Monday October 12, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: An otter family is confirmed in the Meijendel dunes, and a Michelin mention brings crowds to a Hague ramen shop.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 18°C / 64°F (4° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 9°C / 48°F · 5% chance of rain · wind S 16 km/h (9 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Mostly fine, a shower is possible.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 08:02 · Sunset 18:55 · New Moon · Moonrise 10:25 · Golden hour 18:25 to 18:55
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 38) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,131 (+0.9%) · S&P 500 7,812 (+0.6%) · €1 = $1.12 · $1 = €0.89
Otter family confirmed in Meijendel dunes: DNA testing of otter droppings has confirmed that the protected animals are breeding in the coastal dunes. Researchers identified an adult female, a male and one offspring, with room for more.
Alderman fears a third of The Hague must be dug up for the power grid: Fixing the overloaded power grid means digging up streets across the city over the next ten years. Alderman Isabelle Broeders says 500 extra transformer boxes are needed in the country's most densely populated city.
The Hague flats get air cleaners after formaldehyde readings: Staedion is installing mobile air cleaners in 39 apartments on Lisztstraat after formaldehyde was found following insulation work. Seven residents have been offered temporary accommodation while the housing corporation investigates.
Michelin mention brings crowds to The Hague ramen shop: Owners Shuhei Kitano and Eva Sprinkhuizen are still surprised by the Michelin guide’s Bib recognition. Their small restaurant in a narrow lane near Lange Poten was already busy, and people now wait outside.
Broken escalators and lift leave Spui tram stop hard to reach: Two escalators at the stop and a lift to Grote Marktstraat have been under maintenance since early October. The disruption is causing significant difficulties for passengers with limited mobility.
VSCD Cabaret Award winners to be announced at The Hague's Diligentia: The annual gala will reveal winners across four categories, with nominations and awards decided by a professional jury. The prizes recognise cabaret programmes from the past season.
A brewery gave The Hague's Rode Leeuwstraat its name: Founded in 1643, De Rode Leeuw was The Hague’s second brewery. The narrow lane was once called Kuiperstraat, a reference to the barrel-makers who worked for the brewery.
Jasmine Myra's jazz saxophone blends ambient and modern sounds: Myra's saxophone-led concert combines jazz with ambient and contemporary instrumental influences, shaped by her work with young musicians in Leeds. 12 October, 20:00, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. JAZZ / BLUES
Monday's Sneak Preview reveals an upcoming French-language film: A Monday preview screening shows a soon-to-be-released film, spoken in French and subtitled in Dutch. 12 October, 21:35 (12 oktober), 21:30 (19, Flora Filmtheater. FILM
The Kidnapping of a President, based on Finnish history: A Finnish film based on a real 1930 kidnapping follows Lieutenant Eero after a drunken night sets an extraordinary order in motion. 12 October, 13:00, 19:00, 14:30, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FILM
Laak residents' art in Rauw Haags: Eleven emerging artists from Laak and nearby show their work; visitors can see it free from an hour before each performance. 12 October, 09:00, Laaktheater. THEATER
Marie Lucassen on pregnancy and what philosophy leaves out: Philosopher Marie Lucassen considers why pregnant women's experiences have been largely absent from philosophy and what the pregnant body can teach us. 12 October, 20:00, Het Nationale Theater - Zaal 3. TALKS / IDEAS
A writer's fiction blurs in Histoires Parallèles: Asghar Farhadi's French-language film follows a writer spying on her neighbors, until a homeless man unsettles the boundary between fiction and reality. 12 October, 15:15, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FILM
A centenary lecture on the grand department stores of The Hague: Archival images and architectural history trace how early retail palaces reshaped shopping and street life across the city. 12 October, 18:45 - 19:45, Bibliotheek Scheveningen. TALKS / IDEAS
Free autumn opening of Clingendael's Japanese Garden: The historic garden is open for a short autumn season, with timed reservations required and a smaller route available for wheelchair users. 12 October, 10:00, Landgoed Clingendael. OUTDOOR / ACTIVE
Critical Mass, an English-language evening of shared futures: Participants explore ideas and possible futures with experts in an interactive format; the conversation is conducted in English. 12 October, 19:00, Theater de Veste. TALKS / IDEAS
Behind the Scenes Tour traces aquarium care: A staff member explains animal care, aquarium technology and underwater stories, including visits to the feeding kitchen, ocean tank and filtration system. 12 October, 11:00, SEA LIFE Scheveningen. TOUR
The Green Camera, a long-running exhibition: The exhibition remains on view for six months, with daily access hours and date-specific calendar slots listed for visitors. 12 October, 09:30, Museon - Omniversum. ART / MUSEUMS
MUSIC! Move. Feel. Connect. as a daily exhibition: This daily exhibition runs across the coming year, with separate calendar slots listed for each date. 12 October, 09:30, Museon - Omniversum. ART / MUSEUMS
Mondrian and the Road to Abstraction: The exhibition follows Mondrian's development toward abstraction, showing a route through his changing approach to painting. 12 October, 10:00, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Jan van Goyen's panoramic View of The Hague: Painting exhibition at Atrium Den Haag. 12 October, 09:30, Atrium Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Layers, student photography on colour and identity: Hague secondary-school and vocational students use colour, background and image composition to make cultural identity visible through photography. 12 October, 11:00, Fotomuseum Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Celebrating the Icons of Art pairs contemporary and 20th-century works: The museum's tenth-anniversary exhibition brings collection pieces together with works including Ron Mueck's Boy and Nick Cave's The Devil, A Life. 12 October, 11:00, Museum Voorlinden. ART / MUSEUMS
Reclining Figures, sculpture from Moore to Opdebeeck: Sculptures by Henry Moore, Charlotte van Pallandt, Mimmo Paladino and Hans Opdebeeck show abstract and figurative approaches to the reclining figure. 12 October, 10:00, Museum Beelden aan Zee. ART / MUSEUMS
Spinoza workshop on body and mind: Short talks, seventeenth-century quotes, poetry and guided discussion unpack Spinoza's core philosophical ideas on body and mind. 12 October, 13:00, Bibliotheek Segbroek. WORKSHOP
Hobby & Routine Club pairs an evening walk with silent reading: The October club session combines a group walk and quiet reading, and people can attend weekly, every other week or once. 12 October, 20:00 - 22:30, Spoorwegmuseum. TOUR
Dungeons & Dragons Night at ABC The Hague: Three tables run by guest dungeon masters supply all dice and character sheets for fifteen total players. 12 October, 18:30 - 21:30, The American Book Center. GAMES / HOBBIES
Awaken, guided movement, breath and release in The Hague: Music, shaking, breath and free expression shape this guided session, which moves from gentle beginnings toward release and a quieter closing reflection. 12 October, 19:00, Another Kind of Blue. CLASS
Free pitching practice for cultural project ideas: Participants practise presenting a project or idea briefly, clearly and persuasively, with guidance from business coach Joep Bremmers. 12 October, 18:30, Het Koorenhuis. WORKSHOP / TRAINING
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Collision (HBO Max), The Power of One (Prime Video), El círculo (Netflix), Mission: Yozakura Family (Disney+)
New on the big screen: Sense and Sensibility is now showing at Flora and Pathé Buitenhof. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A morning walk photo sparked debate over whether an unusual building in the frame was real or AI generated.
Today's supermarket deals: L'OR Espresso deep lungo capsules (30% off) from Albert Heijn, Alle Calvé peanut butter (2e halve prijs) from Jumbo.
Did you know? The Hague's Escher museum is lit by fifteen custom chandeliers shaped like a shark, a skull, spiders, and a seahorse, all designed by Dutch artist Hans van Bentem.
92 years ago today: On October 12th, 1934, architect Richard Meier was born; he later designed The Hague's glass city hall, nicknamed "the Ice Palace."
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in The Hague over the next seven days.
• Eneco Tour cycling festival · Tuesday 13 October
• Boerenmarkt · Wednesday 14 October
• Kauwen & Bouwen festival · Saturday 17 October
• Festival De Betovering · Saturday 17 October
• Neuzelbeurs · Saturday 17 October to Sunday 18 October, De Broodfabriek
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: The Eneco Tour for pros starts at Sportcampus Zuiderpark alongside a day of cycling activities, a lecture on the eccentric Pieter Dircksz comes to Bibliotheek Benoordenhout, and a talk on Spinoza's heavenly earth takes place at Bibliotheek Nieuw Waldeck.
Have a great Monday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
The dunes are quiet this time of year, which may be exactly why the otters chose now to be seen.
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