The combined metro area of Rotterdam and The Hague has a population of 2.7 million and has the 13th largest population in the EU. Rotterdam is Europe’s largest port, while neighboring The Hague is the seat of government in the Netherlands. Water defines the area’s geography, given its location at the mouth of the Nieuwe Maas channel leading into the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta at the North Sea. Rotterdam is divided into a northern and a southern part by the River Maas, which is connected by numerous tunnels and bridges. The Hague has a dramatic settting on the North Sea. Running in Rotterdam and The Hague is largely defined by the water, although there are also some wonderful parks and accessible wooded areas.
In Rotterdam, the best places to run are along the various River Maas paths, using the scenic bridges as connectors. There are also some wonderful parks and trails north of the city, including the lovely Kralingse Lake. In the Hague, there’s some great beach and boardwalk running in and Scheveningen and Kijkduin, the spectacular Westduinpark, and the wide, wooded paths of the Hague Woods and Scheveningen Woods. We’ve also included a ‘runseeing‘ tour of The Hague’s historic highlights.
Rotterdam and The Hague are both compact and easy to get around via a system of metros, trams, and light rail.
