Essentially The Hague for Sunday 18 October: Laak rent checks bring arrests, Dalí poster sells, De Betovering

Sunday October 18, 2026

Good morning, The Hague. Today: enforcement checks in Laak uncover rent overcharges and lead to arrests, a Dalí poster signed in glitter pen sells for €7,000 at auction in the city, and Festival De Betovering brings children's theatre, films and workshops across The Hague.

Laak enforcement checks uncover rent overcharges and arrests: A city enforcement operation found excessive rents and illegal mediation fees among homes checked in Laak. Police also made arrests during traffic and public transport checks.

Dalí poster signed in glitter pen sells for €7,000 in The Hague: The art collection of choreographer Hans van Manen was auctioned at Venduehuis in The Hague. It included a poster made for a Salvador Dalí exhibition at Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.

New leads found at The Hague police hackathon: More than 100 digital specialists spent six hours on unsolved cases on Friday, from cold cases to money mule recruitment. A separate team of thirteen children looked at how police should operate inside online games.

The Hague museum renovation reaches highest point: A flag-raising marked the milestone, with city alderwoman Lotte van Basten Batenburg and director Tjeerd Vrij honouring the workers. The museum is scheduled to reopen in mid-2028.

The Grace towers in The Hague set for early 2027 restart: The revised plan would cut the total from 1,304 to 1,268 homes by combining smaller units. The city is broadly supportive, but Included must submit a formal request before changes can be approved.

Hague defender Cato Pijnacker Hordijk sails to away games after leaving ADO: The 23-year-old had a starting place and a contract at ADO Den Haag before leaving earlier this year. At the Finnish club, she has qualified for the Europa Cup and travels to away games by cruise ship.

Two gluten-free Piets to join The Hague Sinterklaas parade: Two gluten-free Piets will join the arrival at Scheveningen Harbour on 14 November and the procession through The Hague. Their green outfits will make them easy to identify.

ICC tightens judges' ethics rules on social media: The International Criminal Court has revised its judicial ethics code, adding guidance on judges’ social media use and explicitly making its standards binding. The changes took effect after the revised code was published.

Scene changes come too early in this family show about distraction: Aimed at eight and up, it plays with attention in a crowded world: bumping, falling, laughing, crying, guests arriving late. 18 October, 19:30, Koninklijke Schouwburg. FAMILY SHOW

Make orchestral music and accompany dancers at Residentie Orkest: Children compose original music alongside an instructor, then accompany dancers from Nederlands Dans Theater for parents. 18 October, Amare Studio, Amare. KIDS WORKSHOP

Irma Kort plays the Ukkieconcert for babies and toddlers at Pluk: Forty-five minutes of rhythm and real instruments for the very young, moving outside in good weather; this date is sold out. 18 October, Pluk. FAMILY SHOW

Drop in to the Open Art Workshop at the Mauritshuis, young and old: Crafting in the museum's art workshop during the autumn holidays; adults need a valid museum ticket, and bring a big bag. 18 October, Mauritshuis. KIDS WORKSHOP

Shaun the Sheep: The Beast in the Farmyard: In this stop-motion Halloween story, Shaun investigates a ruined pumpkin patch, the farmer's disappearance and a strange presence in the barns. 18 October, 12:45, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FAMILY SHOW

Nineties guitar songs and new Love Chant material from The Lemonheads: Evan Dando's band plays the familiar songs alongside tracks from Love Chant, their first album of new material in years. 18 October, 19:00, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. POP / ROCK

Apple pie and an hour of live music at the Appeltaartconcert: An hour of live music, then a slice of apple pie with coffee or tea included; October's programme isn't announced yet. 18 October, 11:00, Laaktheater. CLASSICAL

Dinner by the sea while Re-Play work through 90s R&B: A Dutch group works through 90s R&B hits while you order à la carte, entry €35 on top of the bill. 18 October, 18:30, Encore by Simonis. HIP-HOP / R&B

Marvin Gaye night from The Jazz Room, no Dutch needed: A live band runs through Grapevine, What's Going On and more, for an audience seated with a drink. 18 October, 16:00, Theaters Diligentia en PePijn. JAZZ / BLUES

Sibelius and Dvořák from Ragazze Quartet, with cheese and cava after: Two string quartets, Voces Intimae and the New World, then an interview and local cheese and cava, paid at the bar. 18 October, 11:30, Theater de Veste. CLASSICAL

Hear new material from Stuurbaard Bakkebaard's sixth album in PAARD's small hall: Going since 1996, with five albums and tours through Europe and South Africa behind them, the trio plays new work. 18 October, 20:00, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Whistler: In Love with the Netherlands, an exhibition: Whistler's Dutch connections anchor this exhibition, including Amsterdam canal etchings made from a boat in 1889 and works by artists he influenced. 18 October, 10:00, De Mesdag Collectie. ART / MUSEUMS

Circus Chapito: aerial acts, juggling and a laser-and-drone act: International artists combine aerial acrobatics, tightrope walking and handstands with juggling, plus a pigeon-and-dog act. 18 October, 16:30, Zuiderpark. THEATER

Festival De Betovering fills The Hague with children's theatre, films and workshops: Children up to 12 can choose from international theatre, dance, films, music, workshops and street performances across more than 55 venues. 18 October, 09:30, Centrum Den Haag. FESTIVALS

Leo Erken on Eva Besnyö and his documentary about her: The photographer who filmed Besnyö sorting her own archive talks about that film and their friendship, 2.50 euros plus museum entry. 18 October, 14:30 - 15:30, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. TALKS / IDEAS

Shall We Dance? returns in 4K with English subtitles: Masayuki Suô's film runs 136 minutes in Japanese with subtitles, part of the No Lonely Dance Floors programme with Korzo. 18 October, 16:00, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FILM

The Hague Musical Days: making a new musical together: Amateurs aged 7 to 99 work with professional musical-makers over two days, then perform the new production live. 18 October, 09:30, Het Koorenhuis. FESTIVALS

Quips and Bits Graduation Comedy Show, in English on Noordeinde: Up-and-coming stand-ups each take the pub stage on Noordeinde with their own material, €9.50, and no Dutch required. 18 October, 19:30, O'Casey's Irish Pub & Restaurant. COMEDY

Chasing, climbing and playfighting in the woods, first time free: An hour of grown-up play on a goblins and wizards theme, meeting at the Dunea water tap, English and Dutch. 18 October, 10:00 - 11:00, Bosjes van Poot (meeting point: Dunea Water Tap). SPORTS

Build a mini-me at the Coraline Doll Workshop, Halloween edition: Clay, paint, fabric and a little hand sewing go into one small doll and its tiny outfits, no experience needed. 18 October, 14:00 - 17:00, Brouwersgracht 50. WORKSHOP

Politics, royals and a misplaced wrecking ball on the Comedy Walk: Comedian Maarten Vissers walks you from Spui to Plein in ninety minutes, telling stories about how the city came to be. 18 October, 14:00, Centrum Den Haag. TOUR

Breaking the Walls Tour opens doors across The Hague's neighbourhoods: A local guide leads a several-kilometre walk through neighbourhoods, with visits to normally closed sites and coffee with a Schilderswijk resident. 18 October, 14:00, Sociëteit De Vereeniging. TOUR

Reset & Recharge, an hour in a women's circle in Leidschenveen: An hour in a circle with other women, built around self-care and company, all ages, with free parking outside. 18 October, 16:30 - 17:30, Harriët Freezerhof 201. SOCIAL / DRINKS

Free crafting, dressing up and climbing at Amare's Playmode: Part of the De Betovering festival, with a climbing rock for children, coffee for parents, and a low-stimulus room on request. 18 October, Amare Studio, Amare. WORKSHOP

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