Romans in The Hague: Unearthing the Hidden History of the Hofstad

Did Romans really set foot in The Hague? You bet they did! Tucked away behind the dunes lies a surprising Roman past—one you can still explore today. Here’s how to walk in Roman footsteps, right in the modern-day city of The Hague.

Vooraanzicht van het Huygens Museum Swaensteyn in Voorburg, met de tentoonstelling "Forum Hadriani" over de Romeinse geschiedenis van Nederland.

Huygens Museum Notary House with its ‘Forum Hadriani’ exhibition on the Roman history of the Netherlands.

Roman History in The Hague

Ockenburgh Estate
Back around AD 150–180, a small Roman fort and settlement, known as Vicus van Ockenburgh, stood among the dunes. This mini-fort was key in protecting the coastline from raiding pirates. These days, the 350-year-old Ockenburgh Estate (between Loosduinen and Kijkduin) is the largest Roman excavation site in The Hague. During digs, archaeologists found horse graves. One skeleton—nicknamed The Horse of Ockenburgh—is now on display at Museon-Omniversum.

Scheveningseweg & Meijendel
Further Roman traces have been found near Scheveningseweg and in Meijendel (the dune area between Scheveningen, The Hague, and Wassenaar), suggesting other forts may have been dotted along the coast. One theory is that a road connected this area to Forum Hadriani, the biggest Roman city in the region—located in today’s Voorburg. Apart from at Ockenburgh estate and on the Scheveningseweg, finds have also been made at Meijendel (dune area between Scheveningen, The Hague and Wassenaar) in Wassenaar that indicate that forts may have stood there.

Forum Hadriani: A Roman Town by the Sea
It’s hard to picture, but under present-day Voorburg lies the remains of a bustling Roman town. Between around AD 50 and 270, Forum Hadriani was a lively settlement with streets, temples, and Roman baths. It was even the northernmost city on the European mainland of the Roman Empire—not just a frontier outpost, but a proper Roman town with all the trimmings.

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Highlights of The Hague

Hidden gems in The Hague

The Romans brought wine to this region, probably as early as around the 1st century AD!

Where Can You Still See Roman History in The Hague?

‘Visit’ Forum Hadriani
The ancient city now lies beneath Park Arentsburgh in Voorburg, but you can still dig into its history. Head to the Huygens Museum (Notarishuis), where artefacts like Roman pottery, coins, and jewellery tell the story of this once-flourishing town.

Discover Roman treasures in Museon-Omniversum
Besides the aforementioned ‘Paard van Ockenburgh’, you can see even more treasures from Roman times in the Museon-Omniversum's Romeinenzaal. With some unique finds from around The Hague, an impression is given of the life of the Romans. You will learn about the army, Roman cooking, building and even fashion and make-up.
During the construction of the Hague residential area Wateringse Veld, a spectacular discovery was made: four milestones from Roman times were found. You can also admire these extraordinary finds at the Museon-Omniversum.

Walk or Cycle the Limes
The Limes, the ancient northern border of the Roman Empire, runs straight through the Netherlands—including the The Hague region. Walk or cycle part of this historic route to really feel like a Roman soldier on patrol. Start in Park Arentsburgh and follow the trail toward Leiden, passing old excavation sites. Hardcore history fans can even tackle the multi-day cycling version.

Go on a Roman Treasure Hunt
Fancy an adventure? Take part in a Roman-themed treasure hunt (Dutch) for families. It’s the perfect way to explore Roman spots in The Hague while solving puzzles and learning fun facts along the way. Great for kids—and grown-up explorers too.