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.
Would you like to speak more Dutch but find it difficult to use the language outside the classroom? On Thursday 26 November 2026, Praat Nederlands Day offers internationals an opportunity to use their Dutch in relaxed, everyday situations, with a programme of workshops, conversation activities and social events across The Hague.
This year, Praat Nederlands Day is going national, with international centres across the Netherlands working together to encourage people to speak Dutch and build their confidence.
In The Hague, The Hague International Centre and its local partners are organising activities for different ages and language levels. Whether you are learning your first Dutch words or already have conversations in Dutch, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
Discover the Activities
The programme includes a wide variety of activities, with something for beginners, more experienced learners and families. Some of the activities on offer include:
Introductory Dutch lessons for complete beginners who would like to learn their first words and phrases.
Conversation cafés for participants at A2 and B1 levels who want to become more confident speaking Dutch.
Crafts & Chats sessions, combining conversation with colouring, crafts and games.
Dutch in the workplace, with practical advice for speaking more Dutch with colleagues.
Language confidence workshops, exploring how to overcome the tendency to switch back to English.
Dutch lessons for children, including introductory activities for children aged five to eight.
A historical walking tour, organised by Haags Historisch Museum, combining local history with opportunities to use Dutch.
Dutch film, music and culture activities, making language learning a more enjoyable experience.
AI and language-learning workshops, exploring new tools and approaches to learning Dutch.
Social gatherings and games, including a Dutch culture pub quiz and opportunities to meet other internationals.
Activities vary in their language requirements, and some are particularly suitable for people who are just beginning to learn Dutch.
Welcome to The Hague: A Special Edition
The day also includes a special edition of The Hague International Centre’s Welcome to The Hague event at The Fiddler.
Organised in cooperation with At Home Abroad, the evening includes Meet & Mingle Bingo and a Dutch Culture Pub Quiz, offering newcomers an opportunity to meet other internationals and use their Dutch in a friendly setting.
Participants do not need to speak fluent Dutch to take part.
Practical Information
Date: Thursday 26 November 2026
Times: Activities take place throughout the day and evening, depending on the programme.
Locations: Various venues throughout The Hague.
Who can participate: Internationals of different backgrounds, ages and Dutch language levels.
Registration: Check individual activities for times, locations and registration requirements.
The activities listed above are just a selection of the full programme. Visit The Hague International Centre’s website to explore all the options and find something that suits your interests and language level.
Festival de Betovering returns to The Hague from 17 to 25 October 2026, bringing nine days of theatre, dance, music, film and creative workshops for children during the autumn school holidays. The international arts festival offers hundreds of activities at 65 locations across The Hague and surrounding areas.
Children to around 12 years old can enjoy performances by Dutch and international artists, take part in hands-on workshops and discover creative activities at museums, theatres, libraries and community centres. The Festival Centre at Theater aan het Spui also offers activities throughout the week.
For international families, the festival includes a Language No Problem selection, featuring performances and activities with little or no spoken Dutch. There are also free activities, and Ooievaarspas holders can receive discounts on tickets.
Highlights include imaginative theatre for younger children, dance and music performances, stop-motion filmmaking, graffiti workshops and interactive art activities. With events taking place throughout the city, families can choose activities suited to different ages and interests.
Date: 17–25 October 2026
Location: Various venues across The Hague and surrounding areas
