International law and the beach
Home of the International Court of Justice, with a Leiden University campus and The Hague University of Applied Sciences. With Scheveningen beach next door.
In short
The Hague (Den Haag) is the city of international law, diplomacy and international relations: the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court are here. It has a Leiden University campus and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, and Scheveningen beach is 15 minutes away by tram. A room costs around €745 a month.
Updated in
Self-assessment
Where to study
The Netherlands has two types of university: research universities (WO), more academic, and universities of applied sciences (HBO), more practical and with company placements. These are the main options in The Hague:
Research university (WO)
Leiden's base in The Hague focuses on international relations, governance, security and liberal arts.
In English: For example, International Studies, Security Studies and Leiden University College The Hague (liberal arts).
Official website →University of applied sciences (HBO)
Very international, with a practical focus on business, law, European studies and communication.
In English: For example, International Business, European Studies or International and European Law.
Official website →Cost of living
Budget between €1,120 and €1,355 a month, not counting tuition. Tuition for EU students is €2,694 a year in 2026-2027 (official fee, the same at all public universities).
If you work at least 32 hours a month in the Netherlands, you can apply for the DUO grant like a Dutch student: in 2026 that is up to €324.52 a month in basic grant, plus up to €491.08 in supplementary grant depending on your parents' income.
| Monthly spending | Approx. |
|---|---|
| Room rental | 745 € |
| Food and groceries | 250–350 € |
| Transport (bike and the odd train) | 15–40 € |
| Mobile and internet | 10–20 € |
| Leisure, materials and other | 100–200 € |
| Total | 1.120–1.355 € |
Rent: Kamernet (2025-2026). If you work in the Netherlands you will also need Dutch health insurance (from around €150 a month, with possible government help); if you don't work, the European Health Insurance Card plus supplementary insurance is enough.
Accommodation
The Hague is a large, sprawling city, so there is more variety of neighbourhoods than in Leiden or Delft, although prices come close to those of Utrecht. Many students live in the centre or near Hollands Spoor station.
City life
It's the seat of the Dutch government and of dozens of international bodies, so you rub shoulders with diplomats, NGOs and international organisations. This translates into internships and a very international atmosphere.
Scheveningen and Kijkduin: surfing, beach bars and sunsets a tram ride away.
The International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and Europol are all based here.
The Mauritshuis is home to Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring".
Frequently asked questions
Roughly between €1,120 and €1,355 a month: a room costs around €745 (Kamernet median, 2026) and the rest is split between food, transport and leisure.
International relations and security at the Leiden campus (International Studies, Security Studies, Leiden University College) and business, European studies or international and European law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Yes, it's the world capital of international law: the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and many international organisations are based here and offer internships.
Make it real
Does The Hague sound like your city?
Book a free first call. We'll tell you whether it's a good fit and which university makes the most sense for your profile.
Book your online consultationBook a time with our team
Free first consultation - 30 minutes
No time suits you? Write to us
Booking confirmed! 🎉
We've sent the invitation with the Google Meet link to your email. If you can't see it, check your spam folder.
Your privacy at Robin
We use our own necessary cookies to make the website work. Only if you accept will we also use third-party cookies: analytics (Google Analytics) to know how many people visit us and advertising (Meta) to measure our campaigns.
You can accept, reject or customise them. Change your choice whenever you like from “Cookie preferences” at the bottom of the site. More information in the cookie policy.
