If you’re new to the city (or not!) and are searching for a Christmas market, then you’re in luck. The Royal Christmas Fair, located in the historic heart of The Hague, along Lange Voorhout, is not to be missed. Being in its 10th year, it’s grown bigger and better each year and can easily rank as one of the best in the country.
If you can’t get away to visit the larger German markets, you can still find the lovely wooden stalls here with plenty of food and drinks on offer such as hot chocolate with whipped cream and rum, mulled wine, oliebollen, poffertjes and more. Not only Dutch eats can be enjoyed – foods such as pretzels, scones, bratwurst and savoury pies can be found too. And if you’re still in need of present shopping, you have lots of offer including décor, clothing and other unique pieces.
Santa Claus himself will be making daily appearances for the young and old and best of all, your furry companions are welcomed too!
The market is open daily until 23rd December from 12:00 until 21:00
Sherika Rooplal-Clappers is a contributing writer for The Hague Online, covering culture, lifestyle, and local events. With a passion for storytelling and international perspectives, she highlights the people, places, and experiences that make The Hague a dynamic city.Connect with Sherika here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherika-rooplal/ https://www.instagram.com/sherikarooplal/
Last Friday, The Hague Online attended the Kingstreet Magazine launch at a stunning location – Het Spaansche Hof. With around 200 guests, it was a true celebration in style.
Publisher Annerieke Simeone noted that this is the fourteenth Dutch edition, but that it was previously published under the name Bij Ons In De Residentie.
With the introduction of this second English-language edition, both magazines will continue under the unified name Kingstreet — a brand identity that reflects its ambition and style.
Guests were welcomed with canapés by Karsten & Kuiper and a signature cocktail from De Filosoof. Art played a central role in the evening as well: Galerie Den Haag was recognised for its 30th anniversary, and photographer Daanoe offered attendees an interactive tour of his work through a dedicated app.
The first printed copy was presented to Nancy Zomer-Carolus (Omniversum–Museon), followed by the second copy to Raouf Jarmo (RE:BORN): the company behind Het Spaansche Hof, the Pier, and the Palace Promenade.
Simeone closed the event with a look to the future: next year marks the 15th Dutch edition of Kingstreet — a milestone that will certainly be celebrated.
Kingstreet Magazine is now available in bookstores
Wijk als Biotoop is looking for residents wanting to make the Binckhorst (The Hague) more animal friendly
How does a blackbird experience your street? And how does a hedgehog consider your garden? Learn to see through the eyes of an animal in 3 workshops in December, January, and February.
Researcher Sue van Geijn is working on the Wijk als Biotoop project on behalf of Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. Together with residents, she is looking for ways to improve nature in the neighborhood. But usually, people mainly view the neighborhood through their own eyes.
In three workshops, Sue learns participants methods to look at their neighborhood from an animal’s perspective. Participants will receive ‘homework’assignments and embark on adventures in their own neighborhood. At the workshops, residents meet each other and exchange experiences. This way, a new perspective of the neighborhood is developed, as well as potential solutions that haven’t been considered before!
Will you join? Sue is looking for 5 to 10 people. Sign up quickly, because spots are limited… Send Sue an email by December 5th at s.a.van.geijn@hr.nl.
Practical information: • The workshops are sequential. After each workshop, participants will independently carry on with a small assignment in their neighborhood. They bring their findings to the next workshop.
Workshop 1: Wednesday, December 10
Workshop 2: Wednesday, January 21, and
Workshop 3: Wednesday, February 4.
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
Location: will be announced through email. A central spot in The Binckhorst.
The workshops are given in bilingual mode: English no problem
You can find the exact information on this web page
Want to know more?
On www.wijkalsbiotoop.nl more information can be found about the entire project and other researchers in the neighborhood who are working with residents.
An increasing number of couples in the Netherlands are choosing to live together without getting married or entering into a registered partnership.
This raises an important question: what are the legal implications of cohabiting without a formal arrangement? Let’s walk through the key legal considerations and possible pitfalls.
Why go without a contract?
Choosing to live together without a legal agreement (such as a cohabitation contract, registered partnership or marriage) can feel easier and more relaxed. But bear in mind: if you take that route, you’ll be doing so without the automatic protections that accompany formal arrangements.
Children
If you and your partner live together informally, and one of you is not the biological mother, the partner is not automatically recognised as the legal parent. That means the partner can only acknowledge the child with the mother’s consent. Without consent, legal action may be required.
No entitlement to partner support
If the relationship ends, informal cohabitants generally don’t have rights to spousal support. This can create significant financial difficulties, particularly where one partner has been dependent on the other.
Inheritance issues
If your partner passes away, you’re not automatically treated as a legal heir when you’re cohabiting without a contract. This means the surviving partner may receive nothing—even if they lived together for many years or lived in the deceased partner’s home.
Property and assets
Without an official legal partnership, each partner’s income and assets remain separate. This has advantages and disadvantages. On the upside, you’re usually not automatically liable for your partner’s debts. On the downside, if you’ve contributed to your partner’s home or other assets, it might be difficult to claim reimbursement later on.
Example Marc and Sophie purchase a house together. Marc pays for the bathroom renovation using his private savings. If they separate and there is no written agreement about reimbursement, Marc may struggle to recover his investment.
Should you draw up an agreement?
In short: yes, it is strongly recommended. While cohabiting informally may feel less formal and more flexible, it leaves you exposed to legal uncertainties and financial risks. Signing a cohabitation contract helps you define your rights and responsibilities, clarify what happens if things change, and avoid possible long and costly disputes.
Final thoughts
Living together informally has its appeal, but it also comes with important legal consequences. By putting in place a formal agreement, you can protect both individuals and the relationship. If you’re uncertain about your situation, it’s a good idea to seek specialist advice, the family law experts of GMW lawyers are happy to advice you.
If you’d like more information about informal cohabitation and what your options are, feel free to get in touch with GMW lawyers.
DutchBuzz is an English radio programme of news, views and interviews that tells you what’s happening in this buzzing city of ours. The international team of presenters and reporters are from many different continents, but view The Hague as their home!
This week: • The rewards of volunteering in the Netherlands • Top-level break-dancing championships at Amare • Freelancing with passion in The Hague, and • Where do internationals stop for coffee and books?
Listen live weekly on a Thursday from 7-8pm on Den Haag FM:
The Hague’s Pearls – listen to previous recordings
The podcasts below are devoted to members of the international community who have made a special contribution to the City of The Hague.
The DutchBuzz team takes pleasure in inviting and interviewing the city’s many ‘pearls’. Many of them have been featured in our programmes over the years because they reflect our rich and diverse international community.
Newsmakers, writers, local politicians, entertainers, innovators, entrepreneurs, experts in their field, and colourful personalities, they all make The Hague a better place to live and work in.
All the interviews have been broadcast, but we enjoyed them so much that we are now sharing them with you as special, celebratory podcasts.
Available for Streaming Now — Practical Advice for Expats and Internationals Navigating Challenging Times
Expaterience, the distinctive English-language talk show created by and for expats and internationals in the Netherlands, has produced a special double-themed edition. This fifth episode focuses on delivering concrete guidance and actionable insights to help viewers navigate today’s major housing challenges and prepare for the difficult winter months ahead.
Hour 1: Solving the Housing Crisis
Lead Host Sanjay Sharma sits down with experts and first-hand witnesses to examine the country’s ongoing housing crisis. The conversation will explore long-term prospects for market-driven solutions as well as the immediate, short-term consequences of the shortage — especially for expats, including both highly skilled professionals and labor-sector workers.
Guest line-up Hour 1:
Bart Reeser, Chairman NVM, Haaglanden branch, and Registered Real Estate Agent & Registered Valuer at Stokman Van Duren. NVM is the largest association of real estate agents and appraisers in the Netherlands and is partnering with the Dutch government to help accelerate the building of new homes.
Marco Sark, Co-Founder/Co-Owner of FASTGOED, a real estate agency that positions itself as offering a practical, hands-on approach to helping expats and internationals find their way in the complex Dutch rental and home-buying market.
Larisa Melinceanu, Deputy Director (Policy & Communication), Barka Foundation. Named after the Polish word for ‘life buoy’, Barka is committed to supporting vulnerable EU citizens who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. These are often people from Central and Eastern Europe who have come to the Netherlands in search of work.
Simone Dulcis, Housing Crisis Experiencer and Social Media Creator of @italiantodutch. A young Italian professional who moved to the Netherlands to rebuild his life from scratch, sharing his journey of fighting loneliness, connecting with locals, and showing what it truly means to change your life in a new country.
Special Report: The Housing Crisis – Why the Netherlands Can’t Build
In a special Social Media Report, Martin Simenrud examines how the Netherlands became stuck — and why the country now seems unable to build new homes at any meaningful scale. As he discovers, the core of the Dutch housing crisis may not be the shortage itself. After all, the Netherlands has the financial means and the technical expertise to build its way out. So what keeps the shortage in place? Martin may have uncovered a three-part problem standing in the way of progress.
Hour 2: Expat Well-Being – How to Survive Dutch Winters
In her debut as host of Expaterience, Nuthan Manohar,together with her four guests, discusses the challenges faced by expats and internationals who are confronted with the Dutch winter for the first time — or who, even after years, still struggle to adapt to the country’s frequent rain, cloudy skies, and long, dark months. Together they offer clear, actionable strategies to cope with, and even enjoy, Dutch winters.
Guest line-up Hour 2:
Julie Taylor, Founder of Buzz Networking, a community supporting solo business owners in the Netherlands.
Tetyana Benzeroual, Project Lead, Volunteer The Hague — organizer of the Mix & Match Volunteer Job Fairs, with the next event taking place on Saturday, November 29.
Vassia Sarantopoulou, Psychologist, Mental Health Ambassador, Founder of AntiLoneliness and AntiLoneliness Academy.
Edyta Nales, Career Coach and HR Manager supporting international professionals and companies across the Netherlands.
Stream Expaterience Episode #05 from Saturday, November 22 onward on:
Expaterience is RTV Discus’ unique English-language TV show and online/social media project. True to its name, the program focuses entirely on the stories and experiences of expats and internationals in the Netherlands, highlighting both their successes and the challenges they face in personal and professional life, situated within the context of key social issues and current international developments.
