On Wednesday, September 9, Alderman Isabelle Broeders (Public Space) officially opened the renovated Houtzagerssingel. After three years of work, the quay wall and the street have been renewed. With the completion of the project, the Houtzagerssingel is ready for the future.
The works were part of the Multi-Year Structures Programme , through which the municipality is making bridges and quay walls in the city future-proof. The old quay wall has been replaced and can last another 100 years.
‘This new quay wall is more than just stone. It is an investment in the future of the neighborhood. With more greenery, pleasant places to linger, and space for socializing, we are making Houtzagerssingel more attractive and livable. It is wonderful to see that residents themselves are also making a difference. The small front gardens show how much pride and involvement there is in this street,’ says Alderman Broeders.
In addition to the renewal of the quay wall, the public space has also been redesigned. The Houtzagerssingel has been re-paving and more space has been created for greenery. New trees have been planted and new planting beds have been laid out along the quay. The final trees will be planted and the permanent planting beds laid out this autumn. Benches have also been placed along the water so that residents and visitors can enjoy the surroundings even better. A new boarding and disembarking point for tour boats has been created near Paulus Potterstraat.
The works demonstrate that renewal and preservation can go hand in hand. Therefore, a trial was also conducted to preserve ferns from the old quay wall. The plants were removed from the old quay, stone and all, and replanted in the new wall. One of the ferns successfully survived the relocation.
Golden Watering Can
During the opening ceremony, Alderman Broeders presented the Golden Watering Can to the resident with the most beautiful facade garden. In the project, existing facade gardens were improved and new ones were created. Residents themselves organized the competition for the most beautiful facade garden. The opening marked an important milestone for Houtzagerssingel and the neighborhood. The prize went to Rosa van Driel from Paulus Potterstraat.
” I am very happy with how the Houtzagerssingel has turned out. We already had beautiful trees, but it is nice that new trees and extra greenery are replacing them. We already had a small front garden, but thanks to this project, many neighbors have now created a front garden as well. As a result, the street has become much greener and more inviting ,” says Ms. Van Driel.
The asphalt on the Bitterzoetpad and Veenbespad cycle paths is old. To improve cycling comfort and safety, the municipality is replacing the asphalt. The work will begin on Monday, September 14, 2026, and will be completed on Friday, November 6, 2026.
The maintenance on the cycle paths will take approximately 8 weeks and will be carried out in 3 phases. Please note! The schedule is subject to delays due to unexpected situations.
Temporary closure
There are temporary diversions during the works. This allows the contractor to work quickly and safely. Signs indicating the diversion routes are posted in the area. There is also a temporary diversion for motorists in a section of the De Bras neighborhood.
Accessibility of the area
The nearby recreational area remains accessible. The Ypenburg shopping center also remains accessible.
New, safe bike paths
When asphalt ages, cracks or holes can develop. This is unsafe. Subsidence of the cycle path is also unsafe. As a result, cyclists can slip or veer off course. The municipality ensures that the asphalted cycle paths in the city remain safe. After maintenance, the cycle paths will last for many years to come. And cycling will be comfortable again.
Questions or more information?
Read more information about the schedule and diversions on Bereikbare Stad, the City of The Hague website featuring the most important roadworks and closures in the city.
A nationwide public transport strike has caused major disruption across the Netherlands today, Wednesday 9 September, with virtually no trains running and many bus and tram services also cancelled.
The 24-hour strike has been organised by trade union FNV in protest against planned government cuts and reforms to the Dutch social security system, particularly unemployment benefit (WW) and disability benefit (WIA).
NS confirmed that no regular trains are operating across the country today. The main exception is the Airport Sprinter between Amsterdam Central Station, Schiphol Airport and Hoofddorp, which is running four times per hour. International rail services within the Netherlands have also been affected.
Regional and city public transport is more mixed. Bus, tram and other public transport employees can individually decide whether to participate in the strike, meaning that some services are running while others have been cancelled. Travellers are advised to check with their local transport operator before travelling.
FNV says the action is directed at the national government rather than public transport companies or passengers. The union argues that proposed changes to WW and WIA would weaken social protection for workers who become unemployed or are no longer able to work because of illness or disability.
According to FNV, around 70 percent of the government’s originally planned social security savings remain despite recent political negotiations. The union says further industrial action is planned in other sectors during September.
Despite the lack of trains, the morning rush hour on Dutch roads was reportedly relatively normal, while car-sharing platforms reported increased demand.
NS expects the normal train timetable to resume on Thursday 10 September, although passengers are advised to check journey information before travelling.
The Hague has unveiled its new generation of TINA trams, as the city takes another step towards more accessible, sustainable and future-proof public transport.
Alderman for Mobility Adeel Mahmood officially presented the new TINA tram at Kerkplein on Friday 4 September. The Hague is the first municipality to put this new type of tram into service.
TINA stands for Total Integrierter Niederflur-Antrieb. The new low-floor trams have been designed to provide greater capacity, improved accessibility and more sustainable public transport for passengers travelling in and around The Hague.
More space and easier access
The TINA trams offer more space for passengers and make boarding and leaving the tram easier, particularly for older people, people with disabilities and parents travelling with pushchairs.
“With the arrival of the new TINA trams, we are investing in a public transport network that is accessible to everyone. At the same time, we are making our city more sustainable, safer for traffic and better connected for the future,” said Alderman Adeel Mahmood.
The new trams are being introduced through a collaboration between the Municipality of The Hague, public transport operator HTM and the Metropolitan Region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH).
Changes to tram lines and stops
A number of tram lines and stops will be adapted over the coming years to accommodate the new trams.
Where possible, the municipality will combine work on tram tracks with other improvements to the surrounding area. These can include replacing sewers, cables and pipes, introducing traffic-safety measures and adding more greenery to public spaces.
By combining the different projects, the municipality aims to limit disruption for residents, businesses and passengers.
Towards a modern tram network
Following the successful renewal of tram lines 1 and 17, lines 6 and 12 will also be upgraded in the coming years.
Through these projects, the Municipality of The Hague, HTM and MRDH are working step by step towards a modern tram network for The Hague and the surrounding region.
Source: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online
Photo: Gemeente Den Haag. Alderman Adeel Mahmood pictured on the far left
During the season opening of the radio program ‘Haagse Helden’ on Monday, August 31, registration for the 2026 Hague Volunteer Awards opened. Presenter Jeanne van Rutten and Alderman Kavish Partiman for Housing, Integration, and Volunteers jointly gave the official start signal. Volunteers, volunteer teams, and volunteer organizations can be registered up to and including Wednesday, September 30, 2026, via denhaag.nl/vrijwilligersprijzen .
On the right track
The Municipality of The Hague presents the Hague Volunteer Awards every year to highlight and appreciate volunteer work in the city. The awards consist of monetary prizes and the honor. This year, the theme of the Hague Volunteer Awards ceremony is ‘On the Right Track’. After all, it is only thanks to the efforts of some 185,000 volunteers in The Hague that The Hague stays on course. The theme therefore forms the common thread of the festive award ceremony at the Remise Den Haag on November 21, 2026.
Alderman Partiman: “Volunteers make The Hague stronger. Throughout the city, people selflessly dedicate themselves to their neighborhood, an association, or to residents who could use a helping hand. In doing so, they foster connection and make our city closer. Their commitment is invaluable and deserves our appreciation. At the same time, The Hague is growing, and many volunteers are getting older. That is why it is important that new people also take the step towards volunteering, so that together we can continue to build strong communities in which people look out for one another.”
Register volunteers and organizations
Anyone can nominate a volunteer, a volunteer team, or an organization for a The Hague Volunteer Award. The awards are presented in the following seven categories:
Care and Welfare
Art and Culture
Neighborhood and Surroundings
Development and Youth
Animals and Nature
Volunteer organization
Volunteer team
An independent jury assesses all applications in October.
Appreciation for volunteers in The Hague
Around the presentation of the Hague Volunteer Awards, the municipality is organizing various activities for volunteers in November. In doing so, The Hague underscores the importance of volunteer work and thanks all volunteers for their dedication.
Heroes of The Hague
The Dutch language radio program Haagse Helden has been a partner of the Hague Volunteer Awards for many years. This year, too, the radio program is dedicating attention to the nominees. In the weeks leading up to the award ceremony, various contenders will be guests on the show. Furthermore, on November 21 at the Remise Den Haag, radio presenter Jeanne van Rutten will personally present one of the awards, as will Alderman Partiman.
The Hague will host Leiden University’s Opening of the Academic Year, today, Monday 31 August 2026. It is the first time in the university’s 451-year history that the ceremony takes place outside Leiden. The event also marks 25 years of partnership between the university and the city.
The afternoon’s central theme is the impact of artificial intelligence on education. The programme opens with a keynote by Junior Minister for the Digital Economy and Sovereignty, Willemijn Aerdts, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Bas Haring with researchers, lecturers and students from various faculties. The panel explores the opportunities, dilemmas and complexities AI presents for education and research.
Before the ceremony, a procession of students, professors, lecturers, aldermen, speakers, guests, and the mayors of Leiden and The Hague will make its way from the Turfmarkt to Amare. The procession returns to the Opening of the Academic Year for the first time since 1972. The tradition ended when all parts of the university began to participate in university governance on an equal basis, and visible distinctions were removed from the ceremony. This year, the tradition returns in a renewed and more inclusive form. Professors will walk alongside guests of their choosing, reflecting Leiden University’s close-knit and diverse community.
“For 25 years, Leiden University and The Hague have grown together. Today, around 6,000 of their 30,000 students study in The Hague, making our city a second home for the university. Hosting the Opening of the Academic Year here for the first time is a fitting celebration of that partnership.” Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague
Source & Image: The Hague & Partners The Hague & Partners is the official marketing and acquisition organisation for the promotion of The Hague, focused on residents, visitors, conferences, businesses and institutions. https://thehague.com/en
