Friday October 9, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: the city pushes for a direct train link to Brussels, a yellow hose crosses the Hofvijver, and a guided walk opens the royal rooms of Paleis Kneuterdijk.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 17°C / 63°F (1° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 10°C / 50°F · 76% chance of rain · wind SW 31 km/h (17 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Wet from early morning, take the tram.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:57 · Sunset 19:02 · New Moon · Moonrise 06:28 · Golden hour 18:32 to 19:02
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 22) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,121 (+0.3%) · S&P 500 7,754 (-0.6%) · €1 = $1.12 · $1 = €0.89
The Hague seeks direct train link to Brussels: The city has signed a manifesto backed by businesses, knowledge institutions and international groups, while inviting rail operators to discuss possible services. The target is 2029, when the Netherlands holds the EU Council presidency.
Kijkduin entrepreneurs say landlord KROM left them unable to open: Lilliana Neves and Xavier York say they cannot open Na Brasa on Kijkduin boulevard. Other business owners say they also never opened after making plans for the area.
Why a yellow hose crosses The Hague’s Hofvijver: A yellow tube in the Hofvijver is containing foam stirred up by sand works linked to the Binnenhof renovation. The foam is harmless, and fish can swim beneath it.
The Hague theatre offers access support across shows: Het Nationale Theater is offering audio description, sign-language interpreters, live text and other support at several productions. An online agenda filter helps visitors find shows with particular access features.
Girl with a Pearl Earring back at the Mauritshuis: The painting is hanging in its usual spot again after a trip to Osaka, Japan. Sjaak Bral marks the return in his daily column, now also available as audio.
Sowyen Martina, Laak's scooter-riding queen, dies at 53: Sowyen Martina, a familiar face in Laakkwartier, died at 53 after a life shaped by serious health problems and years of neighbourhood work. She campaigned for better access for disabled residents and organised events at Laaktheater.
The Hague charity fair traded help, not cash: Companies and community organisations will swap goods, expertise and labour at PEP Den Haag’s Maatschappelijke Beursvloer. Den Haag FM will broadcast live from the event on Thursday, 8 October.
Handball club gave Jay-Jay Scholtes support after his mother's death: After his mother died by suicide, Scholtes first shut himself away and fell into a dark period. Therapy and the support of teammates helped him keep going.
Sing along at De perfecte voorstelling: Young children join in with songs and acting during a live reading about stage-struck animals. 9 October, 16:00 - 16:30, Bibliotheek Ypenburg. FAMILY SHOW
Supafly opening concert: Greentea Peng blends soul, dub and jazz: The British singer’s set draws on soul, dub, jazz and alternative music, opening the 2026 Supafly programme. 9 October, 19:30, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. POP / ROCK
Prelude to a Kiss: Duke Ellington jazz tribute: Saxophonist David Lukács and double bassist Jos Machtel perform Ellington’s music with guest musicians; food and drinks are served throughout. 9 October, 20:00, JAZZ Coffee & Wines. JAZZ / BLUES
Jong KC’s free lunchtime concerts at Amare: Young Talent School students perform in choirs, chamber ensembles, as soloists and in combos during a 30-minute lunchtime concert. 9 October, 12:15, Amare Studio, Amare. CLASSICAL
Friends of Vocal Art: solo singers and classical songs: Solo singers perform songs by composers including Bach and Brahms, with an interval and drinks afterwards; non-members may attend or perform. 9 October, 20:00, Lutherse Kerk. CHOIR / VOCAL
Grandmas House plays a free set of raw guitar music: The band’s set features raw guitar riffs, a tight rhythm section and vocals at a city-centre live-music cafe. 9 October, 21:30, De Zwarte Ruiter. POP / ROCK
Music at the Table, dinner with cello improvisations: Shared dining accompanies Mexican cellist Ekahuil's original compositions and improvisations, drawing on metal, post-rock, classical music and Latin American folk. 9 October, Het Huisje van NOORD. CLASSICAL
Het Dineum: an edible-art museum tour: Small groups follow performance artists from installation to installation, where each edible artwork comes with a served portion. 9 October, 17:00, Het Dineum - Pop-up Museum voor Eetbare Kunst. ART / MUSEUMS
SOEKARNO: a play on power and independence: Bo Tarenskeen and Esther Scheldwacht portray the young and older Soekarno, against Indonesia’s independence struggle and questions of power and democracy. 9 October, 20:00, Koninklijke Schouwburg. THEATER
Escher & Islamic Contemporary Culture, patterns across generations: Around 30 works by 20 artists link Escher’s geometric patterns with contemporary art inspired by Islamic heritage, including ceramics, fashion and textiles. 9 October, 11:00, Escher in Het Paleis. ART / MUSEUMS
Golden Stage: Indo identity through seven artworks: Seven works by Gert and Natalie Boeijen recast iconic artworks to explore Indo identity, memory, community, colonial economies and cultural continuity. 9 October, 11:00, Museum Sophiahof - from the Indies to today. ART / MUSEUMS
Spinoza October Month 2026 brings philosophy around The Hague: Lectures, theatre, debates, workshops, tours and philosophical boat trips explore Spinoza’s life and ideas across The Hague and Voorburg. 9 October, 10:00, Centrum Den Haag. FESTIVALS
Mix & Match: Islamic art through a curator’s life story: Children’s author and teacher Kamalia Talhaoui selects Islamic applied art, including calligraphy, botanical motifs, celestial designs and a mosque lamp. 9 October, 10:00, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Free photos tracing The Hague’s swimming pool history: A timeline of photographs, stories and swimming memorabilia marks De Waterthor’s 50th anniversary and traces the city’s pools through time. 9 October, 07:00, Atrium Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
A guided walk through Paleis Kneuterdijk’s royal rooms: A guide leads from the old prison gate through the city to the former royal palace, including its Gothic Hall and ballroom. 9 October, 13:00, Paleis Kneuterdijk. TOUR
Gaming our Future Night: cooperative play in Wellbeing Utopia: Players take health-stakeholder roles, negotiating policies to bridge regional health gaps in the group’s collaborative board game. 9 October, 16:00 - 19:00, Huis van Actief Burgerschap. GAMES / HOBBIES
Long-exposure photography walk with filters across Den Haag: Bring a tripod and suitable lens to test ND and CPL filters for creative daytime exposures. 9 October, 15:00 - 16:30, Kamera Express Den Haag. WORKSHOP
City Moodscapes videowalk using phones and cameras: Follow visual creator Nadiya along an urban route, capturing atmospheric details and storytelling on your own gear. 9 October, 13:00 - 15:00, Kamera Express Den Haag. WORKSHOP
Korzo x Latin Soul Dance: merengue, workshops and social dancing: The programme pairs beginner-friendly dance workshops with live music, performances, Latin American food and stories; no Dutch is needed. 9 October, 20:15, Korzo theater. SPORTS
Early Bird Dune Walk through Hollandse Duinen: A Dunea guide leads this early-morning route over sometimes difficult, unpaved ground between Monster and Katwijk; it’s unsuitable for wheels. 9 October, 07:00, Dunea. TOUR
Tour the Dutch House of Representatives with ProDemos: The tour gives visitors a look inside the Dutch House of Representatives, with visits offered Monday to Saturday. 9 October, 09:30, ProDemos - Huis voor democratie en rechtsstaat. TOUR
A shared desk for filmmakers at Scope Workspace: Local screenwriters, producers, and directors set up in Studio B with coffee vouchers and peer feedback. 9 October, 09:00 - 17:00, Filmhuis Den Haag: Studio B. NETWORKING
Shift to Thrive 2026 builds career readiness for migrant women: This seven-week programme meets weekly to develop career readiness and resilience for migrant women navigating work and life in a new city. 9 October, 12:00 - 16:00, The Hague Humanity Hub. WORKSHOP / TRAINING
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Good Luck Guys: Overleven Zonder Filter (Prime Video), Buzz (HBO Max), Bananas! (Netflix), Deadly Tag (Disney+)
New on the big screen: The Social Reckoning is now showing at 5 cinemas, and Wen Er Maar Aan at 4 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post seeking hairdresser recommendations for a difficult toddler; replies suggested trying a kids-only salon that specializes in anxious children.
Today's supermarket deals: Perla Superiore Finest dark roast coffee beans (2+1 free) from Albert Heijn, Alle Honey meal or soup mixes (2 for €2.99) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Marcel Proust so loved Vermeer's "View of Delft," on display in The Hague's Mauritshuis, that he called it possibly "the most beautiful painting in the world."
59 years ago today: On October 9th, 1967, artist Phil Bloom sat fully nude reading a newspaper on VPRO's Hoepla, the most notorious nude scene of early Dutch television.
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in The Hague over the next seven days.
• Museum Night The Hague · Saturday 10 October
• Food La Route - Central The Hague · Sunday 11 October
• Mondriaan & The Path to Abstraction · Saturday 10 October to Friday 31 December, Kunstmuseum Den Haag
• Eneco Tour Cycling Festival · Tuesday 13 October
• Neuzelbeurs Flea Market · 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: Museumnacht Den Haag takes place across the city.
Have a great Friday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
October has settled in around the Hofvijver, and the evenings are arriving early now.
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