Essentially The Hague for Saturday 31 October: Hofvijver turns into a sandpit, bike shop closes, Halloween XXL

Saturday October 31, 2026

Good morning, The Hague. Today: the Hofvijver becomes a sandpit for the Binnenhof works, bike shop Bontekoe closes on the Loosduinseweg after 103 years, and Halloween XXL turns seven Grote Markt bars into one free party.

Hofvijver turned into a sandpit for Binnenhof works: Much of the Binnenhof can only be reached across the water, so contractors have filled part of the pond with sand. Steel sheeting and concrete slabs come next, along with drilling 300 metres down for a heat and cold storage system. It should all be done by year's end.

Loosduinseweg bike shop Bontekoe closes after 103 years: Brothers Peter and Ger Bontekoe are retiring, ending three generations of racing bike sales begun by their grandfather in 1924. The building has been sold and the keys change hands on 4 January. Online discounting and factory direct selling had already squeezed the shop.

Scheveningen sea drone lab named EU technology hub: The European Commission chose the Hellingkade centre, one of the first two sites in a planned network, alongside a Latvian air and land drone company. Brussels has earmarked 325 million euros across five priorities, and Defence will not yet say SeaSEC's share. Both sites also count as NATO innovation ground.

Patrick gives 25 hours of tennis lessons nonstop: Coach Patrick van Koppen, 51, is marking 25 years of the Burgersdijk tennis school, teaching from 14.00 on 7 November to 15.00 the next day at the Rhijenhof courts. An hour for up to four players costs 50 euros, with proceeds to stem cell donor foundation Matchis.

Hague region clubs raise over 428,000 euros: The annual national ticket sale brought in more than 27 million euros across the country this year, with almost 7,000 associations taking part. Clubs keep 85% of every ticket sold, money that pays for equipment, building upkeep and activities as subsidies fall short. The draw is on 3 November.

Scottish Highlanders in Westduinpark have a new calf: The Scheveningen district announced the birth, calling it a healthy sign for the dune landscape. The cattle are released each year to graze, spreading seeds across about 140 hectares of Hague nature. Visitors must stay 25 metres away, keep dogs leashed and never feed or touch them.

The Hague closure signs posted 7.5 kilometres off target: Yellow signs in Ypenburg announced that the Schenkkade was shut, though that street sits at least 7.5 kilometres away. The city said the wording was a mistake and the sign has been replaced. Cycle path works in Ypenburg run until next Friday, with cyclists sent on a detour.

First design for Madestein park revamp now public: Residents' ideas on footpaths, seating and entrances have been folded into the plan for the park on the Loosduinen border. The city explains it at Stadsboerderij Pluk on Saturday 31 October, 13.00 to 15.00, and Wednesday 4 November, 17.00 to 19.00. The plans can also be seen online.

The Hague now counts 17,000 millionaire households: New national statistics put the figure at nearly four times the 4,400 recorded in 2014, with a combined wealth of 41 billion euros. The richest 6% of households here hold 51% of all wealth, while 52,900 households still owe more than they own.

A12 Centrum exit closes again on Saturday night: Work on the new ANWB headquarters at Juliana van Stolberglaan means exit 2 must shut again, this time from 21:00 until 05:00 the next morning. Traffic can detour via exit 3, Schenkkade, Prinses Beatrixlaan and Juliana van Stolberglaan. The roughly 42-metre building has been rising since July 2024.

Face painting, tarantulas and a Halloween story at Avonturia de Vogelkelder: Kids in costume get a free witch's drink and a sweet, with tarantulas, scorpions and a family of bats to meet. 31 October, 12:00, Avonturia De Vogelkelder. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Craft monster pin badges at Bibliotheek Benoordenhout: Craft supplies are laid out for younger kids to assemble their own vampire and skeleton badges. 31 October, 13:00, Bibliotheek Benoordenhout. KIDS WORKSHOP

Swaffie de Zeehond, a stage show for ages five and up: Swaffie de Zeehond is a family show built around a young seal, aimed at children aged five and up, playing in Amsterdam on 31 October. 31 October. FAMILY SHOW

Halloween edition of Scheveningse Cover Night, steps from the beach: Cover artists run through songs the room already knows, with spooky decor and costumes optional, a short walk from the sand. 31 October, 20:00, Podium aan Zee. POP / ROCK

Electric Eel Shock headline the Kreukelzone Halloween Edition: A five band bill running to one in the morning, the headliner marking its thirtieth anniversary, and no costume required. 31 October, 19:30, Musicon. POP / ROCK

Live music for three silent films, Buster Keaton included: The Ebony Ensemble opens with Gershwin, then plays along to the 1908 duc de Guise, Clair's Entr'acte and Keaton's One Week. 31 October, 20:00, Zeeheldentheater. CLASSICAL

Requiem music for All Souls, with names of the dead spoken: Residentie Kamerkoor sings Daley, Bach, Elgar and Sweelinck, and you can send a name in advance to be read during the concert. 31 October, 16:00, Kloosterkerk. CHOIR / VOCAL

Andalusian and Ottoman music in Mediterraneo Band's Istanbul to Marrakech: Rebetiko too, with the Turkuaz Turkish Choir from The Hague as special guest, and you don't need Dutch to follow it. 31 October, 20:15, Theater Dakota. WORLD / FOLK

Costumes, djs and a late start at Club Westwood's Hitjesgolf Halloween: Doors open late and the Hitjesgolf team plays through to four, with guests asked to come in their nicest or scariest outfit. 31 October, 23:30, Club Westwood. ELECTRONIC / DANCE

Rocky Horror with a live shadow cast, then Texas Chain Saw Massacre: The Creatures of Den Haag act the film out while you sing along, with DJ sets in the cafe between screenings. 31 October, 19:00, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FILM

Costumes, buffet food, and Haus 4D at Halloween Drag Brunch: A morning drag show, welcome mimosa, buffet spread, and charity auction for adults, with costumes firmly encouraged. 31 October, 11:00 - 14:00, The Social Hub The Hague. THEATER

Halloween XXL turns seven Grote Markt bars into one free party: Seven bars around the square, each with its own music, plus djs and live bands, and the whole thing is free. 31 October, 21:00, Grote Markt. FESTIVALS

Climb the Haagse Toren after dark with a storytelling guide: A guide walks you up the dark stairwell with stories of storm, fire and imprisonment, and a city view at the top. 31 October, 21:00, De Haagse Toren. FESTIVALS

Surf films, live music and handmade boards at Scheveningen Surf Film Fest: International surf and travel films, music between screenings, and local makers showing boards, ponchos and photo books in the former swimming pool. 31 October, 16:00, De Regentes - Ketelhuis. FILM

A Philip Glass opera, Waiting for the Barbarians, on tour: The Dutch touring company's staging of the Glass opera drawn from J.M. Coetzee's novel, performed with singers and orchestra on stage. 31 October, 19:45, Amare Studio, Amare. THEATER

Ghost houses, spies and old prisons on the English Halloween Tour: The afternoon walk suits children with a parent, and a guide covers spies, murders, old prisons and the Sint-Maarten tradition. 31 October, 16:00, Elswhere Tours. TOUR

Costume contest at a Utrecht taphouse Halloween party: A cafe and restaurant on Ledig Erf hosts a dress-up evening with a contest, running from eight until midnight. 31 October, 20:00, Brothers In Law Taphouse - Cafe | Restaurant | Borrel. SOCIAL / DRINKS

Georgian wine and bites for three hours at Taste of Georgia: Glasses and small plates with some background on where they come from, run by ARThungryGANG and Cellar Atlas, over-18s only. 31 October, 16:00 - 19:00, Herengracht 13. TASTING

A linocut printing workshop, from first sketch to finished print: Sketch a design, carve the lino, ink it and pull prints; tools, materials and coffee are included and you keep everything. 31 October, 11:00 - 14:30, Schepenbuurt. WORKSHOP

Walk 5 to 50 kilometres of coast on the 11strandentocht: An early start on the sand, finishing in Zandvoort, and the shortest route is meant for people recovering from heart illness. 31 October, 06:30 - 07:00, Zandvoort. SPORTS

Teams of three to six take to the curling ice: A short clinic first, then a run of matches on the ice and a final, with drinks tokens in the team price. 31 October, 20:00, De Uithof. SPORTS

Navigating Dutch Labour Law with an employment lawyer: Four hours on contracts, wages, illness, dismissal and workplace disputes, useful whether you're employed, freelancing or running something yourself. 31 October, 12:00 - 16:00, Het Koorenhuis. WORKSHOP / TRAINING

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