The Hague has a lot of rooftop space that is not yet being utilized for purposes such as greenery, rainwater harvesting, or solar panels. During The Hague’s rooftop festival, Uit je Dak, visitors can discover just what is possible on those roofs. At six unique locations in the city, initiators demonstrate how rooftops contribute to a more pleasant, greener, and better-prepared city .
During Uit je Dak, six rooftops in The Hague open their doors to the public. Three locations are participating for the first time this year: Leiden University, Centrum Laakhavens, and Living Lab Binckhaven.
On the roof of Leiden University, visitors discover how green roofs contribute to more biodiversity in the city.
At Centrum Laakhavens, various applications of green roofs are showcased, including innovative systems that make buildings more resilient to heat and extreme rainfall. Living Lab Binckhaven demonstrates how smart technologies, a rooftop flower meadow, and innovative solutions can contribute to a green city. Well-known participants such as EnergieKas Helena, De Bijenkorf, and the Ministry of the Navy are also taking part. Visitors can participate in guided tours, activities, and inspiration sessions here regarding the possibilities of The Hague’s rooftops.
Alderwoman Isabelle Broeders (Public Space): “The most beautiful green space in The Hague is sometimes not on the ground, but above our heads. There is space on roofs that we can utilize more intelligently. By doing so, we make the city more pleasant, limit the nuisance caused by heat and rain, and get more out of existing buildings. That is not only sensible, but also an efficient way to make the city future-proof. With City Hall, we are setting a good example ourselves and showing how many opportunities lie on The Hague’s rooftops.”
The municipality sets a good example itself.
The way in which the municipality utilises its own roof space is improving. Over 5,200 square meters of green roof are being installed on City Hall, the Central Library, and the Forum Building. The roofs retain rainwater, provide cooling, and offer space for plants and animals. In doing so, the municipality demonstrates the opportunities available on the many roofs in The Hague.
In The Hague, approximately 35 percent of roofs are now utilized for purposes such as solar panels, green roofs, or rainwater harvesting. Uit je Dak demonstrates that there are still many opportunities. From energy conservation and rainwater harvesting to more greenery in the neighborhood: The Hague’s roofs often offer more possibilities than are visible at first glance.
Internationally acclaimed pianist Anna Fedorova returns to Sinfonia after two years. On Friday, September 18, she will perform as soloist in Grieg’s beloved Piano Concerto during the orchestra’s season opening at the Kloosterkerk in The Hague. The concert is also one of Sinfonia’s first concerts in the renovated church. In collaboration with established The Hague wine specialist Marius Wijn, the evening will conclude with a special free Portuguese wine tasting for all concertgoers.
Fedorova is one of the most sought-after pianists of her generation. The Ukrainian pianist has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Albert Hall in London, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, where she has been a guest more than 45 times. Her performance of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto became an international audience favorite online and has been viewed more than 46 million times.
After two years, Fedorova stands alongside Sinfonia and chief conductor Conrad van Alphen once again. In The Hague, she performs Grieg’s only Piano Concerto, one of the most famous works in the Romantic piano repertoire. Virtuoso passages alternate with lyrical melodies and influences from Norwegian folk music.
“It is very special to be back on stage with Anna Fedorova after two years. Anna is not only a fantastic pianist, but also a musician with whom the interplay feels very natural. She can be overwhelmingly virtuosic one moment and play incredibly subtle and refined the next. As far as I am concerned, Grieg’s Piano Concerto suits her perfectly,” says Conrad van Alphen, Artistic Director and Conductor of Sinfonia.
From Debussy to the young Bizet
In addition to Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Sinfonia performs Debussy’s Clair de lune in the orchestration by André Caplet. The concert concludes with Georges Bizet’s First Symphony. Bizet wrote this remarkably mature work when he was only seventeen years old. The symphony was never performed during his lifetime and was only rediscovered much later.
In doing so, the orchestra under the direction of Conrad van Alphen brings together three different musical worlds: the refined French timbres of Debussy, the Scandinavian romanticism of Grieg, and the youthful energy of Bizet.
Concert in the renovated Kloosterkerk
The venue is also starting a new chapter this season. The more than six-hundred-year-old Kloosterkerk on the Lange Voorhout was renovated in 2026. The entrance and walking area, among other things, have been upgraded to make the monumental building more accessible and welcoming, and to create more space for socializing around activities and concerts.
For Sinfonia, the Kloosterkerk has long been a familiar concert venue in The Hague. On September 18, the orchestra returns there for its first concert in The Hague of the new season.
Portuguese wine tasting afterwards
This year, the concert evening will have an extra Hague touch thanks to a collaboration with Marius Wijn. During the intermission, the Hague wine merchant will provide the wines for the audience. After the concert, visitors are invited to a free wine tasting.
Marius Wijn presents six different Portuguese wines during the tasting. Among them are two new wines that have just been added to the assortment. Concert attendees are therefore among the first to taste these wines.
Photographer Eva Besnyö (1910 – 2003) was not only a witness to, but also a driving force behind the emancipation of photography. Together with her contemporaries, she experimented freely with a new visual language: away from painting, focused on reality, close-up, and full of dynamism.
This autumn, Fotomuseum Den Haag presents one of the largest retrospective exhibitions ever of Eva Besnyö’s work. It is composed of photographs from its own collection, the most extensive Besnyö collection in the world. Set against the backdrop of a profoundly changing Europe, the exhibition traces Besnyö’s life: from her first experiences with the camera in Budapest and her formative years in the raw Berlin of the 1930s to her life and career in Bergen and later Amsterdam, where she was part of a progressive creative network. The Second World War, which left deep scars, and her involvement with the Dolle Mina movement in the 1970s are also included. With vintage prints, archival material, magazines, and personal documents, the exhibition offers a rich picture of Besnyö’s oeuvre as well as of the twentieth century, in which political upheavals and the struggle for women’s emancipation are closely intertwined with her life and work.
“Besnyö possessed not only exceptional photographic talent but also entrepreneurial spirit. From her position as a migrant, she consistently managed to carve out a place for herself within leading artistic circles, build her own practice through photo assignments, and develop initiatives that advanced photography, including the groundbreaking exhibition Foto ’37 at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam.” – Margriet Schavemaker, General Director of the Kunstmuseum and Fotomuseum The Hague
New Photography
Stylistically, a large part of Eva Besnyö’s work belongs to New Photography, a movement in which the camera was used to show the world in a new, objective, and experimental way. Surprising camera angles, strong diagonal lines, and clear compositions are characteristic of this. With a keen eye, she captures people, cities, architecture, and societal changes. Her photographs show the world as it was: modern, dynamic, and constantly in motion.
In the footsteps of a century
The exhibition traces Besnyö’s life, starting with her childhood in Budapest and her move to Berlin. Together with her then-lover John Fernhout, she exchanged Berlin for Bergen in 1932, where she formed a close friendship with her mother-in-law, Charley Toorop. Through her in-laws, she found herself at the forefront of the Dutch artistic scene. The Second World War marked a turning point in her life. The Jewish Besnyö had to go into hiding, and her work came to a standstill. In post-war Netherlands, she focused her camera on a society in transition: from reconstruction to women’s emancipation, of which her photographs of Dolle Mina have since become iconic documents. In addition to photographs and personal documents by Besnyö, a self-portrait by Charley Toorop and chairs by Gerrit Rietveld are also on display in the exhibition. This addition underscores the extent to which Besnyö was part of the artistic circle in the Netherlands during the 1930s.
Largest collection of Besnyö
In 2023, Fotomuseum Den Haag / Kunstmuseum Den Haag acquired an important collection of 341 prints by photographer Eva Besnyö. All of these photographs were printed in the darkroom by Besnyö herself or under her supervision. The collection includes, among others, the famous portrait of the little boy with the bass, portraits of artist friends such as Charley Toorop and Violette Cornelius, and the street scene taken on Starnberger Straße in Berlin with her characteristic diagonal lines.
This collection was in the possession of Iara Brusse, the daughter of Besnyö. The acquisition of the collection was made possible by a combination of purchase and donation, with support from the Erik Bos Fund.
Publication
Accompanying the exhibition is the publication of the same name, ‘Eva Besnyö – The Liberated Camera’. With text contributions by Maurits de Bruijn, Nienke Coers, Margriet Schavemaker, Iris Sikking, Lou Stoppard, and Willemijn van der Zwaan. The photobook was designed by Hans Gremmen and is published by Hannibal Books.
Biography
Eva Besnyö (1910 – Laren 2003) was born in Budapest. As a teenager, she received a camera from her father, and this proved to be a pivotal moment for the rest of her life. In Budapest, she took lessons from the renowned photographer József Pécsi, who encouraged her to leave for Berlin in 1930 to pursue photography. Due to the rise of fascism, she was forced to move to the Netherlands in 1932, where she quickly gained fame as a professional photographer. Besnyö played a crucial role in the development of Dutch photography in the 20th century. She was one of the most famous figures within the New Photography movement in the Netherlands, which was characterized by a modern, experimental approach and a focus on everyday subjects.
In addition to her artistic work, Besnyö was also socially engaged. In the 1970s, she used her photography as a means to draw attention to women’s rights. Her photographic oeuvre encompasses a wide range of subjects, varying from portraits and street photography to landscapes and abstract compositions. Eva Besnyö passed away on December 12, 2003, in Laren.
This exhibition is made possible in part by the City of The Hague, VriendenLoterij, Erik Bos Fonds, Vereniging Vrienden van Kunstmuseum Den Haag, and V-fonds.
The research preceding the exhibition and publication was carried out with the support of the Vereniging Rembrandt (thanks in part to its Fund for Research into Modern and Contemporary Art).
ON THE EVE OF PRINSJESDAG, MUSIC TAKES OVER THE HAGUE CITY CENTRE
On the evening before Prinsjesdag, the political capital transforms into a free music festival that ends with a late-night ode to democracy. On Monday evening, 14 September, The Hague will once again be all about PrinsjesNach for the fourth year in a row, a free musical pub crawl. With more than 35 acts across 30 locations, the full line-up has now been announced.
Indie pop in a traditional brown café, classical music in a bicycle parking facility and jazz from under an awning: during PrinsjesNach, musical The Hague comes to life. In addition to intimate concerts at some of the city’s best hospitality venues, this year there will also be talent workshops, themed routes, a NachMis and an extensive children’s programme one day later.
Sarah de Bruijn, co-organiser of PrinsjesNach, says: “With more acts than ever, PrinsjesNach remains an intimate and surprising festival with an overwhelmingly broad programme. On dozens of small stages from Noordeinde to Bierkade, both established names and emerging talent will make their music heard.”
New this year
For the first time this year, PrinsjesNach will end with a late-night ‘ode to democracy’: the NachMis.
Henk & Melle, normally a duo and known from Hallo Venray and Smutfish, will perform with a full band especially for the occasion, accompanied by spoken word from Scott Beekhuizen (Prins S en de Geit) and Laurin Nargy (Poezieboys).
Also new are talent workshops for young brass musicians and singer-songwriters. The young brass band The Legendairs and seasoned musician Arno Bakker, percussion specialist Miguel Varela (La Máquina) and renowned trumpeter Michael Varekamp will work together on a presentation in which jazz, brass band and Caribbean music spectacularly come together.
In addition, in collaboration with Songwriter Sunday, a special open mic programme will take place for emerging singer-songwriters. Guus van der Steen (Kern Koppen) and Ferdinand van Duuren (French Kiss) will prepare eight new singer-songwriters from The Hague for their debut performances at Kunstbar during PrinsjesNach.
Bicycle parking concert
PrinsjesNach starts as soon as you park your bicycle. For one evening, the bicycle parking facility in Nobelstraat will become an unexpected stage, with several performances taking place at the beginning and end of the evening.
If you are already in the city earlier, join the Haagse Beat Tour at 16:00 and discover The Hague as the city where legendary bands such as Golden Earring and Goldband have their musical roots. Or get into the mood at Den Haag Centraal station, where the first sounds of PrinsjesNach will already be heard from 17:00.
Themed routes
Also new this year are several themed routes, allowing visitors to explore their favourite styles of music.
Sarah de Bruijn: “With such a full line-up, it is of course difficult to choose between all the acts. That is why we have created themed routes such as Female Voices, World Sounds, Jazz and New Talent. This makes it easy to go on a musical journey of discovery throughout the evening.”
Children’s programme
PrinsjesNach continues for the youngest visitors one day later at Zuiderparktheater, in collaboration with PrinsjesNach, Zuiderparktheater and De Betovering.
From 10:00 on Prinsjesdag, a special children’s programme will take place there. The programme includes Kleine Louis, a swinging musical story about the origins of jazz, jazz legend Louis Armstrong and, above all, finding the inspiration to choose your own path.
The Hague band Meyendel will also perform their tender songs for the youngest audience, interspersed with some of the most beautiful stories by Toon Tellegen.
Practical information
PrinsjesNach takes place on Monday 14 September from 19:00 and is free to attend at 30 locations across The Hague city centre. The festival concludes at 23:30 with the NachMis.
Anyone who wants to get into the mood in advance can listen to the PrinsjesNach playlist on Spotify, featuring music from part of this year’s line-up. Or install the Jamr app, where the full line-up and timetable will appear in the coming days.
Full line-up
Amber Rosa Lynn, Benito, De Kraaien, Duo Durville, French Kiss, Gerardo Rosales, Gillespiana, Goodnight Irene, Haagse Beat Tour, Hero’s Journey: Oudyssey, Isabella Lavanga, Jabuticaba, Jam de La Creme PrinsjesNach Jamsessie, Lidy Blijdorp & Ketevan Roinishvili, Lily Clarissa, LUYI & Imanol Emede, Mamey, Mandalamarra, Manja, Miles O’Brien, Mulatu Listening Bar, NachMis, NANO, Notes, Beats & Bars met BF, Open mic-programma Songwriter Sunday, Roos van Herrewegen, Satyakam Mokhamsing, Sealovers, Tante Koor, The COOPER & FOREST POOKY Experience, The Kiffs, Brassband The Legendairs, The Velcro, Tobias, Tripkip, VOS, Writers Unlimited, Yaëll Campbell, Zippora.
Themed routes
Female Voices: Discover Amber Rosa Lynn, Zippora, Isabella Lavanga, Tante Koor and Lily Clarissa, and attend the Writers Unlimited talk Women (Re)write History, with musical accompaniment.
World Sounds: Travel around the world with the Eastern sounds of Satyakam Mohkamsing, be carried away by Hero’s Journey: Oudyssey by Iranian multi-instrumentalist Sepand Dadbeh, the distinctive Italian folk rock of Mandalamarra and Brazilian sounds from Gerardo Rosales and Jabuticaba.
Jazz: For true jazz lovers, the programme features LUYI & Imanol Emede, Isabella Lavanga and Gillespiana by The Hague jazz icons Michael Varekamp and Ben van den Dungen.
New Talent: Want to discover new talent from The Hague? Listen to The Kiffs, The Velcro, Yaëll Campbell, Mamey and NANO. Or immerse yourself in Dutch-language songs by VOS, Manja, Benito and others.
Join us at The Social Hub to hear a regenerative talk by our speaker Akash Kumar, who is a regenerative designer, researcher and an educator working with textiles, craft, folklore and storytelling.
Growing up in a farming family in Jharkhand, India, he developed a deep connection with land, natural materials and the knowledge hidden in the things we create and pass on through generations. In his hands-on projects and workshops, he links traditional knowledge to contemporary life, exploring how making can become a tool for collective learning, ecological care and regeneration.
This talk could not be more timely, as Akash and his work offers a perspective on current global concerns surrounding our environment and the planet we cohabit. He invites us to consider how the ways we make and create can contribute to ecological regeneration. We hope to see you there!
U2two returns to the immersive 360° Dome at Museon-Omniversum this autumn for six more performances of its spectacular U2:UV Tribute show. Following sold-out shows and enthusiastic reactions from thousands of visitors, the tribute band will return to the ‘Haagse Sfeâh’ in September, October and November.
Step once again into the magic of U2, as if you were in the legendary Sphere in Las Vegas, but much closer to home. U2two brings the energy, emotion and iconic sound of Bono, The Edge and the rest of the band with stunning precision.
This new series of shows offers fans another chance to experience a spectacular tribute in a unique, fully immersive setting.
What can you expect in Part 2? New, spectacular 360° visuals on the giant dome. Each song is once again an explosion of image and sound. A new setlist featuring different classics, unexpected gems and, of course, U2’s most beloved hits. “Next-level tribute… Tribute 2.0” – Shownieuws. This is a fully immersive experience that makes you feel as though you are truly there with the band.
New show dates:
Friday 18 September 2026
Saturday 19 September 2026
Friday 16 October 2026
Saturday 17 October 2026
Saturday 21 November 2026
Saturday 28 November 2026
Show time: 20:00, doors open at 19:30 Duration: 150 minutes Tickets: €53.50, including an interval drink Location: Museon-Omniversum Dome, President Kennedylaan 5, The Hague
Tickets for previous performances sold quickly, so advance booking is recommended for the new autumn dates.
