Thursday October 15, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: the Dunes beach pavilion closes at Kijkduin after losses, hundreds of subsidised jobs are at risk in the city, and medieval jugs dug up behind the Ridderzaal go on free display.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 20°C / 68°F (2° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 13°C / 56°F · 0% chance of rain · wind S 18 km/h (10 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Good cycling all day.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 08:07 · Sunset 18:48 · Waxing Crescent · Moonrise 14:00 · Golden hour 18:18 to 18:48
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 35) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,139 (+0.9%) · S&P 500 7,805 (-0.0%) · €1 = $1.12 · $1 = €0.89
Beach pavilion Dunes closes at Kijkduin after losses: Owner Arjen Schrama says visitor numbers never recovered after the city's redevelopment works at the seaside resort. It is the third hospitality business to leave Kijkduin in a few months.
Hundreds of subsidised jobs at risk in The Hague: Union FNV says the city's STiP scheme has moved around 1,400 people from benefits into lasting work. The alderman says a decision is expected in November.
Draft plan would make Han Stijkelplein greener: A draft plan for Han Stijkelplein in Duttendel adds planting, recreation areas and space around a memorial. Residents and businesses can comment until Friday, 16 October.
Five generations of one Hague family celebrate new arrival: The birth of Lex Boelhouwer in 2026 means Tiny Vlaardingerbroek, 93, now has five generations of descendants born in The Hague. The family includes more than 70 people, including partners.
Two speed cameras return to Wippolderlaan: Two speed cameras have been installed at new locations on the Wippolderlaan, replacing units removed during road reconstruction. They will monitor traffic towards The Hague and the A4, where speeding remains a concern.
Hague students' mushroom soup in running for Christmas soup title: Students at ROC Mondriaan prepared 12 litres of mushroom soup for visitors to the Hague Soup Bus. Their entry is in the running for the 2026 Christmas soup title, with the winner announced on 11 November.
Three nominees named for each Hague literature prize: The 2026 shortlist includes three writers in each of the poetry, prose and children’s literature categories for the first time. Winners will be announced at a January ceremony at Theater aan het Spui.
A saxophone quartet plays a lunchtime concert: Student musicians play a free half-hour set of live music, with time afterwards to chat with the players. 15 October, 12:30 - 13:00, Centrale Bibliotheek, 1e verdieping, Studio B. CLASSICAL
Blanks in PAARD's Kleine Zaal, with Judith opening: Simon de Wit's project airs new songs and stories from his time in the US, with Judith opening. 15 October, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
SKYAA, Thor Kissing and Tara Pasveer on one Grey Space bill: Three emerging Hague acts in an alternative space, leaning indie, neo-soul and art pop, with English-language songs from SKYAA. 15 October, 19:30, The Grey Space in The Middle. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Jam with jazz, soul and R&B at Dune Sessions: Monthly jam in the GR8 room, hosted by Jermaine Berkhoudt, jazz at the core with soul and R&B welcome. 15 October, 20:00, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. SINGER-SONGWRITER
El Greco, Dürer and Van Eyck in the Thyssen-Bornemisza exchange: Twenty-five loans from Madrid, hung around love in its many forms, by artists Dutch museums rarely hold. 15 October, 10:00, Mauritshuis. ART / MUSEUMS
Free display of medieval jugs dug up behind the Ridderzaal: City archaeologists found dozens of 13th and 14th century pots at the bottom of a filled-in moat. 15 October, 10:00, Informatiecentrum Binnenhof Renovatie. ART / MUSEUMS
Melinda Meijs hangs by her hair in Ode to the Gabber: Fifteen minutes of hair-hanging and hakken from a Hague firefighter and circus performer, about gabber stigma, no Dutch needed. 15 October, 19:30, Korzo theater. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Wicked Little Letters with an art historian's introduction and coffee first: Anne Marie Boorsma sets up the 100-minute Olivia Colman comedy, and one combined ticket covers talk, drink and film. 15 October, Theater Ludens. FILM
Magical Burlesque Dinnershow at BY AMI, six courses between the acts: Dinner arrives course by course while feather dancers, an illusionist and live musicians work the room in the Binnenstad. 15 October, 18:00, BY AMI Urban Bistro. THEATER
Korean folk horror The Wailing on screen: Hong-jin Na's supernatural village mystery runs two and a half hours, screened in Korean with English subtitles. 15 October, 20:45, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. FILM
Hidden night life of Hague city animals, a free lecture in Mariahoeve: Two nature guides on which creatures are active after dark, why darkness matters to them, and what you can do. 15 October, 19:30, Wijkcentrum Mariahoeve. TALKS / IDEAS
Learn to hakken with Pim Fontijn at Korzo: No dance experience needed and no special shoes, just 90s hardcore classics and a choreographer who once toured with Scooter. 15 October, 18:00, Korzo theater. WORKSHOP
Guided walk through De Passage, ending on the Novotel roof terrace: Annemiek or Frank take the group through the country's oldest covered arcade, a photo display and an empty upper floor. 15 October, 10:00, De Passage. TOUR
Hague Hoppers swing dance night, free, with a live band: A free beginner workshop comes first, then open floor dancing to a live band, with everyone welcome. 15 October, 19:00, Amare Studio, Amare. CLASS
Ecstatic Dance at the Zeeheldentheater, no steps to learn: No choreography, no drinks on the floor and little talking, while the dj builds from calm to energetic. 15 October, 19:30, Zeeheldentheater. SPORTS
Hour of drinks and introductions at Social Talk Den Haag: This ticket covers the drinks hour only, an open round of introductions for entrepreneurs, social enterprises and partners. 15 October, 17:00 - 18:00, Brouwerij de Prael. NETWORKING
ROK-NL Think-Tank Dialogue on the Indo-Pacific: Policy researchers and regional specialists meet for a two-and-a-half-hour strategic discussion on bilateral security and diplomacy. 15 October, 15:30 - 18:00, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies. SEMINAR / TALK
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Date Movie (Prime Video), 100 Days of Deception (Netflix), 90 Day: The Last Resort (HBO Max), Deadly Tag (Disney+)
New on the big screen: Street Fighter arrives at 3 cinemas, and L'Inconnue at Filmhuis Den Haag and Pathé Buitenhof. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: Hotel recommendations for The Hague included Des Indes for Christmas and various options near the beach or city center.
Did you know? In 1971, collector Sal Slijper gave 190 Mondrian works to Kunstmuseum Den Haag in a single gift, instantly cementing the city as the artist's global headquarters.
109 years ago today: On October 15th, 1917, Dutch-born exotic dancer and accused spy Mata Hari was executed by firing squad near Paris, becoming a lasting symbol of espionage intrigue.
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in The Hague over the next seven days.
• Festival De Betovering · Saturday 17 October
• Neuzelbeurs · Saturday 17 October to Sunday 18 October, De Broodfabriek
• Circus UP · Friday 16 October
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: Dotan plays PAARD, De Mesdag Collectie opens James McNeill Whistler: Verliefd op Nederland, and the last tickets go for the Cesar Zuiderwijk drummer theatre special try-out.
Have a great Thursday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
Mid October has the city's trees turning, so the walk home is worth taking slowly.
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