Thursday September 17, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: old wall paintings emerge during renovations in Voorburg, Pokémon fans queue outside an early shop on Spuistraat, and robotic arms join live strings in Nick Verstand's Cocon.
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 17°C / 63°F (2° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 15°C / 58°F · 67% chance of rain · wind SW 23 km/h (12 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Dry until about 12:00, wet after that.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:20 · Sunset 19:53 · First Quarter · Moonrise 15:13 · Golden hour 19:23 to 19:53
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 21) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,096 (+0.0%) · S&P 500 7,517 (-0.9%) · €1 = $1.15 · $1 = €0.87
Civil shoplifting fee increases to 242 euros: Retailers will be able to claim higher compensation from caught shoplifters starting 14 September 2026. The charge rises from 181 euros following a legal review and inflation adjustments.
Centuries-old wall paintings discovered in Voorburg home: Four historic paintings were found behind the interior walls of a listed building from 1533. The unveiling of the artwork has been captured on film.
Petition opposes public cuts at National Archives: Multiple organisations have launched an appeal against plans to end exhibitions and private collections at the archive. The petition received hundreds of signatures in its first two days.
Pokémon fans queue early on Spuistraat for anniversary cards: Collectors lined up outside the Intertoys toy store early on Wednesday morning for a limited release. The special cards mark the 30th anniversary of the franchise.
Health insurance deductible rises to €400 next year: Monthly premiums are also expected to climb by €12.50 to around €169. A larger planned increase in the excess was dropped after failing to find support in parliament.
Government presents budget plans for 2027: Purchasing power will dip slightly while healthcare costs and deductibles rise across the board. The cabinet plans targeted tax relief, childcare increases, and funding for housing.
Solar panel owners prepare to sell power to neighbours: New options will allow solar panel owners to trade excess electricity locally. Businesses are preparing services to assist households and homeowners associations with the sales.
Puppet show Olifant en Krokodil in Mariahoeve: Forty-five minutes of puppet theatre following the adventures of Elephant and Crocodile for young children and parents. 17 September, 15:30 - 16:15, Bibliotheek Mariahoeve. 📅 FAMILY SHOW
Picture books and crafting at English Storytime: Children aged four to eight gather for an English picture-book reading followed by a hands-on art activity. 17 September, 16:00, Library Benoordenhout. 📅 STORY / READING
Doe-eiland voor kids hands-on play session: See the listing for details. 17 September. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Dutch landmarks, DJ tables, and water barriers at Madurodam: Scale models, interactive storm-surge barriers, and outdoor games give families an easy walk through Dutch history and engineering. 17 September, Madurodam. 📅 MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Robotic arms and live strings in Nick Verstand's Cocon: Eight cellists play inside an enclosure of mechanical limbs moving dynamically in response to the live musical score. 17 September, 20:15, Korzo. 📅 CLASSICAL
Romantic vocal recitals at the Liedmasterclass-presentatie: Conservatory students conclude an intensive workshop week, sharing classical German art songs accompanied on the grand piano. 17 September, Amare, Conservatoriumzaal. 📅 CLASSICAL
VoxTechnik brings eighties synth-pop and a robot frontman: A four-piece band plays Italo-disco and synth-pop alongside archival screen projections and a resident mechanical frontman. 17 September, PAARD. 📅 POP / ROCK
Violin and cello duos by Duo Dorico over lunch: Two conservatoire graduates play Martinů and Kodály together, with a hot cup of tea or coffee included. 17 September, Theater Ludens. 📅 CLASSICAL
Soul, jazz and hip hop at Dune Sessions: Conservatory musicians and emerging artists trade verses and instrumental solos across an unscripted three-hour talent showcase. 17 September, Gr8. 📅 SINGER-SONGWRITER
Belfast guitarist Dom Martin plays live acoustic blues: Raw Belfast blues from a UK Blues Hall of Fame inductee, playing a stripped-back headline guitar set. 17 September, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. 📅 JAZZ / BLUES
Douglas Stuart at BorderKitchen for John, Son of John: The Scottish Booker Prize winner talks in detail about his craft, background, and newest novel with an interviewer. 17 September, Het Nationale Theater - Theater aan het Spui. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Reflections on Fashion: 75 Years of Museum Style: Guest curators pull iconic Givenchy, Chanel, and Iris van Herpen pieces straight from the vaults. 17 September, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
Up-and-coming comedy talent at Cameretten Voorronde: Five emerging acts compete with short sets to earn their spot in the long-running national cabaret semi-finals. 17 September, De Regentes. 📅 COMEDY
Performance, film screenings and conversation at Spui 130: A live performance and two film screenings pair with an audience discussion highlighting contemporary works in the Textura exhibition. 17 September, 19:00 - 23:00, Spui 130. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
A lecture on Anna van Hannover's 18th-century letters: Historian Ineke Huysman dissects personal correspondence showing the close political alliance between stadtholder Willem IV and his wife. 17 September, 18:00 - 19:30, Bibliotheek Mariahoeve. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Studio Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart on the big screen: Japanese animation screened in the original dialogue with English subtitles, telling an everyday coming-of-age story in Tokyo. 17 September, Flora Filmtheater. 📅 FILM
Lars von Trier's Melancholia with art history lecture: Art historian Anne Marie Boorsma introduces Lars von Trier's 2011 drama over a complimentary cup of tea. 17 September, Theater Ludens. 📅 FILM
Stalls of curiosities and prints at Haagse Antiek- en Boekenmarkt: Browse rows of vintage prints, books, and antique objects under the linden trees while a street organ plays. 17 September, Lange Voorhout. 📅 FOOD / MARKETS
De Haagsche Dierentuin exhibition at the Provinciehuis: Original artefacts, scale models, and archival photographs show the historic zoo that once stood on these grounds until 1943. 17 September, Provinciehuis. 📅 TOUR
Live band and social dancing with Hague Hoppers: A free introductory swing workshop leads directly into open social dancing with a live swing band. 17 September, Amare, Kunstenplein. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Explore hidden courtyards on a Gilde Den Haag Hofjeswandeling: A Dutch-language guided stroll weaves between secluded inner gardens, starting outside 't Goude Hooft and ending at Westeinde. 17 September, Restaurant 't Goude Hooft. 📅 TOUR
Carve and hand-print custom cards at Brouwersgracht 50: Beginners learn to transfer sketches, cut soft linoleum blocks, and print their own stationery over evening drinks. 17 September, 19:00 - 21:00, Brouwersgracht 50, Den Haag. 📅 WORKSHOP
Marine-themed acrylic painting session with snacks and drinks: You watch an introductory presentation, grab an apron, and paint coral and sea creatures using supplied acrylic materials. 17 September, 18:00 - 21:00, Will & Tate City Stay. 📅 WORKSHOP
Eight-weekly Dutch book group in Benoordenhout: Adult readers choose titles together for open group discussion, with free entry and no library card needed. 17 September, 14:00, Bibliotheek Benoordenhout. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
Join the monthly adidas Community Run at Mall of the Netherlands: A coach-led evening jog for any pace, complete with shoe trials, secure bag drop, and post-run drinks. 17 September, 18:30 - 21:00, Westfield Mall of the Netherlands, adidas Brand Center. 📅 SPORTS
Community Drinks on artificial intelligence ethics and policy: Short spotlight talks on tech ethics lead into open discussions and drinks for local non-profit and policy professionals. 17 September, 17:30 - 19:00, The Hague Humanity Hub. 📅 NETWORKING
Microsoft & Security NL meetup talks AI and identity defense: Specialists discuss SaaS vulnerabilities and Defender tools, followed by technical discussions, dinner, drinks, and a pub quiz. 17 September, 17:00, Union House. 📅 NETWORKING
Nx workspaces and LLM token management at Dutch Angular Meetup: Two technical presentations in English, paired with dinner and drinks, cover modular architectures and Neo4j codebase knowledge graphs. 17 September, 18:00 - 22:00, FrontValue. 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Last Seen (Apple TV), Baylen Out Loud (HBO Max), Made in Korea (Disney+), Gangs of New York (Netflix)
New on the big screen: No Good Men arrives at 5 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post asking for reliable independent BMW mechanics around The Hague prompted recommendations for shops like P Motorsport in Poeldijk, James Autoservice Nieuwenhuijsen and TRC Motors in Rijswijk, and Bisram near De Verademing.
Today's supermarket deals: AH French cream brie 60+ (3 for €6.00) from Albert Heijn, Page complete clean or sensitive (1+1 free) from Jumbo.
Did you know? After the King's Prinsjesdag speech in The Hague's Ridderzaal, the Senate president leads the whole hall in three synchronized shouts of "Hoera! Hoera! Hoera!"
13 years ago today: On September 17th, 2013, King Willem-Alexander became the first king in 128 years to deliver the Speech from the Throne in The Hague.
In tomorrow’s edition: Het Dineum pop-up museum voor eetbare kunst opens, Hemels Gewelf marks its 30th anniversary, and Clipper Stad Amsterdam departs on a day trip.
Have a great Thursday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
Brisk autumn air is settling across the coastline this morning.
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