Japanese Garden

Opening hours Japanse Garden

The Japanese Garden is only open a few weeks a year in the spring and autumn. The opening hours differ per period and are as follows:

• Spring: open from the 27th of April until 9th of June from 10 am to 8 pm.
• Autumn: open from mid to late October, from 10am to 4pm.

Rules to protect the garden

Given the fragility of the Japanese Garden, it is not possible to enter the garden with buggies and electrically powered aids. A separate entrance with a special route through the garden is available for wheelchairs. It is also not allowed to enter the garden with dogs (assistance dogs are allowed) If there are too many visitors, you may have to wait a while before you can enter the garden.

How to get to the Japanese Garden?

Landgoed Clingendael in The Hague can be reached via the main entrance on the Wassenaarseweg. There are also entrances to the park on Van Alkemadelaan, Ruychrocklaan and Van Ouwenlaan. There is an unguarded bicycle shed at the main entrance on Wassenaarseweg.

Parking cars is not allowed, but you can park along the road around the estate. By public transport, take bus line 20 in the direction of Duinzicht from The Hague Central Station. Then get off at Van der Woertstraat and from there it is a 13-minute walk to the Japanese Garden. In the Clingendael park, follow the route signs 'Japanese Garden'.

Largest Japanese Garden in the Netherlands

The Japanese Garden was laid out in the early 20th century by the then owner of the Clingendael Estate, Marguerite M. Baronesse van Brienen (1871-1939). She travelled to Japan by ship, shipping some lanterns, a water barrel, statuettes, the bridges and the pavilion to The Hague. It is the only Japanese garden in the Netherlands dating from around 1910, giving this garden on the Clingendael estate a high historical value. It is also the largest Japanese garden in the Netherlands with an area of 6800 square metres.

Place of peace and reflection

The Japanese Garden has a very unique and surprising atmosphere, partly caused by the magnificent moss layer. The garden contains many stone lanterns, with a wide variety of shapes. There are also two water barrels. One water barrel has four images of Buddhas. The other water barrel is in the shape of a lotus flower. The beautiful pavilion is a popular spot from which to admire the garden.

Garden ornaments

The Japanese Garden in The Hague contains many lanterns. Some lanterns have an image of Buddha at the base. There are also lanterns with an image of a deer. The deer is a sacred animal in Japan. Furthermore, the sacred long-tailed turtle is reflected in the shape of the island in the pond. The turtle symbolizes long life.

The small statue at the back of the garden is the image of the Buddhist saint Jizo, protector of children. The red of the little bridges symbolizes joy, but red also repels evil spirits. The two water barrels, one with four images of Buddha, the other in the shape of a lotus flower, are also striking garden ornaments. Originally, their purpose was to scoop out water with the bamboo spoon to clean hands and mouth.

Wedding photography

When the Japanese Garden is open to the public, wedding photos can be taken. On the rest of Clingendael Estate, this is possible all year round. No separate permission is needed for wedding photography.

What can you do near the Japanese Garden?

Clingendael is known as one of the most beautiful estates in the Netherlands. From the sixteenth century, various noble families lived there, who laid out various gardens in English landscape style with beautiful buildings, gardens with impressive groups of trees and reflecting water features. 

In the tearoom, you can enjoy lunch or eat a cake. Behind Huys Clingendael and the old Dutch garden is a large playground. There is also a large playground where children can play, you can have a picnic or just quietly read a book.