Alderman Richard de Mos (Economy) plans to introduce a new events policy in the first quarter of 2027. Fewer unnecessary regulations, more room for initiative and spontaneity, and attracting new crowd-pullers will be central to this stated Alderman De Mos during a committee meeting.
An evaluation shows that free events are under pressure and that The Hague has lost well-known events such as Parkpop, Tong Tong Fair, Festival Classique, and the Vuurwerkfestival. Moreover, organisers experience fragmentation between subsidies, permits, and various municipal departments.
Less bureaucracy
“An events city should not only make rules, but above all enable,” says De Mos. “Safety and liveability must be in order, but organisers with good ideas should not have to jump through endless municipal hoops. Less bureaucracy, more spontaneity, and events that The Hague residents can be proud of again.” This approach aligns with the broader effort to reduce municipal regulatory burden. For events, too, it is being examined how policy, subsidies, permits, and implementation can be better aligned.
The Passion to Kijkduin
Furthermore, during the committee meeting, Alderman De Mos pledged to investigate whether The Passion could come to The Hague, with Kijkduin as a possible location. “Kijkduin could use a great crowd puller. The Passion has national appeal and attracts many visitors. We are going to seriously investigate whether it can land there and what is needed for that.”
Two million extra
From 2028, the city council will allocate an additional two million euros annually for events. De Mos: “The Hague needs to buzz again. With major crowd-pullers, new Hague icons, and good free events. Not more rules to organise something, but looking at which rules can be dropped to make something possible.”
Source: Gemeente Den Haag
Image & Translation: The Hague Online