Municipality and Water Sports Federation extend successful collaboration until 2032
The Hague and the Royal Netherlands Water Sports Federation (Watersportverbond) are continuing their successful collaboration. Both parties are signing a new cooperation agreement recently for the period 2026–2032. With this, they confirm their shared ambition to further develop The Hague as the premier water sports city and top sailing port of Northwest Europe.
In recent years, the collaboration between the Municipality of The Hague and the Dutch Water Sports Federation has led to significant results for Dutch water sports. For instance, the national team established a permanent base in Scheveningen, the Top Sailing Centre was realized, and Scheveningen grew into a recognized National Elite Sailing Centre. In addition, various international elite sporting events found their way to The Hague, such as the Sailing World Championships.
With the new agreement, both parties are building upon this strong foundation. In addition to elite sport, there will be a strong focus in the coming years on grassroots sport, talent development, innovation, and appealing water sports events. The municipality and the Dutch Water Sports Federation also aim to introduce more residents to water sports such as sailing, stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), canoeing, windsurfing, and kitesurfing.
Alderman for Sport Nur Icar: “The Hague is the premier sports city by the sea, and water sports are part of our identity. With this extension, we strengthen our position as an international water sports city and simultaneously create more opportunities for everyone to discover water sports. From grassroots sport to elite sport: this collaboration contributes to a strong, vibrant, and inspiring sports city.”
The Hague as a water sports city for everyone
An important part of the collaboration is further strengthening the visibility and accessibility of water sports in the city. The Hague water sports associations, sports providers, and initiatives such as the Marit Bouwmeester Academy play a key role in this. By organizing more events, activities, clinics, and programs for schools, both parties aim to bring water sports closer to residents.
Arno van Gerven, Managing Director of the Dutch Watersports Federation: “Watersports and The Hague are a natural match. Thanks to the good cooperation, we have made great strides in recent years, from the arrival of the national team in Scheveningen to the construction of the Top Sailing Centre and the organization of international events. The new agreement gives us the scope to build on this and realize new sporting and social highlights in the coming years.”
Elite sports, innovation and international events
The Hague remains the home base for the Dutch elite sailing program. Furthermore, the municipality and the Dutch Water Sports Federation are jointly committed to attracting international elite sporting events. The ambition is to bring events to The Hague that are not only leading in sporting terms, but also contribute to innovation, sustainability, and societal impact.
The cooperation agreement will be signed during the iQFOil World Championships, where TeamNL competes with the international elite ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The agreement runs through 2032. Both parties express the intention to continue the collaboration thereafter as well.
Good news for road users, travelers, business owners, and local residents: the Rijswijkseplein is currently on track to fully reopen on Saturday evening, September 19. That is almost two weeks earlier than planned. However, the schedule remains dependent on weather conditions. In the event of rain, the asphalt work may be delayed.
Since this summer, work has been underway at Rijswijkseplein to replace tram tracks and renew the asphalt. The work has been carried out in various phases to maintain the accessibility of the city as much as possible.
The work proceeded more smoothly than expected because tasks were cleverly combined. As a result, the municipality was able to asphalt the roadway while replacing the tram tracks. Consequently, the final phase is no longer necessary.
Originally, the works were scheduled to be completed on October 2. Because the final phase is no longer neccessary, the Rijswijkseplein is due to be fully open to traffic again as early as Saturday evening, September 19.
Starting Friday, September 11, the finishing touches will be put in place. The Rijswijkseweg will be accessible again from Stationsplein via Hofwijckstraat. The opposite applies at Weteringkade: the intersection will be closed here. The intersection at Schenkviaduct/Spaarneplein will also close during this final period, and different diversions will be in effect.
Rijswijkseplein smooth and safe again
Alderman Adeel Mahmood is very pleased with the possibility of completing the work earlier. “Rijswijkseplein has traditionally been a busy hub in the city. The sooner the square is accessible again, the better. Trams will then run on renewed tracks again and motorists will benefit from a road surface that will last for years to come. We are therefore grateful to residents, business owners, and road users for their patience and understanding during the work,” said the Alderman.
When’s the last time you actually cut yourself some slack?
Not the fake “it’s fine” you say to move on. The real thing—where you mean it. Most of us are way harder on ourselves than we’d ever be on a friend. We think it keeps us sharp. In control. But honestly? It might just be wearing us down.
In this Salon, we get into:
Where’s the line between self-compassion and just letting yourself off the hook
Why we save our worst talk for ourselves
Whether being kinder to yourself actually makes you stronger, not softer
It’s about learning to talk to yourself like someone you actually care about. Expect a slightly different kind of evening—honest, a bit uncomfortable in places, and maybe a nudge to go easier on yourself than usual.
Our Guests Marjolein van der Kruk Marjolein is an empowerment coach and leadership trainer whose work is rooted in the sciences of applied positive psychology, emotional intelligence and neurobiology.
Oscar de Grauw Oscar is a senior consultant and keynote speaker, and by his own description the first member through the door of his own movement, still learning to live out loud in public. Same house, two doors. One verb runs through all of it: choosing.
This is not a workshop with answers. It’s a space to think, feel, and connect—with yourself and others navigating similar questions.
This event is 2 hours + drink/networking. **This is a paid event, please make the payment (10 euros) here: https://bunq.me/TEDxTheHague
Impacthon is a 12-hour student challenge inviting students to tackle real, urgent problems and build solutions that actually hold up in the real world.
In this edition, participants step into an immersive narrative world where three villains represent the forces quietly working against our cities, our health, and our curiosity. They choose the theme that hits closest to home, define their own challenge, and spend the day sharpening their instincts, collaborating across disciplines, and pitching a real solution to peers and experts.
The three themes for Impacthon 2026 are:
Health & Wellbeing – tackling burnout, mental health, loneliness, and access to care
Climate & Environment – addressing waste, biodiversity loss, pollution, and sustainable living
Education & Culture – confronting unequal access to learning, representation, and knowledge
September 26, 2026 10:00 – 22:00 PLNT Leiden Open to students from all disciplines
The asphalt on the Bitterzoetpad and Veenbespad cycle paths is old. To improve cycling comfort and safety, the municipality is replacing the asphalt. The work will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026, and will be completed on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The maintenance on the cycle paths will take approximately 8 weeks and will be carried out in 3 phases. Please note! The schedule is subject to delays due to unexpected situations.
Temporary closure
There are temporary diversions during the works. This allows the contractor to work quickly and safely. Signs indicating the diversion routes are posted in the area. There is also a temporary diversion for motorists in a section of the De Bras neighborhood.
Accessibility of the area
The nearby recreational area remains accessible. The Ypenburg shopping center also remains accessible.
New, safe bike paths
When asphalt ages, cracks or holes can develop. This is unsafe. Subsidence of the cycle path is also unsafe. As a result, cyclists can slip or veer off course. The municipality ensures that the asphalted cycle paths in the city remain safe. After maintenance, the cycle paths will last for many years to come. And cycling will be comfortable again.
Questions or more information?
Read more information about the schedule and diversions on Bereikbare Stad, the City of The Hague website featuring the most important roadworks and closures in the city.
