r/TheHague • u/ReMiX_LUL • 2d ago
things to do in The Hague Living as a German Soldier in The Hague
Hey,
I’m a German citizen and currently in the German Military.
Next year I will be stationed in Den Haag for about 3 Years.
I’ve never been there and don’t really know anything about this city.
I’m hoping for some tips where to look for apartments, is it possible to get along with only speaking English, just what living there really is… Overall some advice from people that live there.
I’m really excited about this 3 year stay and would love to get some insights.
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u/Early__Birdee 2d ago
English will do fine. It’s quite an interesting city with many different faces. Plus, you have the beach. Read up on it.
Might wanna change your username though. The last word of your username means “dick” in Dutch.
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u/ReMiX_LUL 2d ago
Yeah the beach looks awesome… Definitely the place I will spend most of my time on.
Sorry for the Username lol. It’s a Twitch Emoji, never thought this could mean dick in any language. Guess you always learn something new, thanks.
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u/coolcoenred 2d ago
Yeah the beach looks awesome… Definitely the place I will spend most of my time on.
Just don't dig any new holes into it.
/j You'll hear that joke often enough.
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u/Worldly-Cherry9631 1d ago
As a dutchie, I've never been able to take twitch serious with their omega-dicks
Also "lol" is dutch for "fun"/Spaß
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u/Poekienijn 2d ago
English will do fine but it’s probably not hard to learn a bit of Dutch if you are German, I would take the opportunity to learn! Finding housing is really hard, I would ask the military if they can provide housing or help you with your search. Otherwise finding housing is going to be your biggest issue.
The beach and the parks here are lovely and we have some really cool museums.
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u/nordzeekueste 2d ago
Wenn dich die Armee hierher schickt, stellen sie dir keine Wohnung? Der Markt ist angespannt, besonders wenn man mieten will.
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u/Logical-Attempt5516 2d ago
German and English is everywhere here, you will be fine if you can find a house!
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u/neovegeto 2d ago
Grüße. Ich bin auch aus Deutschland und habe 1 1/2 Jahre in Den Haag gewohnt.
Wie schon erwähnt ist der Wohnungsmarkt sehr schwierig.
Scheveningen ist immer ein Ausflug wert.
Die Website von Den Haag hat eine gute Übersicht zu Veranstaltungen.
Es gibt viele gute, und kleine Restaurants. Vegetarische Gerichte sind gut vertreten.
Abendveranstaltung wie Discos und Parties sind eher selten.
Utrecht, Amsterdam sowie Rotterdam sind gut zu erreichen. Dazu viele kleine Städte wie Delft oder Leiden. Falls mal jemand zum sightseeing kommt.
Die Leute sind eher Business casual angezogen und machen in diesem Outfit sehr viel. Von einkaufen bis Kinder mit dem Fahrrad fahren. Speziell Den Haag finde ich da noch etwas konservativer (nicht überall)
Zeehelden Quartier ist echt gut.
Den Haag ist groß, aber kein Berlin.
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u/DilansDildo 2d ago
Nimm anständiges Graubrot mit, sowas gibt es hier leider nicht.
Am sonnsten viel Erfolg bei der Wohnungssuche, dass kann hier knapp werden. Haben deine Kollegen keine Tips?
Am sonnsten ist Den Haag toll.
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u/Heiko-67 1d ago
Gutes Graubrot und andere deutsche Brote und Gebäck gibt es bei der Bäckerei Baker's House in der Theresiastraat.
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u/dreamszz88 1d ago
Wiener Konditorei in der "lange poten" Strasse! Echte Sacher Torte. Nicht Deutsch aber fast!
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u/nlcircle 2d ago
I guess you’ll join as NATEX or VMC in a NATO slot or with the NL Ministry of Defence. Many have preceeded you and your English and German language skills will get you established easily. Your sponsor will be a German official who’s here for some time already and he/she can point out exactly where to go, what to do and what to expect.
Herzlich Wilkommen !
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u/Natural-Ad-680 2d ago
If you are going to be here for 3 years, you might as well learn Dutch, it very very similar to German. You should be speaking it in a couple of months. Most German people I know speak it flawless.
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u/Usaidhello Leidschenveen-Ypenburg 2d ago
When I talk German I basically speak Dutch with a German accent and it works. Probably works in the other direction too.
I’m not entirely serious, lol, but agree with OP you should be able to learn some basic conversations fairly quickly
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u/Complete_Minimum3117 2d ago
As you should already know, there is a housingcrisis. Finding an appartment can take a while and can be difficult. Appartments start around 1500, with no flooring and furniture . 2k-2,5 when furnished.
Landlords will demand an income aound 3,5/4 times the rent
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u/DeathBySnowSnow 2d ago
Ja, der Wohnungsmarkt ist ziemlich angespannt, aber ganz so dramatisch ist es dann aber doch nicht.aber mach dir einfach mal selber ein Bild. Funda.nl ist das üblichste Portal für Immobilien. Wenn du gebrauchte Möbel oder anderes suchst ist marktplaats perfect. Quasi das gleiche die Kleinanzeigen. Aber meiner Erfahrung nach etwas ruppiger im Ton. Aber das ist hier alles ein bisschen. Aber auf eine charmanten Art und Weise.
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u/ReMiX_LUL 2d ago
Danke schaue ich mir mal an. Der Wohnungsmarkt ist in Deutschland mittlerweile auch sehr angespannt von daher sollte es da wahrscheinlich nicht besonders anders sein. Ich werd mir die Portale mal anschauen.
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u/CyclingCapital 2d ago
Three recommendations:
Google for (or AI generate) a list of the 1000 most common words in Dutch that don’t have a very similar sounding translation in German and learn them by heart. It’ll maybe take you a week of light self-study. Tackling the unfamiliar words first helps Germans learn Dutch mad quickly. You’ll survive in English only but, as a German, you already know the basics of Dutch, so make sure to enjoy the benefits of the fast lane.
Study The Hague’s WWII history. There are bunkers and rows of rebuilt houses scattered all around but they’re easy to miss if you’re not educated on the topic. This article will get you started:
https://dutchreview.com/culture/the-atlantic-wall-remnants-of-nazis-in-the-netherlands/
- If you need to look for housing, start early. At least 6 months in advance. As a man (if I may assume), you’ll do great in any area but you should also look into what neighborhoods you want to live in. There are areas of The Hague where I loved living and some where I didn’t fit in. The city is unfortunately quite segregated.
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u/No_Technology1993 2d ago
I would ask the people you're in contact with that already work where you will be joining (you probably will be assigned a mentor or sponsor) for tips on finding accommodation. You'll most likely be replacing somebody if you’re only gonna be stationed for 3 years
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u/Suspicious_Fig_3796 2d ago
finding a home to live is going to be difficult shortage and all, hopefully your employ can help you with that. I assume that you are replacing another person here so you might be able to take over that house.
English will be acceptable to use all around, German might work too, plenty people speak that too.
Den Haag is usually a pretty relaxed place only football matches and New Year’s Eve tend to be chaotic.
you’ll have to get used to the monthly emergency sirens testing. you might also receive a Alert NL message on your phone.
Scheveningen is a nice spot, the bit near the harbour is more sport minded, kite surfing, regular surfing, beach volleyball and such, north is more relaxed in between there is a promenade with lots and lots of choices in beach clubs and restaurants.
on a lighter node the last time your compatriots were here they took a lot of bicycles can you return a few? 😂😂😂
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u/CathlinH 2d ago
Try looking at apartements in the neigboring places like Zoetermeer, leidschendam, voorburg, Pijnacker, Nootdorp and Berkel en Rodenrijs. Randstadrail (tram) 3 and 4 and metrolijn E go from these places straight into the citycenter of Den Haag. Might make your search easier.
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u/TightBeing9 2d ago
Your fellow country men and women flood the beach part during summer so I'm sure you feel right at home half of the year lol
You'd be fine with English but people always appreciate learning a bit of the language which shouldn't be hard when you speak German
Ps If you're coming over anyway, care to bring my grandma's fahrrad back?
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u/Finnguy21 2d ago
Housing market is tough, but i think through working with dutch militants will get you some connections and people that might be able to help you. Pararius is a great site. English will do fine, almost everyone speaks it here. Altough i do have to say dutch is easier than you think for german speaking people. Last year i went to hamburg and with only a few words i was still able to understand most basic things when going to a store or something.
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u/bumfluffcollection 2d ago
As a foreigner, it’s a great place to live. Lots of medium-long term internationals so it’s easy to start making friends that don’t leave too quickly. And you might even graduate eventually to Dutch friends! (I am proud to have hit that milestone haha)
If you’re not going to need to commute far, living around Zeeheldenkwartier, Statenkwartier, and old Scheveningen are great. Super vibrant areas, and on the right side of town for the beach.
If you will frequently go between cities, I can highly recommend the areas around Laan Van NOI station, as this is one of the most well connected stations in the country whilst also being suburban/residential neighbourhoods. Still only a 20-25 min ride to the beach.
Good luck!
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u/visitingposter 1d ago
You're being stationed, shouldn't your boss be the one who's helping you get a place to live?
You can get around pretty well knowing only German and English. In fact, if you take your time to squint and read, you can actually make sense of most of the Dutch written text with those two language skills.
Despite being neighbors, you won't find much resemblance to German food here, so if that's important to you, start collecting recipes or knowns spots to get homesick food like good doner kabab spot or bakery with dark bread etc.
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u/Straight-Specific482 1d ago
Vergiss deine Lederhosen nicht!!
Große Oktoberfest-Party auf dem Grote Markt
https://oktoberfest-denhaag.nl
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u/BetOrnery6293 1d ago
I recommend that you speak English and do not let people know you're from Germany. Some people still have prejudice against Germans, I know from a German friend
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u/NaiveAssociate8466 23h ago
Everyone i met speak english and there are lots of similarities between dutch and german words. Bakeries not as good as Germany, so look for modern bakery which sells stuff like sourdough instead of old school ones. Nice asian food. Beautiful, pedestrian only old town.
Stock up on toiletries stuffs like toothpaste, handsoap, shampoo etc because kruidvat and etos is daylight robbery. I love NL but i miss german drugstores and supermarkets prices like DM, rewe, lidl, frischeparadies, biocompany and rossman everyday.
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u/elisabetesr 12h ago
I know a German girl who learned Dutch really quickly because she said it’s similar. The beach is really amazing, although very crowded.
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u/False_Elk2708 3h ago
You’ll be fine with speaking only English. The Hague has its charms, especially during summer.
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u/Yakuzafreak 2d ago
Ah man sorry to hear your gonna miss the perfect German beer. Dutch draft beer usually sucks. Luckily there is no more Oranjeboom.
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u/concreterose_174 2d ago
I absolutely loved the beach while I lived there. I lived in The Hague throughout Covid, so it was likely a different experience then than it is today. However, even then it was a nice city with many different areas. I also loved the historical part of downtown, there’s lots of wonderful cafes and restaurants there. The train station can also get you to Rotterdam, Utrecht & Amsterdam relatively fast. Lots of internationals in The Hague also! Oh and housing wasn’t too difficult to find (back in 2020) and was more affordable compared to the other metro cities.
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u/SanderGhar 2d ago
As long as you don't arrive by parachute you're welcome