Westbroekpark | The Hague

Westbroekpark is an 18-hectare public park located in the Scheveningen district of The Hague, positioned between the city center and the coastline. It serves as a significant recreational green space, notably housing an internationally recognized rose garden and expansive meadows.

Visual Characteristics

The park is defined by a landscape of English country garden aesthetics, featuring rolling lawns, dense groves of deciduous trees, and a large ornamental pond. The central Rosarium contains approximately 20,000 rosebushes across 300 varieties, arranged in geometric beds. The terrain is largely flat but intersected by serpentine water channels and narrow paved pathways.

Location & Access Logistics

The primary entrance is located at Kapelweg in The Hague. From Den Haag Centraal, the park is accessible via Tram line 9 (stop Wagenaarweg) or Bus line 22 (stop Nieuwe Duinweg). It is situated approximately 3.5km north of the city center. Paid parking is available in the surrounding residential streets of the Belgisch Park neighborhood.

Historical & Ecological Origin

The park was designed by Pieter Westbroek, the director of The Hague’s municipal parks department, and completed in the 1920s. It was constructed on former sand dunes that had been leveled for urban development. The International Rose Trials, established here in 1961, remain a primary function of the horticultural site.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors can rent rowboats at the "Waterkant" tea room to navigate the park's internal waterways. The Rosarium hosts an annual international rose competition in July. The park features a large children's playground and designated fields for the "Parade" traveling theater festival held each summer.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Public restrooms are available at the Waterkant tea room and the Rosarium restaurant. The park provides limited natural shade under mature tree canopies. 4G and 5G cellular signals are consistent throughout the grounds. Benches and waste receptacles are situated at regular intervals along the main walking loops.

Best Time to Visit

The optimal period for visiting is between June and September when the rose gardens are in peak bloom. For photography, the early morning provides soft light across the open meadows. The park is accessible year-round, but the boat rental service operates primarily during the spring and summer months.

Facts & Legends

A bronze statue of "Puss in Boots" is located near the playground, a gift to the city from the widow of sculptor Johan Keller. A verified logistical oddity is the "Golden Rose" award presented annually at the park, which is considered one of the highest honors in the global world of rose cultivation.

Nearby Landmarks

Madurodam (0.7km Southeast)

Indisch Monument (0.8km South)

Scheveningen Woods (Scheveningse Bosjes) (0.5km South)

Circustheater (1.2km Northwest)

Kurhaus (1.5km Northwest)