The Royal Palace of the Hague, also serving as the monarch’s workplace, may not be as exuberant as its counterpart in Amsterdam, but it is an impressive city centrepiece nonetheless. Built as a farmhouse in 1533, it was reformed and repurposed several times over the years, accommodating such pivotal historical figures as Voltaire and notable monarchs such as King Willem I until its most recent extensions in 1984, which have turned it into a working palace, where political and state affairs take place daily. The palace gardens are open to the public throughout the day and make a nice spot for a picnic, where anyone can enjoy the ponds, flowerbeds and marble statues with views of the royal stables, archives and the Dome of Fagel. Look out for the hidden corridors leading to the Old Hague District in one of the corners of the gardens.

ʻIolani Palace is the only official royal residence in the United States. The last king of Hawaii was David Kalakaua, who ruled the kingdom in the late nineteenth century. Hawaii became an American territory in 1900 and, almost 60 years later, was declared the 50th American state.

Whether the sun is shining or the clouds are looming, the beach of Scheveningen is packed full of exciting things to do and see on a day out. Just a fifteen-minute bike ride from The Hague's city centre, this eventful stretch of sand dunes and sea is definitely worth a visit for young and old to enjoy the culinary delights that can be found there along with the numerous events such as beach parties, fireworks nights and kite festivals to name but a few. There is a vibrant surf culture in Scheveningen which is active all year round, great for beginners to learn as there are so many surf schools along the beach. During the day, be sure to visit any of the numerous attractions, museums or markets then take an evening stroll down one of the promenades and pick out the perfect spot to eat and drink from over 130 restaurants available.

Right in the centre of Fira, this museum gives proper context to all the ruins you’ll see around the island. Most of the finds come from Akrotiri, the ancient town buried by the volcanic eruption: wall paintings, pottery, tools, and other items from thousands of years ago that somehow survived. It’s small, doesn’t take long to get through, and is absolutely worth popping into before or after visiting the Akrotiri site itself.