A large-scale enforcement operation in The Hague city centre uncovered a range of violations, from the illegal sale of cigarettes, snus and vapes to drink-driving, fare evasion and housing irregularities. Authorities also identified more than €1.8 million in outstanding tax debt.
During the coordinated operation on Friday 4 September, teams from the police, municipality and several other organisations carried out checks across the city centre.
The operation focused on keeping the area safe and liveable. The city centre attracts large numbers of visitors, particularly on Friday evenings, and residents regularly experience nuisance associated with nightlife and hospitality venues.
Traffic checks at Prins Bernhardviaduct
A traffic checkpoint was set up beneath the Prins Bernhardviaduct, one of the main routes into the city centre from the A12. Alcohol and drug tests were also carried out.
A total of 96 vehicles were checked, with 30 drivers fined for various offences. One driver was fined for driving under the influence. A knife was also found and a balaclava was confiscated.
Police checked one taxi which was operating without a taximeter and was not registered in the taxi transport database. The driver was also found to have repeatedly breached working and rest-time regulations. The fines for the taxi driver ultimately totalled more than €2,000.
The Dutch Tax and Customs Administration checked 35 vehicles for unpaid motor vehicle tax. More than €1.8 million in outstanding tax debt was identified, with more than €30,000 collected during the operation. One vehicle was seized.
The municipality’s scanning team checked 3,795 vehicles. Fifteen vehicle owners will receive an additional parking charge after failing to pay the required parking fee.
Parking enforcement officers also issued several fines for illegal parking and stopping in the middle of the road. Enforcement officers on bicycles issued 14 fines for using soft drugs in public, eight for drinking alcohol in public and two for begging.
DNA taken from convicted offenders
The police Coordination of Enforcement Tasks team also took part in the operation. The team is responsible for locating convicted offenders, including fugitives.
DNA samples were taken from two convicted people, one of whom had been a fugitive since 2018.
Another convicted person was informed that the court had rejected their appeal. The individual was estimated to have gained €20,000 from growing and selling cannabis. The €20,000 must be repaid, alongside a 120-hour community service order and €1,800 in compensation.
Illegal tobacco sales
Ten businesses in the city centre were inspected as part of a joint hospitality-sector check involving municipal enforcement officers, police, Stedin, the fire service, Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) and the Haaglanden Environmental Service (ODH).
A number of irregularities were discovered. One supermarket did not have the correct alcohol licence, resulting in the immediate closure of its off-licence section.
Since 1 July 2024, supermarkets in the Netherlands have no longer been permitted to sell tobacco, while the sale of snus is also prohibited. However, inspectors found illegal cigarettes, flavoured vapes and snus being sold from under the counter at several local supermarkets.
More than 46 illegal packets of cigarettes, 55 flavoured vapes and 70 containers of snus were confiscated.
SZW is also investigating 34 employees for possible benefit fraud.
Fire safety was also checked, including whether fire extinguishers had been inspected, emergency exits were accessible and required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors were installed. Several businesses did not meet the requirements. Two businesses will undergo further comprehensive inspections because the fire risks were considered too high.
Housing checks
The Haagse Pandbrigade, which monitors the safety and legal use of buildings and homes, inspected 25 properties in the area.
At two Staedion properties, rental contracts may be terminated because tenants are suspected of failing to comply with the rules. The housing corporation has also opened investigations into tenants at another two properties.
Eleven people were found to be registered at addresses where they did not live, while eight people were living at addresses where they were not registered.
There were also three cases of possible benefit fraud and three cases where rents were considered too high.
The highest rent found was €2,100 per month for a property where the maximum permitted rent was €1,200, a difference of €900.
One property was disconnected by Stedin because there was no energy contract in place.
Public transport checks
HTM carried out ticket inspections at the Spui, Grote Markt and Brouwersgracht tram stops.
A total of 154 passengers received a €76 fine for being unable to show a valid ticket. Five fines of €119 were issued to passengers who could not show valid identification.
One passenger received a €170 fine for causing a disturbance on a tram. Police also confiscated a knife during the public transport checks.
Another passenger, who had checked in and had already been inspected, interfered with the checks and began behaving aggressively. After continuing to act in an intrusive manner, the passenger was arrested.
Coordinated approach
Area-based enforcement operations are regularly carried out in different neighbourhoods across The Hague to address safety, nuisance and other problems. This operation focused on the city centre.
Organisations involved included The Hague Police Unit, Haagse Pandbrigade, the city-centre enforcement team, parking enforcement teams, scanning teams, bicycle enforcement officers, the alcohol and hospitality team, HTM, Haaglanden Fire Brigade, Social Affairs and Employment, the Haaglanden Environmental Service, Staedion and the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.
Source & Images: Municipality of The Hague
