Zuiderpark | The Hague

Zuiderpark is a 108-hectare urban park located in the Escamp district of southwest The Hague. It functions as one of the city's largest recreational green spaces, designed to serve as a "people's park" for sports, culture, and nature.

Visual Characteristics

The park features a diverse landscape of expansive open lawns, wooded sections, and a network of ornamental ponds and canals. The vegetation includes mature oak, beech, and willow trees. It incorporates various specialized zones, such as a formal rose garden, a colonial-style garden, and a distinctive pinetum containing a collection of coniferous trees.

Location & Access Logistics

The site is bordered by Loevesteinlaan, Melis Stokelaan, and Soestdijksekade. It is accessible from Den Haag Centraal via Tram line 9 (stop Zuiderpark) or from the city center via Tram line 16 and Bus line 26. Dedicated bicycle paths intersect the park from all cardinal directions. Free and paid parking options are available in the surrounding residential streets and at designated lots near the sport campus.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Construction began in 1923 and was completed in 1936, following a design by urban planner H.P. Berlage and landscape architect P. Westbroek. The project was initiated to provide labor during the Great Depression and to create a sanitary recreational area for the growing industrial population. Geologically, it sits on a transition zone between coastal dunes and inland peat.

Key Highlights & Activities

The park contains the Sportcampus Zuiderpark, a major facility for indoor athletics and education. Active recreation includes a skate park, multiple football pitches, and the "Parkoers" activity center. The Zuiderparktheater, an open-air stage, hosts live performances during summer months. The "Sandenburg" children's farm and a miniature railway operate on the park's western side.

Infrastructure & Amenities

Public restrooms are located within the Sportcampus and the various catering facilities like Parkoers and the swimming pool. Natural shade is abundant throughout the wooded perimeters. 4G and 5G cellular signals are robust across the grounds. Benches, picnic tables, and waste receptacles are situated along the primary 5km peripheral walking loop.

Best Time to Visit

The park is best visited during the spring and summer for floral displays and outdoor events. For photography, the central ponds offer optimal reflections during the golden hour before sunset. The peak usage occurs during the annual "Parkpop" festival (traditionally in June) or on weekend afternoons when the sports facilities are in active use.

Facts & Legends

A verified historical oddity is that the park served as the home ground for the ADO Den Haag football club from 1925 until 2007; the former stadium site has since been integrated into the park's green landscape. Local folklore often references the "hidden" nature of the pinetum, which remains one of the quietest spots in the city despite its central location.

Nearby Landmarks

Sportcampus Zuiderpark (0.1km East)

HagaZiekenhuis Leyweg (0.8km West)

Shopping Center Leyweg (1.2km West)

Moerwijk Railway Station (1.5km Northeast)

De Uithof (3.5km Southwest)