Friday October 2, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: Metsola opens the Europa Experience on Grote Marktstraat, the Scheveningen Pier entrance design sparks online debate, and pianist René Rakier performs Chopin at 93 in Scheveningen.
The activities listed below are just a curated sample of what’s going on in The Hague. Check out our completely redesigned events calendar here.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 21°C / 69°F (1° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 13°C / 56°F · 1% chance of rain · wind SW 9 km/h (5 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Good cycling all day.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:45 · Sunset 19:18 · Last Quarter · Moonrise 22:07 · Golden hour 18:48 to 19:18
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality moderate (AQI 44) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,103 (-1.1%) · S&P 500 7,666 (+0.2%) · €1 = $1.13 · $1 = €0.89
Metsola to open Europa Experience on Grote Marktstraat: European Parliament president Roberta Metsola travels to the Netherlands on Friday, with stops in Veldhoven and The Hague. The centre has been receiving visitors since May.
Scheveningen Pier entrance design draws praise and ridicule online: An impression of a new glass entrance with arches and a wavy canopy was compared to Dubai and to a shower cabin. The owner says the Kurhaus was his inspiration.
Alphen zero-emission zone costs business owner his pension savings: A supplier of light and sound equipment paid 38,000 euros for a second-hand electric van before the zone takes effect. Camera enforcement starts after a six-month warning period.
Voorburg rehearses 16 hours without power or phones: Emergency workers, volunteers and actors ran through a blackout scenario at a Voorburg care centre on Tuesday evening. The drill is part of a pilot in which around 70 municipalities test emergency support points.
After a 34-year break, Theresa Bell has her master's degree at 54: Theresa Bell had to break off her studies in the early 1990s. At 54 she has now finished the degree, more than three decades after she stopped.
MUSIC! family exhibition, made for visiting with children: An exhibition about music put together for families, the kind of thing you walk through with children rather than sit and watch. 2 October. 📅 MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Mini Professors starts up for three and four year olds: New on the calendar, a programme pitched at three and four year olds rather than older school children. 2 October. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Bounce Game Night, an evening of games for kids: Bounce Game Night takes place on Friday 2 October 2026, an evening of games and jumping aimed at kids, listed among family outings around Den Haag and Delft. 2 October. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
Kawaii metal from Babybeard, fronted by a former wrestler: Kawaii metal from a trio led by Ladybeard, once a stuntman and pro wrestler, in the Kleine Zaal with doors at seven. 2 October, 20:00, Paardcafé. 📅 POP / ROCK
Rewire x Korzo #25, four acts between jazz, tarawangsa and noise: Four acts across one evening, from Egyptian soundscapes and trombone to West Javanese tarawangsa set against experimental electronics and noise. 2 October, 20:00, Korzo theater. 📅 ELECTRONIC / DANCE
At 93, pianist René Rakier plays Chopin in Scheveningen: René Rakier gives a free hour-long concert at Wijkwinkel Scheveningen on the first Tuesday of every month. On 6 October he plays from Chopin's Etudes Op. 25.
A free centenary concert for Gottfried Michael Koenig, premiere included: Electronic and instrumental pieces marking the composer's hundredth birthday, including the world premiere of his 2019 string quartet, free to attend. 2 October, 19:00, Conservatoriumzaal. 📅 CLASSICAL
Residentie Orkest performs Rachmaninov & Glass: The Residentie Orkest presents an evening pairing orchestral compositions by Sergei Rachmaninov and Philip Glass. 2 October, 20:15, Amare Studio, Amare. 📅 CLASSICAL
Sam Newbould Quintet brings contemporary jazz to Amare: Modern jazz compositions fill the hall as the five-piece ensemble presents their latest live set. 2 October, 20:15, Amare Studio, Amare. 📅 JAZZ / BLUES
Sterre Hond plays inside the piano, from Zimmer to Fazıl Say: Themes from Interstellar and Amélie plus Fazıl Say, played partly on the strings inside the piano, with smoke effects. 2 October, 20:00, Houtrustkerk. 📅 CLASSICAL
A medieval lion bone and court menageries around the Binnenhof: Municipal archaeologists explain fourteenth-century count records and recent animal bone finds from the Buitenhof excavations. 2 October, 16:00 - 17:00, Bibliotheek Ypenburg. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Debate local journalism at Het Haags Media Debat: Local reporters and city residents discuss what the neighbourhood needs from reporting and where current coverage falls short. 2 October, 19:30 - 21:00, Centrale Bibliotheek, DOK B. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Screening of Eat More Trees at Museon-Omniversum: A ninety-minute documentary follows regenerative farming in Spain and food forestry across Europe on the dome screen. 2 October, 17:00, Museon-Omniversum dometheater. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Church hall festival asks what fair food means: A working group of Hague churches is holding an afternoon on food, health and sustainability on 7 November in Haagse Hout. Workshops, stands and tastings fill the programme.
Shared lunch and live storytelling for older adults: Guests over fifty-five gather for coffee, music, lunch, and a newly commissioned story read by a local student. 2 October, 12:30 - 14:00, Bibliotheek Ypenburg. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Sjoelen and jeu de boules on Valkenbosplein on Sunday 11 October: The ValkenbosCultuurPlein group is putting sjoelen and jeu de boules on the square from 11:00 to 14:00. A Meet&Greet over coffee runs alongside, and sjoelen entries can still be made on the day.
Drop into a Friday improv lesson, taught in English: Two hours of exercises led by a trainer from Improv Utrecht, no experience needed and most people turn up alone. 2 October, 20:00, Buurthuis De Speler. 📅 CLASS
Bone health and movement advice at PeriMind Café: Specialist Bridget Kelleher and trainer Amy Forch share practical tips on staying active during perimenopause. 2 October, 18:30 - 20:30, The ALD Boutique Hotel. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
De Nationale Voorleeslunch shares author Joke van Leeuwen's story: Over-55s sit down together for lunch while listening to a reading of a newly commissioned story. 2 October, 11:30 - 14:30, Bibliotheek Mariahoeve. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Informal book chat over morning coffee at Boekenbabbel: Drop by for coffee and biscuits to swap reading ideas with fellow neighbourhood book lovers. 2 October, 10:00, Bibliotheek Bomenbuurt. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
NDT Young Creatives Intensive, where dancers tell their own story: Young makers work on telling their own story in movement, an intensive rather than a drop-in class. 2 October, Amare Studio, Amare. 📅 WORKSHOP
Happy Friday Borrel returns to Hofhouse with DJs and cocktails: Cocktails, DJs and a dance floor running through until one, the first of three editions listed this autumn. 2 October, 20:00, Hofhouse. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
A day of short papers on humanitarian justice at the ISS: Roughly thirty ten-minute papers on humanitarian law, climate, migration and whether the current aid system still holds up. 2 October, 09:30 - 17:00, International Institute of Social Studies, Room 4.01. 📅 CONFERENCE
Scope Workspace open desks for regional filmmakers: A studio desk, hot drinks and structured feedback sessions for regional screenwriters, directors and crew working through projects. 2 October, 9:00 - 17:00, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. 📅 NETWORKING
Help shape how young people fit into Partos's work: Young people with no professional background needed help turn July's ideas into advice for the board, with a volunteer fee and travel covered. 2 October, 14:00 - 15:30, The Hague Humanity Hub. 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Inception (Prime Video), Agnelli (HBO Max), Last Christmas (SkyShowtime), Medusa (Netflix)
New on the big screen: The Odyssey is now showing at 4 cinemas, and Toy Story 5 at 3 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post about a housing block in The Hague dealing with a persistent pharaoh ant infestation for years, with replies debating whether DIY treatments like baking soda could work versus the need for professional pest control, and noting that coordinating treatment across all residents is nearly impossible since the ants nest in shared walls.
Today's supermarket deals: Snickers Caramel peanut ice bar (25% off) from Albert Heijn, Valess meat substitutes (2 for €4.99) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Housed inside The Hague's Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice is the only one of the UN's principal organs not headquartered in New York City.
37 years ago today: On October 2nd, 1989, RTL Véronique launched as the Netherlands' first commercial TV channel via a Luxembourg licensing loophole, later becoming RTL4.
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in The Hague over the next seven days.
• Science Weekend in The Hague · Sunday 4 October
• The Hague Cocktail Week · Sunday 4 October
• Food La Route - Scheveningen Harbour · Thursday 8 October
• Museum Night The Hague · Saturday 10 October
• International Minerals Fair · Saturday 3 October to Sunday 4 October, De Broodfabriek: Expo & Event Center
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: In tomorrow's edition: Open Dag Haags Gemeentearchief at Atrium Den Haag, Japandi at Oud-katholieke schuilkerk van de H.H. Jacobus en Augustinus, and Open Ateliers Den Haag at Centrum Den Haag.
Have a great Friday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
October brings cooler mornings to the city, and the season shifts toward longer evenings.
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