The Hague continues to build on its position as an international city of peace, justice, and security. The Municipal Executive therefore proposes to designate Stichting The Hague Security Delta (HSD) as a Service of General Economic Interest (SGEI).
With this designation, the municipality can continue to support HSD’s activities. The foundation brings together government bodies, knowledge institutions, and businesses to work on innovation, talent development, and digital resilience. In doing so, HSD makes a significant contribution to The Hague’s economy, employment, and cybersecurity. Alderman Richard de Mos (International and Lobbying): “With this investment, The Hague strengthens its economy as well as its position as an international cyber capital. This ensures the city remains attractive to companies, talent, and organizations working on a secure digital future.”
Cybersecurity capital
Over the past few years, The Hague has developed into a leading center for cybersecurity, with organizations such as the National Cyber Security Center, Europol, Eurojust, NATO institutions, and the HSD Campus. HSD plays an important role in this as an independent connector.
Digital threats
Especially now that digital threats are increasing, investing in knowledge, innovation, and collaboration remains essential. HSD also plays an important role in the further development of the House of Cyber and the National Cyber Campus. The designation is valid for four years and focuses on promoting collaboration, cyber resilience, talent development, and innovation, among other things.
Alderman Richard de Mos (Economy) plans to introduce a new events policy in the first quarter of 2027. Fewer unnecessary regulations, more room for initiative and spontaneity, and attracting new crowd-pullers will be central to this stated Alderman De Mos during a committee meeting.
An evaluation shows that free events are under pressure and that The Hague has lost well-known events such as Parkpop, Tong Tong Fair, Festival Classique, and the Vuurwerkfestival. Moreover, organisers experience fragmentation between subsidies, permits, and various municipal departments.
Less bureaucracy
“An events city should not only make rules, but above all enable,” says De Mos. “Safety and liveability must be in order, but organisers with good ideas should not have to jump through endless municipal hoops. Less bureaucracy, more spontaneity, and events that The Hague residents can be proud of again.” This approach aligns with the broader effort to reduce municipal regulatory burden. For events, too, it is being examined how policy, subsidies, permits, and implementation can be better aligned.
The Passion to Kijkduin
Furthermore, during the committee meeting, Alderman De Mos pledged to investigate whether The Passion could come to The Hague, with Kijkduin as a possible location. “Kijkduin could use a great crowd puller. The Passion has national appeal and attracts many visitors. We are going to seriously investigate whether it can land there and what is needed for that.”
Two million extra
From 2028, the city council will allocate an additional two million euros annually for events. De Mos: “The Hague needs to buzz again. With major crowd-pullers, new Hague icons, and good free events. Not more rules to organise something, but looking at which rules can be dropped to make something possible.”
The Hague will be one of the three host cities next year for the final round of the European Padel Championship: the FIP Euro Padel Cup 2027. This was announced last week by theKNLTB and Athvance Sports.
The Final 8 of the European Padel Championship will be played in Amsterdam, The Hague, and Arnhem. Phases 1 and 2 for women will take place in Zwolle, and Phases 1 and 2 for men in Dronten. With five host cities spread across the Netherlands, the European Championship takes on a national character. This makes the largest international padel tournament ever in the Netherlands visible not only to players and fans but also to a broad audience throughout the country.
Next step
The announcement follows the strong development that padel has undergone in the Netherlands in recent years. With over 876,000 players and more than 3,500 padel courts, the sport is at a key moment in its development. The FIP Euro Padel Cup 2027 represents the next step in the further professionalization and visibility of padel in the Netherlands.
Edu Jansing, Managing Director of the KNLTB: ” We are proud to be able to organize this tournament together with strong partners throughout the country. Padel has developed into a significant sport in a short time. With this European Championship, we not only want to bring the best players in Europe to the Netherlands, but also let as many people as possible experience what makes this sport so special. “
From July 7 to 11, 2027, the best countries in Europe will compete in the Final 8 for the European titles for men and women.
The Hague | Sportcampus Zuiderpark
In The Hague, Sportcampus Zuiderpark serves as the setting up to and including the semi-finals of the Final 8. The beautiful multifunctional venue offers ample opportunities to connect top-level sport with education, clubs, talent development, and social activities.
Alderman Nur Icar (Sport): ” Padel has experienced tremendous growth in The Hague in recent years, where there has traditionally been a large following for almost all racket sports. That is why a major top-level sporting event like the European Padel Championships certainly should not be missing from our city.”
We are therefore particularly proud that Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague has been selected to host the matches up to and including the semi-finals. This gives residents the unique opportunity to experience padel at the highest level and to get active themselves through social activations. We hope to see our top players from The Hague, Marcella Koek and Janine Hemmes, in action as well .
This is how the European Championship works
The FIP Euro Padel Cup 2027 consists of three official phases.
Phase 1: March 7 to 10, 2027 – Women in Zwolle, men in Dronten
Phase 2: March 11 to 13, 2027 – Women in Zwolle, men in Dronten
Final 8: July 7 to 11, 2027 – Amsterdam, The Hague & Arnhem
During Phase 1 and Phase 2, European countries compete for a spot in the Final 8. The best countries then join the already qualified countries during the final phase of the tournament.
The European Championship is a national team competition in which players represent their country as part of the national team. The Dutch women start in Phase 2, while the Dutch men are directly qualified for the Final 8.
Activities are being organized around all the host cities for clubs, players, associations, and fans. In doing so, the European Championship is intended to become not only a stage for the European elite, but also an event that unites the entire Dutch padel community.
More information
Pre-registration for tickets is now open . More information will be announced in the coming months about:
participating countries;
the schedule;
side events per host city;
ticket sales;
activations surrounding the European Championship.
On Tuesday 15 September, The Hague hosts Prinsjesdag, the ceremonial opening of the Dutch parliamentary year.
For many internationals, Prinsjesdag is best known for the royal procession, military ceremony and elaborate hats. However behind the spectacle is one of the most important dates in the Dutch political calendar.
Here’s some more information for internationals living in The Hague.
What is Prinsjesdag?
Prinsjesdag takes place on the third Tuesday of September and marks the opening of the new parliamentary year.
At this joint meeting of the Senate and House of Representatives, King Willem-Alexander delivers the Troonrede, or Speech from the Throne. Although the King reads the speech, it is written by the government and sets out its main plans and priorities for the coming year.
Later in the afternoon, the Minister of Finance (Eelco Heinen) presents the Miljoenennota and the national budget for 2027 to the House of Representatives. The Miljoenennota is essentially the government’s financial overview and explanation of the budget. It sets out the bigger picture: how the Dutch economy is doing, what the government expects to receive in taxes and other income, what it plans to spend, the projected deficit or surplus, and the main financial policy choices for the coming year.
The actual budget is contained in the separate departmental budget bills that together make up the Rijksbegroting.
So while the horses, uniforms and hats receive plenty of attention, Prinsjesdag is also very much about what the government’s plans could mean for people living and working in the Netherlands.
Where is the Troonrede taking place?
Traditionally, the Speech from the Throne has been delivered in the Ridderzaal at the Binnenhof. However, with the Binnenhof undergoing major renovation, the ceremony will again take place in the Koninklijke Schouwburg on Korte Voorhout. This Royal Theatre has been used for Prinsjesdag since 2022.
King Willem-Alexander will be joined by Queen Máxima, Princess Catharina-Amalia (the Princess of Orange), Princess Alexia, Princess Ariane, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien. They will be joined by members of the Cabinet, the Senate and House of Representatives, senior officials, diplomats and other invited guests.
Image @ The Hague Online
When does everything happen?
The ceremonial programme begins well before the King arrives.
From 11:30, military guards of honour will take their positions along the route and outside the Koninklijke Schouwburg.
At 13:00, the joint session of the States General formally opens and the Royal procession leaves Paleis Noordeinde.
The Royal Family is expected to arrive at the Koninklijke Schouwburg at around 13:15, where King Willem-Alexander will deliver the Troonrede.
Image: Arnoud @ The Hague Online
At around 14:00, the procession returns to Paleis Noordeinde, followed by the traditional balcony appearance.
Then, at 15:30, the Minister of Finance presents the Miljoenennota and the 2027 national budget in the House of Representatives.
Where can you see the Royal procession?
The procession travels from Paleis Noordeinde along:
After the Troonrede, the procession follows the same route back to Paleis Noordeinde.
The Glazen Koets, or Glass Coach, carries members of the Royal Family, with mounted police, military units, musicians and members of the Royal Household forming part of the wider procession.
If you want a place along the route, arriving well before the 13:00 departure is advisable. The military ceremonial elements begin from 11:30 and the city centre becomes increasingly busy as lunchtime approaches.
The balcony scene
One of the easiest parts of the day to understand, regardless of how closely you follow Dutch politics, is the balcony scene.
After returning from the Troonrede at around 14:00, members of the Royal Family appear on the balcony of Paleis Noordeinde to greet the crowds gathered outside. It is traditionally one of the busiest locations of the day.
Expect road closures and a very busy city centre
Prinsjesdag has a significant impact on traffic through central The Hague.
Parts of the route are closed from early in the morning. The section between Tournooiveld and Bosbrug closes from 06:00, while the route between the Royal Stables and Tournooiveld closes at 10:30.
Many streets in and around Noordeinde, Lange Voorhout, Korte Voorhout, Plein and the surrounding area will also be closed to traffic until approximately 16:00.
Pedestrians should also be aware that you cannot simply cross the procession route wherever you like. Barriers will be in place, although designated crossing points remain available at several locations.
Public transport, walking or cycling to the edge of the affected area will generally be easier than trying to drive into the city centre.
Why all the hats?
The elaborate hats worn by politicians and guests have become an unofficial Prinsjesdag tradition.
The tradition is generally associated with former MP Erica Terpstra, who wore an eye-catching hat to Prinsjesdag in the late 1970s. Since then, the hats have become one of the day’s most photographed features, sometimes fashionable, sometimes political and occasionally deliberately provocative.
A particularly Hague tradition
For residents of The Hague, Prinsjesdag is much more visible than an ordinary parliamentary event.
Military bands, horses, carriages, politicians, diplomats, journalists and crowds temporarily transform the city centre, particularly around Noordeinde and Lange Voorhout.
And while much of the ceremony is centuries old, the political substance is very contemporary: the Troonrede and national budget give the first major indication of where the government intends to focus its attention and money over the coming year.
Whether you come for the politics or simply the spectacle, Prinsjesdag is one of those days when The Hague’s role as the political heart of the Netherlands is impossible to miss.
Watch online
Can’t make it into the city? You can watch Prinsjesdag live for free via NOS.nl and the NOS app, with television coverage on NPO 1. The Tweede Kamer also provides its own livestream of the King’s Speech and the presentation of the budget documents.
Preparations for Prinsjesdag begin well before the Royal procession sets off. Today, Monday 14 September, the city is busy with final rehearsals, security preparations, barriers, ceremonial arrangements and last-minute work around the Koninklijke Schouwburg and the procession route. The Hague Online had the opportunity to take a look behind the scenes before Prinsjesdag. See our Instagram for more.
Image: Arnoud @ The Hague Online
PrinsjesNach: the festival before Prinsjesdag
The evening before Prinsjesdag also has its own celebration. PrinsjesNach takes place across The Hague on Monday 14 September, with more than 35 acts performing at around 30 locations across the city centre. The free festival runs from 19:00 until 23:30, bringing live music, performances and a very different kind of Prinsjesdag atmosphere to the city before the politics and pageantry begin the following day.
Source: Het Koninklijk Huis, Rijksoverheid and Gemeente Den Haag.
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.
