Saturday October 17, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: a city archaeologist digs up a 600-year-old gold ring at the Binnenhof, 25 masterpieces from Madrid go on show at the Mauritshuis, and the Neuzelbeurs vintage market returns with more than 200 stalls.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 14°C / 58°F (4° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 11°C / 51°F · 76% chance of rain · wind N 24 km/h (13 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Wet from early morning, take the tram.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 08:10 · Sunset 18:44 · First Quarter · Moonrise 15:32 · Golden hour 18:14 to 18:44
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 23) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,143 (+0.9%) · S&P 500 7,655 (-1.2%) · €1 = $1.13 · $1 = €0.89
City archaeologist finds 600-year-old gold ring at the Binnenhof: The ring was found during renovation work at the Binnenhof and carries an inscription that may refer to a promise of loyalty. It is temporarily on display at the renovation information centre.
Government scraps €270 million for more metros between The Hague and Rotterdam: The Dutch government has withdrawn its planned contribution to capacity upgrades for the metro and RandstadRail. The proposals included five-minute metro services and longer trams on three lines.
The Hague towers to have fewer social homes: The Grace developer wants to cut social rental homes from 317 to 132, while increasing the number of homes in the free sector. Student housing will count towards the project’s social-housing share.
25 masterpieces from Madrid now at the Mauritshuis: The Mauritshuis and Madrid's Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza have swapped 25 paintings each for one showing only. Both exhibitions run until 17 January 2027 and share a single theme: love.
Monster pool De Boei to close over safety concerns: Pool De Boei will close permanently on 15 November 2026 after an inspection found it no longer met legal quality and safety standards. Its operator says it is exploring other activities and forms of exercise for clients.
Hague deputy mayor wants looser noise rules for nightlife: Deputy mayor Richard de Mos wants to review current limits with the Hague Night Council and other partners. The review will consider locations with fewer nearby homes and where agreements with residents are possible.
Hague bistro Le Café serves classic French dishes: Le Café in the Hofkwartier is praised for its lived-in atmosphere and traditional cooking. A review singles out the bavette and steak tartare, but finds its profiteroles disappointing.
The Hague SP opens Ooievaarspas reporting point: The Hague SP is gathering accounts from Ooievaarspas users as the coalition considers tightening eligibility. The party says more than 8,000 households could lose access under the proposed change.
Play in an orchestra with Hofstads Youth Orchestra: Children aged five and up play percussion and boomwhackers, learn a short piece, try instruments and watch a Hofstads Youth Orchestra rehearsal. 17 October, Hofstads Jeugd Orkest. KIDS WORKSHOP
De Betovering: Ro©k toddler musical theatre: Performer Mariska Simon wears an acoustic globe dress to sing multilingual songs for toddlers and their families. 17 October, 14:30 - 15:15, Bibliotheek Segbroek. FAMILY SHOW
Miniatures and chewing-gum art at De Betovering Festivalcentrum: Children build pocket-sized puppet likenesses and add chewed gum to a shared installation before afternoon performances. 17 October, Theater aan het Spui - Zaal 2. KIDS WORKSHOP
Make a stop-motion film from clay, paper and figures: Children aged five to seven make a short animated film using stop motion and figures made from clay, paper or other materials. 17 October, Het Filmhuis. KIDS WORKSHOP
Maurits Mouse Makes Friends, art-making for young children: Children aged four to six look at Spanish art, then make a work to take home; an adult must accompany each child. 17 October, 10:00, Mauritshuis. KIDS WORKSHOP
Ratatouille on screen in a Dutch-language family screening: Brad Bird's 2007 animation follows Remy, a rat who dreams of cooking, in a Dutch-language screening with no subtitles. 17 October, Flora Filmtheater. FAMILY SHOW
Free State Jazz Festival spreads contemporary jazz across Grote Markt: Free contemporary jazz runs across four Popdistrict venues, with a programme exploring varied, less conventional sides of the genre. 17 October, 20:00, Grote Markt. JAZZ / BLUES
War Requiem: Music for Peace and Justice, performed by 225 musicians: More than 225 musicians perform Britten's work, combining the Latin Requiem mass with poems by Wilfred Owen. 17 October, 20:15, Grote Kerk. CLASSICAL
Ground Control, a Bowie tribute spanning his musical career: Ground Control interprets songs from across Bowie's career, from “Space Oddity” to “Lazarus,” with visuals featuring his stage alter egos. 17 October, 20:00, Musicon. POP / ROCK
Joost Oomen & Kruidkoek mix punk jazz, poetry and performance: Punk jazz, poetry and performance combine as Kruidkoek's musicians back Joost Oomen, with fruit, a gong and audience singalongs. 17 October, 19:30, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. WORLD / FOLK
Slagerij van Kampen's Rhythm of Freedom in percussion: For decades, Slagerij van Kampen has performed percussion shows combining world influences with pure rhythm. 17 October, 20:15, Theater de Veste. WORLD / FOLK
Sandokan Reunion brings disco and dance classics back: DJs Harry Mulder and Dennis Oliviera, with MC Tony Renzo, play disco, pop and dance classics from the 1970s and 1980s. 17 October, 20:00, Podium aan Zee. POP / ROCK
Capella Sine Nomine: Misses Only, two French masses: The choir sings two French-composer masses, including the world premiere of André Vis's arrangement of Cécile Chaminade's work, alongside music by Massenet, Saint-Saëns and Poulenc. 17 October, 20:00, Onze Lieve Vrouw Hemelvaartkerk. CHOIR / VOCAL
Neuzelbeurs vintage market returns with more than 200 stalls: More than 200 stalls offer vintage, clothes, toys, books, games, records, tableware and collectibles, with each seller bringing a different mix. 17 October, 10:00 - 17:00, De Broodfabriek. FOOD / MARKETS
Greg Shapiro's King Me: 250 Years of Donald Trump: Shapiro's English-language solo show mixes stand-up, political storytelling and Trump impressions, reflecting on US independence's 250th anniversary and the midterm elections. 17 October, 20:30, Theater Ludens. COMEDY
The De Witt brothers' final hours, retraced at the murder site: A guided tour follows Johan and Cornelis de Witt's final hours in 1672, at the site of their murder. 17 October, 11:30, Museum de Gevangenpoort. ART / MUSEUMS
The Story of Harvest, folklore and cinematic sculptures: Igor Schiller's free exhibition combines sculptures, costumes and props with Balkan folklore, agricultural rituals and the artist's personal history. 17 October, 11:00, Das Leben am Haverkamp. ART / MUSEUMS
True to Our Inner Daemon with director Q&A: Tassos Gkoletsos visits to unpack his Greek film alongside festival curator Calliope Tsoupaki directly following the morning projection. 17 October, 11:00, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FILM
Base Line: Music Meets Art, instruments brought back to sound: Instruments from the museum's collection are shown and heard alongside contemporary art, marking the Royal Conservatoire's 200th anniversary. 17 October, 10:00, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Universal Language: Concrete Composure examines art and AI: This free exhibition brings together four international artists exploring art, language, technology and AI through poetry algorithms, voice work and karaoke. 17 October, 12:00, Stroom Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Free Open Doors brings food, dancing and neighbourhood activities: Open Doors is a free neighbourhood afternoon with possible workshops, local planning, dancing, food and film; dinner and cinema tickets cost extra. 17 October, 15:00 - 20:00, Weimar's Wijkpaleis. SOCIAL / DRINKS
Gilde Den Haag's guided walk through Clingendael: A guide leads walks through the estate's house, gardens, ponds and woodland, with the Japanese garden included if possible. 17 October, 11:00, Landgoed Clingendael. TOUR
Palette-knife painting for beginners and curious artists: Beginners and experienced painters use palette knives to make vibrant, textured paintings in this hands-on session for participants aged 15 and older. 17 October, 15:00 - 17:30, Reykjavikweg 1. WORKSHOP
Group visits and guided tours at Escher in Het Paleis: Groups can arrange museum visits and guided tours, with standard admission listed at €14.50 for the listed dates. 17 October, 11:00 - 17:00, Escher in Het Paleis. TOUR
OFFprojects open class welcomes movers of every level: Amos Ben-Tal leads movement sessions for amateur and professional dancers, with instruction and no experience required; all ages and levels are welcome. 17 October, 10:30, Korzo theater. CLASS
Dandiya Garba, sticks and colourful dancing for newcomers too: Dancers of all levels try dandiya-stick dances in colourful attire; newcomers are welcome, and attendees are asked to bring their own sticks. 17 October, 16:30 - 21:30, Vlaskamp 3. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Collision (HBO Max), Doctor X: Mafia in White (Netflix), Ek Thi Daayan (Prime Video), Konuşanlar (Disney+)
New on the big screen: Fall 2: Deadpoint is now showing at 3 cinemas, and Resident Evil at 3 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A thread criticized the city for counting student housing as social housing to meet subsidy requirements for a new tower.
Today's supermarket deals: Alcohol-free beers from Hertog Jan, Corona, Leffe or Tripel Karmeliet (2+1 free) from Jumbo, Doritos or Lay's Max (2 for €2.99) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Despite being founded in 1682, The Hague's art academy only earned the right to call itself "Royal" in 1957.
191 years ago today: On October 17th, 1835, explorer Alexine Tinne was born in The Hague; she later attempted to cross the Sahara Desert.
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in The Hague over the next seven days.
• Festival De Betovering · Saturday 17 October to Sunday 25 October, Centrum Den Haag
• Circus Chapito · Friday 16 October to Sunday 25 October, Zuiderpark
• Neuzelbeurs · Saturday 17 October to Sunday 18 October, De Broodfabriek
• Boerenmarkt · Wednesday 21 October
• Haagse Korfbal Dagen · Tuesday 20 October
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: The Lemonheads play PAARD, the 8+ show Nu is het nog rustig runs at Het Nationale Theater's Koninklijke Schouwburg, and the walking tour Wandeling Den Haag en Slavernij sets off from the Haags Historisch Museum.
Have a great Saturday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
The light goes amber over the city this time of year, and it suits the old stones around the Binnenhof.
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