A new bowling centre is planned for Kijkduin, taking over the premises of Dunes as the hospitality venue closes its doors. The centre aims to give families, friends and groups somewhere to enjoy an outing throughout the year, including outside the beach season.
The project is being developed by hospitality entrepreneur René Bogaart, known locally for Pavarotti Kijkduin and other restaurants in The Hague and the surrounding area.
“I believe in Kijkduin. It is a beautiful location with enormous potential,” says Bogaart. “With a bowling centre, we are adding something that is currently missing here: a place where families, friends and groups can enjoy an activity together all year round. With my experience in hospitality, I want to create something really special here.”
The announcement also acknowledges the difficulties facing businesses during Kijkduin’s redevelopment. Property owner Roeland Voerman and Richard de Mos, the alderman responsible for economic affairs, recognise that the prolonged construction work and challenging early period have placed considerable demands on local entrepreneurs.
Voerman expressed regret at the closure of Dunes, recognising the hard work, investment and personal sacrifices involved. He nevertheless sees the arrival of an experienced operator such as Bogaart as a positive step for the seaside district.
The bowling centre forms part of wider efforts to strengthen Kijkduin’s appeal as a destination for families throughout the year. Alongside its beach and restaurants, the council wants to encourage more leisure activities and events.
Other measures include a proposal for outdoor seating alongside building façades, retaining free on-street parking and efforts to speed up hotel development. Funding has also been made available for a large event, with smaller activities being developed.
The council is additionally seeking solutions for vacant premises and the unresolved issue of compensation for businesses affected by the redevelopment.
An opening date for the bowling centre was not included in the announcement.
On Saturday 31 October 2026, the Residentie Kamerkoor will present its seventh annual All Souls’ Day Concert (Allerzielenconcert) at the historic Kloosterkerk in The Hague.
Organised in collaboration with the Kloosterkerk and Nieuwe Badkapel, the concert offers an afternoon of beautiful choral music, poetry and remembrance, providing an opportunity to reflect on the lives of loved ones who have passed away.
Music for Remembrance and Reflection
Under the direction of conductor Rodrigo Lluch, the Residentie Kamerkoor will perform a programme of classical works chosen for their themes of remembrance, comfort and peace.
The programme includes Jesu, meine Freude by Johann Sebastian Bach, a timeless motet exploring the contrast between the troubles of the world and the promise of peace.
Another highlight is the Requiem (1993) by Canadian composer Eleanor Daley, which combines traditional religious texts with contemporary poetry, including the well-known poem Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep.
The concert will also feature Psalm 91 by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck and They Are at Rest by Edward Elgar.
Remembering Loved Ones
The music will be accompanied by poetry and reflections from Charlotte van der Leest of the Nieuwe Badkapel and Rienk Lanooy of the Kloosterkerk.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to submit the names of loved ones who have passed away. These names will be read aloud during the concert, creating a personal moment of remembrance.
As Rienk Lanooy explains, although the experience of loss is deeply personal, remembering people collectively can offer comfort. Music provides a way to acknowledge those who are no longer with us and keep their memory alive.
A Tradition Across Cultures
All Souls’ Day originates in the Roman Catholic tradition and is observed as a time to remember those who have died, often through prayer, candles and visits to graves.
Concert conductor Rodrigo Lluch, who was born and raised in Mexico, recalls how his family celebrated this occasion with a home altar decorated with photographs, fruit, sweet bread and other offerings.
In many Latin American traditions, remembrance also includes colourful celebrations, shared meals and positive memories of loved ones.
The Allerzielenconcert offers a musical interpretation of this longstanding tradition, welcoming visitors to remember and reflect through music, regardless of their religious background.
Performers and Programme
The Residentie Kamerkoor will perform under the direction of Rodrigo Lluch, accompanied by:
Dārta Liepiņa – soprano
Kees Jan de Koning – bass
Lucia Swarts – cello
Areli Cortes – organ
The programme includes works by J.P. Sweelinck, J.S. Bach, Eleanor Daley and Edward Elgar.
Practical Information
Date: Saturday 31 October 2026
Time: 16:00
Location: Kloosterkerk, Lange Voorhout 4, The Hague
Tickets: €27 general admission; €10 for visitors aged 25 and under and Ooievaarspas holders. Prices include refreshments after the concert.
From 28 October to 7 November 2026, Holland Gnawa Festival returns to The Hague for its eighth edition, bringing international musicians, new talent and cultural traditions to venues across the city.
Under the theme Music Without Borders, the festival celebrates Gnawa, a vibrant musical and cultural tradition from Morocco with roots in West Africa. The programme features concerts, theatre, comedy, workshops, family activities and cultural encounters.
This year’s festival also strengthens connections between the Schilderswijk and Transvaal neighbourhoods and some of The Hague’s best-known cultural venues, including Amare, Het Nationale Theater, Korzo, PAARD and Theater De Regentes.
Discover the World of Gnawa
Gnawa music is known for its hypnotic rhythms, singing and distinctive instruments, including the three-stringed guembri and metal percussion instruments known as qraqeb.
Rooted in centuries-old spiritual traditions, Gnawa has developed into an influential musical style that also embraces jazz, blues, rock and electronic music.
In 2019, Gnawa was added to UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Holland Gnawa Festival explores both the traditional and contemporary sides of this musical heritage, bringing established international artists and emerging musicians to The Hague.
Festival Highlights
The programme includes a wide range of performances and activities.
29 October – Gnaoua Electro Live @ Korzo
Trans Sahara Electro, performed with Marmoucha Orchestra, and Elements of Baraka present an evening combining traditional North African rhythms with electronic music, dub and techno.
30 October – Kalimba Quartet @ Theater De Regentes
An evening of music, a workshop and a jam session featuring Khalil Mounji and Mbemba Diabaté, exploring connections between Gnawa and West African Mandingue music.
31 October – Gnawa & Chaabi Royal Night @ Koninklijke Schouwburg
Gnawa master Maâlem Abdelkebir Merchane and Moroccan singer and violinist Abdellah Daoudi present an evening celebrating Gnawa and Chaabi, two important Moroccan musical traditions.
1 November – Gnawa Parade @ The Hague City Centre
A free public parade featuring Remork & Karkaba will travel from Theater aan het Spui via the Koninklijke Schouwburg towards PAARD, filling the city centre with music, percussion and dance.
1 November – Hassan El Fad and The Super Gnawa Girls @ Koninklijke Schouwburg
Moroccan comedian Hassan El Fad appears in a programme that also features Marmoucha Orchestra performing with The Super Gnawa Girls: Fatima Ezzahra Jebli, Ijjo Beljaoui and Halima El Gourd.
7 November – Gnawa Diffusion @ Amare
The festival concludes with Gnawa Diffusion, the Algerian band known for blending Gnawa traditions with rock, reggae, rap and blues.
Connecting Neighbourhoods and Cultures
An important part of this year’s edition is the Culturele Loper (Cultural Route) connecting the Schilderswijk and Transvaal neighbourhoods with cultural institutions across The Hague.
Through cultural tours, workshops and encounters, the initiative encourages residents to discover cultural venues while also giving local artists and communities opportunities to share their stories and traditions.
The festival extends beyond concerts, with opportunities to explore Gnawa through music-making, shared meals, workshops and activities for younger audiences.
Festival director Mustapha Barbouch emphasises that Gnawa is about more than music. It is also about heritage, stories, cultural exchange and passing traditions from one generation to the next.
Practical Information
Dates: Wednesday 28 October to Saturday 7 November 2026
Locations: Various venues across The Hague, including Amare, Korzo, PAARD, Theater De Regentes, Theater aan het Spui and the Koninklijke Schouwburg.
Admission: Ticket prices vary by performance. Some activities, including the Gnawa Parade on 1 November, are free.
Important: The official festival opening on 28 October at Juliana Plaza is by invitation only. The other ticketed performances and public activities are listed on the festival website.
Looking for an evening of laughter in English? The Hague English Comedy Nights returns to Theater Branoul on Saturday 24 October 2026, with two performances featuring international stand-up comedians.
This month’s headliner is British comedian George Egg, joined by supporting acts and Irish comedian Sharon Em as MC.
An Evening of British Comedy with George Egg
George Egg has been performing on the comedy circuit for more than two decades, appearing at venues and festivals throughout the UK and internationally, including Europe, New Zealand, Hong Kong and India.
Known for his inventive humour, absurd observations and entertaining use of props, George has developed a distinctive style of stand-up comedy with an unusual speciality: food.
He has toured four sell-out comedy shows combining cooking and stand-up, and has even published a bestselling cookbook. Expect plenty of silliness, clever one-liners and culinary references throughout his performance.
International Comedy in the Heart of The Hague
The evening will be hosted by Irish comedian Sharon Em, who will introduce George Egg and the supporting comedians.
The Hague English Comedy Nights offers international residents and English-speaking comedy fans the opportunity to enjoy live stand-up in an intimate theatre setting in the centre of The Hague.
With two performances to choose from, visitors can opt for an early evening show or a later night of comedy.
Practical Information
Date: Saturday 24 October 2026
Showtimes: 19:00 and 21:00
Location: Theater Branoul, Maliestraat 12, The Hague
Have you ever dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights? On 23 and 24 October 2026, Museon-Omniversum in The Hague brings the magic of the Canadian aurora to its dome theatre, accompanied by a live piano performance by Canadian pianist and composer Roman Zavada.
Résonances Boréales is an immersive audiovisual experience combining live music with spectacular 360-degree projections of the Northern Lights. With only four performances scheduled, visitors have a limited opportunity to experience this unusual combination of music and nature.
A Musical Journey to Northern Canada
For this project, Roman Zavada travelled to Prelude Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories, where he placed his piano outdoors at the edge of the northern forest.
Inspired by the landscape and the Northern Lights, he spent approximately twenty hours improvising music in the natural surroundings. These sessions eventually became nine compositions reflecting the atmosphere of the Canadian wilderness.
During Résonances Boréales, Zavada performs his compositions live on piano while breathtaking footage of the Canadian aurora fills the dome theatre.
The imagery, created by Bruno Colpron and Dominic St-Amant, transports audiences to the far north without leaving The Hague.
Music and Nature Combined
Roman Zavada is a pianist and composer with Québécois and Ukrainian roots. His work draws inspiration from nature, improvisation and the relationship between music and moving images.
He is also known for his Ciné-Piano performances, in which he accompanies classic silent films with live piano improvisations.
Résonances Boréales offers an experience that can be appreciated regardless of language, making it particularly appealing to The Hague’s international community.
Practical Information
Dates: Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October 2026
Location: Museon-Omniversum Dome Theatre, President Kennedylaan 5, The Hague
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes
Tickets: €29.50
Performances: Four performances across the two days. Check the official website for individual starting times and availability.
