The ideal city in Europe to escape the heat, according to The New York Times

In a feature published in The New York Times, the renowned American newspaper, The Hague is presented as the ideal destination for a“coolcation ”: a place to escape the heat of southern Europe.

The Hague is increasingly establishing itself as a popular European destination for a“coolcation”: the ideal spot for travelers seeking beaches and mild summer temperatures, rather than the extreme heat that plagues Southern Europe.

The city indeed has a lot to offer: not only an 11-kilometer stretch of North Sea coastline, but also surf spots and beach clubs, as well as museums, art galleries, and plenty of shopping opportunities in its historic center.

Tourism has grown considerably: the number of overnight stays has increased by nearly 60% over the past ten years, according to the American newspaper. Over the past two years, the number of visitors from Spain and Italy has risen by 9%.

Although the city welcomes international visitors, the authorities want to avoid overtourism and the “party tourism” image associated with Amsterdam. They are limiting short-term rentals and the expansion of hotel capacity, and encouraging travel outside the busiest summer months.

This trend can be partly explained by increasingly hot summers, with wildfires and drought in Southern Europe that are also increasingly affecting the Netherlands.

The newspaper quotes a local representative of the beach tourism sector as summarizing The Hague’s appeal: the city feels like Spain, but without temperatures of 35 degrees and higher.