The Hague will be the setting for the start of the Eneco Tour on Tuesday, October 13. From Sportcampus Zuiderpark, both male and female cyclists will begin a spectacular 3.1-kilometer evening prologue. It is a first: not only is it the first time that women are starting in the Eneco Tour, but they will also be starting alternately during the time trial in The Hague. Prior to the professional race, Edwin van der Sar, Richard Krajicek, Viggo Waas, and Lucinda Brand, among others, will be in action during the celebrity prologue.
The evening prologue in The Hague marks the kick-off of six days of cycling spectacle throughout the country. The men’s and women’s races are held on the same day and over the same course during every stage. This all comes together during the opening in The Hague: starting at 6:00 PM, the female and male professional cyclists depart alternately from Sportcampus Zuiderpark, a unique event.
Hague cyclists take to the course
The Hague cycling community will also have a place in the program. Prior to the prologue, women’s cycling community KEK and cycling club Trias will ride a time trial on the official course with their own members. This makes the start of the Eneco Tour not only a top international sporting event, but also a moment when cyclists from The Hague are part of the race themselves. The Hague Cycling Alliance will also gather prior to the start. In this network, committed residents of The Hague and organizations dedicated to cycling in the city meet to exchange knowledge and inspiration and forge new connections.
Nur Icar: ‘Everyone participates’
Alderman Nur Icar (Sport): “Next week, not only will the best cyclists ride through The Hague, but residents of The Hague themselves will also be allowed onto the course. As far as I am concerned, sport is not just something to watch; it must also bring people together and invite them to participate. The fact that men and women will start alternately here makes this opening extra special. Everyone participates, and everyone gets the same podium.”
The public is welcome at the free Cycling Festival in the Zuiderpark starting at 4:00 PM. Visitors can view the team buses, participate in cycling activities, enjoy music, and grab a bite to eat and a drink at the food trucks, among other things. The pros will start their prologue at 6:00 PM. Admission to the event is free.
After the opening in The Hague, the Eneco Tour continues through the Netherlands, with stages in Ede, Tilburg, Sittard-Watersley and Hoogeveen (VAM-berg), and the finale on Sunday, October 18 in Arnhem.
120 ethical hackers examined the digital infrastructure of the Municipality of The Hague yesterday, October 5. From the Atrium of City Hall, students and professional hackers attempted to infiltrate the systems during the seventh edition of Hâck The Hague. A total of 125 reports were submitted. The majority of the reports were resolved the same day. The vulnerabilities found included overdue updates or misconfigurations at vendors.
Adeel Mahmood, Alderman for Service Delivery at the Municipality of The Hague: “In a society that is digitising at a rapid pace, digital security is an important prerequisite for reliable service delivery to our employees, residents, and entrepreneurs. We are constantly working on improving the security of our systems. We cannot do this without the human creativity of both our own security experts and honest hackers. That is quite exciting, but at the same time, it yields many new insights that help us enormously. This is evident every year during Hack The Hague.”
Chain Reaction in cyber security
The theme of this seventh edition was chain reaction. In cybersecurity, a chain reaction refers to an attack in which various small, standalone vulnerabilities or actions are cleverly combined in sequence. The end result is much larger and more damaging than the individual actions.
Hackers use this technique to bypass defense systems. The hacker often breaks in through a relatively harmless vulnerability, such as an outdated plugin on a website or a ‘phished’ employee with minimal privileges. From that position, the attacker looks for a second flaw, such as a system misconfiguration or a script running with administrator privileges. By using the first access to trigger the second flaw , the hacker can sometimes gain maximal privileges. That is a situation every organization wants to prevent.
With this theme, Hâck The Hague places extra emphasised how small, seemingly innocent vulnerabilities can combine to lead to major risks. This shows why testing entire chains of systems is at least as important as testing individual components.
Vulnerabilities and prices found
Various cash prizes were awarded this year in the categories Most Creative Hack , Most Sophisticated Hack, Most Impactful Hack , and The Hackademic Award , supplemented by two bonus prizes: Best Use of AI and Best Report . A total of €17,000 in prize money was distributed.
Lilian Knippenberg, CISO at the Municipality of The Hague: “We are incredibly pleased with all the findings from this edition. Hackers look at our systems with a fresh, critical eye, and that yields insights that we do not always see ourselves. We were already able to resolve some of the reports with the team today, also together with our suppliers. Digital security is a responsibility for all of us. This is also underscored year after year by Hâck The Hague.”
Large turnout
120 hackers participated this year, including students and professional hackers. Of the total, there were 80 professional hackers and 40 student hackers.
In the digital society, every organization is exposed to the risks of cybercrime on a daily basis. In the physical world, it is clear where a municipality’s responsibilities lie. In the digital world, this is often still a pioneering effort. During Hâck The Hague, the Municipality of The Hague gains a fresh, external perspective on its own municipal ICT systems. Moreover, this competition day contributes to inspiring students to pursue a career in cybersecurity. This is sorely needed, as the demand for cybersecurity specialists will continue to increase in the coming years.
New research by MultiTeam Solutions, commissioned by the City of The Hague, shows that line managers can play an important role in preventing scarce cybersecurity talent from leaving the sector because of stress, burnout or a lack of support. The City is putting these insights into practice by offering subsidised leadership training for professionals starting in November 2026.
The leadership training for cybersecurity professionals is fully funded by the City and is therefore free for participants. It will focus on areas including recognising and discussing workload pressures, providing feedback that supports professional development, and acknowledging progress and achievements.
“The Hague wants to be an international leader in cybersecurity. That means investing in technology and new talent, but also in the people who already work every day to keep us digitally secure. We want talented cybersecurity professionals not only to come and work here, but also to want to stay,”says Richard de Mos, Deputy Mayor of The Hague.
The study, Retaining Talent Is a Leadership Capability, shows that the working environment and the way professionals are guided and supported can also influence talent retention. Feeling competent in their work and receiving support from their line manager are associated with lower levels of stress and burnout, and a lower intention to leave the organisation. For professionals moving from a technical role into a management position, this step brings new responsibilities and requires new skills.
Cybersecurity Week 2026 The Hague
During Cybersecurity week in The Hague, the researchers will put the findings into practice at ONE Conference on 6 October through an interactive workshop based on the research. In the session, 3 Practical Leadership Strategies to Retain Cyber Talent, they will work with participants on three practical leadership strategies for retaining cybersecurity talent. By combining research, knowledge sharing at the ONE Conference and free training, the City aims to help build a strong cybersecurity sector in The Hague and the region that is well prepared for the future. Full programme Cybersecurity week: https://thehague.com/cybersecurity/en/cybersecurity-week-2026
About the research
The study, Retaining Talent Is a Leadership Capability, was conducted by MultiTeam Solutions on behalf of the City of The Hague. It took place from mid-2025 to early 2026 and comprised a quantitative survey of 86 cybersecurity professionals and three focus groups. The research focuses on the Dutch cybersecurity sector. https://www.multiteam.solutions/
The Municipality of The Hague recently presented the 2027-2030 budget. The Municipal Executive has opted for targeted investments in housing construction, safety, accessibility, liveable neighbourhoods, and a vibrant city. At the same time, work is being done to restore the municipality’s financial position so that The Hague can continue to invest in the growth and quality of the city in the future.The total size of the budget for 2027 is €3,715 million.
The budget is a proposal from the Municipal Executive and will be adopted by the City Council on November 11. The document constitutes the financial translation of the ambitions set out in the coalition agreement ‘For The Hague, with The Hague’ .
Alderwoman Lotte van Basten Batenburg (Finance): “With this budget, we are laying the foundation for a stronger The Hague. We are investing in the growth of the city and in the facilities that residents use every day. We are doing this with an eye on the future: by making decisive choices, we ensure that The Hague remains financially strong in the coming years.”
A liveable and growing city
The Hague continues to work on accelerating the realization of homes to meet the high demand for housing. The Municipal Executive is committed to building 4,000 homes per year and ensuring a balanced distribution of affordable and more expensive homes across the city. In addition, investments are being made in area developments, attractive public spaces, and new amenities. This creates room for growth while strengthening the livability of existing neighborhoods.
Safe and healthy neighborhoods
Safety and liveability form a key pillar of the budget. Therefore, the Municipal Executive is allocating additional resources for enforcement and surveillance in the neighborhoods. 80 extra special enforcement officers will be deployed to focus on issues such as street harassment and littering. In addition, structural investments are being made in tackling subversive crime and strengthening the city’s digital resilience.
The municipality also invests in strong neighborhoods and the implementation of the neighborhood agendas, with a focus on prevention, well-being, and what residents consider important in their neighborhood.
Opportunities for children and young people
The Municipal Executive continues to invest in equal opportunities for all children and young people in The Hague. Extra attention will be paid to reducing child poverty, quality education, and talent development. Investments will also be made in additional sports facilities, such as artificial turf football pitches. Free travel on public transport will also be available to young people up to and including the age of 17 with an Ooievaarspas.
A bustling city
A vital economy and a strong cultural offering make The Hague an attractive place to live, work, and visit. Therefore, the municipality invests in shopping areas, business parks, the coast, and The Hague’s cultural sector. Cultural institutions, events, and creators that contribute to The Hague’s identity and appeal are cherished. In addition, the Municipal Executive focuses on attracting international conferences and events, as these are inextricably linked to The Hague as an international city of peace and justice.
Improved accessibility for residents and businesses
To keep The Hague accessible, the Municipal Executive is investing in infrastructure, road safety, and parking solutions. Paid parking will only be introduced if parking pressure exceeds 90% and with the support of residents. Existing on-street and garage parking capacity is being utilized more effectively. The Municipal Executive also remains committed to good connections for public transport, cycling, and cars. These investments not only support residents but also contribute to a strong business climate for entrepreneurs.
Looking to the future
The 2027-2030 budget marks the start of the implementation of the coalition agreement. At the same time, the financial position of municipalities nationwide remains under pressure due to rising costs and uncertainty regarding future central government contributions. The Municipal Executive is therefore firmly committed to sound financial policy and decisive choices. This creates room to make investments that demonstrably contribute to a stronger The Hague.
Twenty startups are among the 100 most innovative companies in the Netherlands.
For the 21st edition of the KVK Innovation Top 100, innovation experts selected 100 companies from more than 200 submissions. The finalists are developing innovations in diverse fields, from health and circularity to digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). The Chamber of Commerce (KVK) announced the list recently.
According to Rodrique Engering, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Chamber of Commerce, the list shows how quickly entrepreneurs respond to change: “The quality of the submissions was high and the competition for a spot in the Top 100isfierce. We see shifts in the themes that concern entrepreneurs. Whereas a few years ago many innovations revolved around the energy transition, topics such as digitalization, AI, and labor productivity are clearly gaining ground. Innovation moves along with the challenges of our time.”
The 100 companies were assessed by panels of innovation experts. They looked at impact, originality, growth potential, and societal significance, among other factors. Entrepreneurs could register in five categories: Circular Economy, Energy Transition, Labor Market and Society, Agriculture, Water and Infrastructure, and Health and Nutrition.
Knowledge cities and startups well represented University cities are once again strongly represented in the Top 100 this year. Companies from Utrecht, Delft, Groningen, Wageningen, Eindhoven, Enschede, and Leiden, among others, demonstrate how important collaboration between knowledge institutions and entrepreneurs remains for innovation in the Netherlands. In addition, twenty startups have secured a spot in the Top 100. This means that young enterprises are once again among the drivers of innovation within the Dutch SME sector.
Innovation from 58 locations The finalists come from 58 different places spread across ten provinces. It is striking that almost three-quarters of the companies are located outside Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. North Holland is the most strongly represented province with 19 companies, followed by South Holland (17), North Brabant (16) and Utrecht (13).
Exciting conclusion in November During the KVK Entrepreneur Days on November 13 and 14 at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht, the winners of the category awards will be announced on November 13. It will also be revealed then which company can call itself the most innovative company in the Netherlands and takes over the baton from Tree Composites, last year’s winner. In addition to the five category awards, five Innovation Promise Awards will also be presented this year to young enterprises and startups with promising innovations that are just entering the market or are not yet on the market.
The public votes along The Dutch public will once again influence the final result. You can vote for one of the 100 finalists until October 18 via www.kvkinnovatietop100.nl . The professional jury’s assessment accounts for 80 percent, and the public vote for 20 percent.
About the Chamber of Commerce Innovation Top 100 The KVK Innovation Top 100 was established in 2006 to showcase the innovative strength of Dutch SMEs. Since then, the list has grown into a leading overview of innovative entrepreneurship in the Netherlands. Deliberately, no cash prize is attached to the competition. Its value lies in visibility, recognition, and inspiration.
Teams from the police, municipality, and other agencies were active en masse on Friday, September 18, during a comprehensive enforcement operation in Scheveningen and Duindorp. They encountered a wide range of violations: arrests for driving under the influence of drugs, possible forced labor, and fines for various offenses.
To ensure that Scheveningen remains a pleasant, safe, and welcoming place for everyone, the municipality works together with residents, entrepreneurs, and other agencies. In recent years, residents and entrepreneurs have indicated experiencing nuisance, particularly on and around the boulevard, the harbor, and in Duindorp. Problems occur here such as alcohol and drug-related nuisance, fraudulent business activities, loitering youth, parking nuisance, and residential nuisance. With the introduction of the Coastal Action Plan, a structural focus is being placed on accessibility, safety, livability, and hospitality. Abuses are being tackled, and thanks to the additional measures taken in and around Scheveningen, things are steadily improving.
Traffic control Second Harbour
The large-scale traffic control operation took place on Dr. Lelykade. 100 vehicles were checked and 49 were fined for various offenses, including driving without a license, failure to produce valid identification, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving with a phone in hand. The sniffer dog present searched the vehicles for drugs and located a small bag of white powder in one vehicle. The quantity found was confiscated and the police arrested the driver. Another driver was also arrested for driving under the influence of drugs. Five WOK reports were filed for scooters and cars driving with loud exhausts and causing significant noise nuisance. With the Noise Patrol, the noise level in decibels is measured using a microphone system.
The police carried out extra checks on fat bikes. Residents and other road users in Scheveningen experience significant nuisance from fat bikes that go much too fast or do not adhere to traffic rules. 28 fat bikes were placed on the dynamometer, and the speed limiters were confiscated from two of them.
Tram inspection by HTM
Various tram lines run through Scheveningen. For instance, trams at the Kurhaus and Duinstraat stops, among others, were checked. HTM inspectors checked 58 trams, and 55 passengers received a fine of €76 for failing to produce a valid ticket.
CET
The CET is part of the police and is responsible for tracking down (fugitive) convicted persons. The abbreviation stands for Coordination of Execution Tasks (CET). Two arrests were made by the CET, one of whom still had an outstanding prison sentence for multiple serious traffic violations. Another arrestee was taken into custody for refusing to pay an outstanding fine. Furthermore, two convicted persons were informed of their verdict. They have the option to pay a fine; otherwise, they will have to serve a sentence in prison.
Forced labor
During the joint inspection of the hospitality sector, various businesses in Oud Scheveningen were inspected by the Enforcement Organization, the police, the Hague Economic Intervention Team (HEIT), Stedin, the fire department, the Ministry of Social Affairs (SZW), and the Haaglanden Environmental Service (ODH). Eleven employees were checked by SZW for benefit fraud and illegal employment. One employee attempted to escape during an inspection but was brought back. The paperwork may not be in order. Furthermore, several employees are still being investigated for possible benefit fraud. They may be receiving benefits unlawfully while performing paid work. One business received a fine for selling spirits without an alcohol license. At three businesses, Stedin found that the fuse in the meter cupboard was faulty, and at another business, the seal had been tampered with. ODH checks whether businesses comply with environmental regulations. For instance, eight businesses lacked a grease separator or maintenance of the grease separator. A grease separator is necessary to prevent heavy fats from entering the sewer system, which would impair proper processing.
The HEIT visited various massage parlors and spoke with the managers. At a number of massage parlors in the action area, there may be instances of forced labor or possible prostitution. At one of the parlors, an employee was working illegally, and this has been reported to the immigration police. A further investigation into the activities of this business is also being launched.
Home modifications
The Hague Building Enforcement Team monitors the safety of buildings and homes in the city. There are many social housing units in Scheveningen and Duindorp rented out by Hof Wonen. Together with Stedin, the teams entered the action area to inspect various homes and commercial properties. Extra checks were carried out on compliance with building permits, such as extensions and demolitions to existing buildings. This does not always proceed according to the rules. In such cases, the Hague Building Enforcement Team can impose an administrative coercion order. This means that the contractor must immediately rectify the modifications and permits, otherwise further measures will be taken. In the case of a home, there was an illegal subdivision and the rear facade had been removed, causing subsidence. It has been agreed with the owner that this will be rectified as soon as possible.
At three Hof Wonen addresses, it emerged that the tenant was not living there themselves, but was renting out the property to others. Due to long waiting lists at the housing corporation, this is unacceptable. Following an investigation, a report will be drawn up, and the properties may return to the market for eligible home seekers.
Tax debts and illegal parking
The municipal tax office seized vehicles twelve times for a total amount of €78,000. Nine vehicles were fitted with wheel clamps for outstanding parking fines, and one vehicle was towed. Payment was made directly on two occasions, for a total amount exceeding €21,000. The National Tax Service checked vehicles for payment of motor vehicle tax. 38 vehicles were inspected. In total, tax debt exceeding €190,000 was collected. The largest direct payment was €100,000.
The enforcement organization’s scanning team scanned 6,000 vehicles; 30 vehicle owners will receive a supplementary assessment. They had not paid parking fees, even though they were required to do so. The Mulder team (parking team) issued eight fines for illegal parking on the sidewalk and five fines to petrol cars parked in an electric vehicle parking space. The bike team issued nine fines for using a phone while cycling, and enforcement officers issued seven fines to scooter riders for riding on the bicycle path, whereas they are required to ride on the public road.
Integrated enforcement action Scheveningen
Hard work is being done to improve the livability and safety of the city. Area-specific enforcement actions are regularly carried out in various districts to tackle abuses within those neighborhoods. This time, it was Scheveningen’s turn. Organizations and agencies are working with the municipality to create a more beautiful and safer The Hague. The following agencies were present: The Hague Police Unit, The Hague Building Brigade, HEIT, Scheveningen Enforcement Team, Mulder Team, Scan Team, Bikers, Alcohol and Hospitality Team, HTM, Haaglanden Fire Department (VRH), Haaglanden Environmental Service (ODH), Hof Wonen, National Tax Service, Municipal Tax Service, and sniffer dogs from Het Twickelerveld.
Do you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood? Reporting helps!
Residents and business owners are increasingly reporting nuisance and suspicious situations. This allows the police and the municipality to take more targeted action to improve livability and safety. Reports are therefore very welcome.
Report suspicious situations to the police via telephone number 112 (emergency) or 0900 – 8844 (non-emergency, but police).
Do you see pests in the neighborhood, broken streetlights, bicycle wrecks, trash, or other matters that are not in order? Report it at denhaag.nl/meldingen .
