsche course?
The current course at Wassenaar was designed in 1938 by Harry Colt's firm, with C.H. Alison responsible for most of the work. It is counted among the finest Colt and Alison designs in continental Europe.
What is the par and length of the Royal Hague?
The Royal Hague is a par 72 of about 6,251 yards from the regular tees. The dunes, the wind and Alison's deep bunkering keep it a stern test at that length.
Can visitors play Koninklijke Haagsche?
Yes, on a restricted basis: Monday to Thursday and Friday before 11 am, with a valid handicap certificate, a handicap limit of 24, and no four ball groups. Booking in advance is essential.
How much is the green fee at the Royal Hague?
Published visitor fees are about 250 euros per person, reduced to about 155 euros for members of Dutch NGF affiliated clubs and about 65 euros when introduced by a member (indicative, 2026 published rates). Always confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, course date, par and yardage verified June 2026; visitor fees and access rules verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.