The Hague is gaining an increasing number of plants, shrubs, and trees, particularly in the paved neighborhoods. This is evident from the results of an action program launched by the municipality in 2024 to green the city. Studies were conducted into greening opportunities in paved neighborhoods, among other things. As a result, greenery has been added at 38 locations in the city since the start of the program. The ambition for this year is to realize at least 0.8 hectares of new greenery, including one hundred new trees. Furthermore, the greening project is starting along the S100 city ring road. There, a total of approximately 1.5 hectares of greenery will be added to the city at one hundred locations. The Raamweg and Lijnbaan are scheduled for this autumn.
Alderman Nur Icar (Public Space): “More greenery makes our city a nicer place to live and do business, provides cooling on hot days, and helps to better collect and drain rainwater, especially in the paved neighborhoods. So it is great news that more and more places in The Hague are becoming a bit greener!”
Towards a greener city with five actions
The Climate Adaptation and Greening of Paved Neighborhoods Action Programme consists of five different actions. In addition to mapping greening opportunities in paved neighborhoods and adding more greenery along the S100 city center ring, at least 150 extra trees are planted in paved neighborhoods every year. This year, the focus is on Laak, Duindorp, Scheveningen, and the Schilderswijk.
Furthermore, existing and new greening projects are also being carried out outside the paved neighborhoods. For instance, in the Statenkwartier, the square at the corner of François Maelsonstraat and Van Boetzelaerlaan has been greened. Finally, the municipality encourages residents, schools, entrepreneurs, and other social organizations to get started with greening as well, for example by creating a facade garden. Additionally, five hundred rain barrels were distributed free of charge at the beginning of this year, and a campaign is currently underway in which the municipality, together with Duurzaam Den Haag, is giving away 2,200 free trees .
New research shows that international organisations continue to grow steadily in The Hague, the international city of peace and justice. Since 2005, their number in the region has grown by 211%. They are linked to nearly 45,000 jobs and their presence generates €8.6 billion in additional annual expenditure across the region.
In 2025, the region of The Hague is home to 520 international organisations. That is 5.9% more than at the previous measurement in 2023 and 211% more than in 2005, when the municipality first began tracking the sector. The figures show that this is not a short-term spike, but part of a long-term pattern of steady growth.
Over the past twenty years, the region of The Hague has continued to strengthen its position as an attractive base for international organisations working in peace and justice. These organisations are linked to 44,900 jobs across the region, including 19,674 direct jobs within the organisations themselves and 25,208 indirect jobs at suppliers and other businesses. In other words, each job at an international organisation creates more than one additional job elsewhere in the economy.
International organisations account for around 10% of The Hague’s economy. Their presence generates €8.6 billion in additional annual expenditure across the region, including both direct and indirect effects. Of that total, €4.4 billion reaches organisations and businesses in the region of The Hague as revenue. These figures underline that international organisations are not only part of The Hague’s international identity, but also a structural economic force.
Their impact extends well beyond the international sector, bringing 1.66 million business visitors to the region and organising more than 11,000 events each year. This strengthens hotels, hospitality, retail and other amenities, and adds to the wider appeal and connectivity of The Hague’s international peace and justice ecosystem.
That ecosystem is becoming increasingly diverse. Alongside well-established institutions, NGOs and knowledge institutions are helping to make The Hague’s peace and justice cluster broader and more resilient. Together, they reinforce a network that supports cooperation, knowledge exchange and a strong environment for those working on the rule of law and democratic values, climate justice, humanitarian action and human rights, security and a resilient society.
The findings also underline the importance of continued investment in The Hague’s international ecosystem. In line with the International Policy Framework adopted by the City Council in March 2026, The Hague continues to strengthen the conditions that enable international organisations to work, connect and collaborate effectively in the international city of peace and justice.
Alderman Mariëlle Vavier (International Affairs): “Over the past few years, The Hague has deliberately strengthened its position as the international city of peace and justice. This research shows that this approach is paying off. We continue to see international organisations, NGOs and businesses choosing The Hague as their base. We will keep investing in quality and remain a reliable partner for organisations that contribute to peace, justice and a better world from The Hague.”
Image: The international zone in The Hague during the NATO Summit in June 2025 @ the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals. Arjan de Jager, The Hague & Partners
Visitors to Molenvlietpark can now get acquainted with the rich history of the area in an accessible way. Information boards (in Dutch) have been placed along the walking route through the park that give visitors a glimpse into the archaeological research that took place here during the construction of the park and the Rotterdamsebaan.
The archaeology walk was officially opened by Alderman Bruines (Archaeology and Heritage) during the National Archaeology Days. “Archaeology tells the story of our city. With this route, we make visible that the history of The Hague lies not only in archives and museums, but also simply beneath our feet,” said Alderman Bruines.
A dive into history
The new route takes visitors past various locations in Molenvlietpark where archaeological finds have been made. The information boards tell the story of ancient landscapes, settlement history, and remarkable discoveries from the past. Furthermore, using QR codes, visitors can digitally travel back in time and see what the area looked like during different periods, from prehistory up to and including the Second World War.
All information is based on archaeological research and finds made at this site. In this way, the hidden history of the area is made accessible to a wide audience.
Remarkable finds from the Roman period and the Middle Ages
The oldest archaeological remains found in the Vliet Zone date back to the Roman period. Archaeologists from the Municipality of The Hague discovered more than ten Roman farms here. In addition, many thousands of objects were excavated, including pottery, animal bone material, metal objects, and natural stone.
Notable finds from the Roman era include a silver ring with the inscription AMO TE VITA. This classical Latin text can be translated as: ‘I love you, my love’. Furthermore, a silver hoard was found consisting of six silver bracelets and 107 silver coins. In addition, there were 350 nearly complete roof tiles, including one with dog paw prints.
Freely accessible
The walk past the archaeology boards is freely accessible and suitable for anyone who wants to learn more about the history of The Hague.
How will The Hague remain safe, livable, and attractive for future generations as sea levels rise? To provide insight into the choices that must be made to achieve this, the municipality has drawn up a future perspective for the Hague coast with the year 2100 as the horizon. With its own perspective on water safety, the Municipality of The Hague is taking a leading role as a local partner in the water safety issue, in which the national government and the water boards are primarily responsible. In this way, our local ambitions are also well secured regionally and nationally. The future perspective connects water safety and spatial planning and will be incorporated into policies and projects related to water and the coast.
Alderman Nur Icar (Climate Adaptation): “The Hague is the only major city by the sea in the Netherlands. That makes us unique. We can be proud of our diverse coastline, with space for recreation, entrepreneurs, hospitality, nature, sports, and tourism, among other things. At the same time, our location by the sea presents challenges. It makes us vulnerable to rising sea levels. That is why it is so important to map out how we need to prepare for this together with partners and residents. This future outlook is the start of that.”
City behind the dunes
Rising sea levels pose challenges, particularly in the area of water safety. In The Hague, the Scheveningen coast is especially vulnerable, as there is little room here for raising and widening the current sea defenses. Furthermore, there is currently no protection from dunes that can grow along with the rising sea level, as is the case in the Oost- and Westduinpark.
A promising direction is therefore the ‘City behind the dunes’ scenario. This scenario assumes that by 2100, a dune landscape approximately two hundred meters wide will emerge off the coast of Scheveningen. This will be achieved through so-called ‘sand replenishment’ and dynamic dune management. The dune ridge will be situated in front of the boulevard, and the beach will shift seaward. In this way, the coast can sustainably adapt to rising sea levels. This provides protection while simultaneously creating space for nature, recreation, and biodiversity. To preserve the harbor, however, technical measures would eventually be required, such as a storm surge barrier or lock.
Follow-up
The future outlook is not a fixed plan, but a direction that will be further explored in the coming years for feasibility and effectiveness, with an eye to other possible measures and combinations of solutions. The document was produced in collaboration with experts, other government bodies, residents, and other stakeholders, including the Association of Boulevard Entrepreneurs Scheveningen (VBS) and the Association of Beach Operators (VVS).
“ It is good that an investigation is being conducted into how Scheveningen and The Hague can safely continue to exist behind the dunes. For the entrepreneurs on the boulevard, the view of the sea is an important point of attention. But doing nothing is not an option, of course,” says Henk Kool (Chairman of the VBS). Martin Wörsdörfer (Chairman of the VVS): “The Hague must remain a city *by* the sea and not become a city *in* the sea. It is good that the entrepreneurs are and remain involved in determining the course. We want to continue to welcome our beach visitors in a hospitable and safe manner.”
To further develop the perspective, the municipality is taking an active role in intergovernmental cooperation and consultations with water safety partners. Based on discussions with partners and the city that will take place in the coming period, a more definitive course will be determined at a later stage.
On 26 June, The Hague was filled with love. On this popular wedding date, no fewer than 41 couples said “I do” at various wedding locations across the city. The Hague provided a festive backdrop for couples, family members and friends. There was a good chance of spotting a radiant newly married couple, complete with bridal bouquets, celebratory outfits and big smiles. Several newlyweds were seen around the Spui in particular.
June remains a popular wedding month
June has traditionally been one of the most popular months to get married, but 26-06-2026 was especially sought after this year. The date brought together several appealing elements: a striking sequence of numbers, a summer atmosphere and, this year, a beautifully sunny day.
Couples across the city
The three municipal wedding locations, the City Hall on the Spui, the Old City Hall on the Dagelijkse Groenmarkt and the Escamp district office on Leyweg, formed the heart of this special wedding date. Ceremonies took place at these locations approximately every 45 minutes.
In addition, The Hague offers many so-called “free locations” where couples can get married or enter into a registered partnership. These were also widely used on 26 June. At various iconic places across the city, couples exchanged their vows, from the beaches of Kijkduin, Noorderstrand and Zuiderstrand to special locations such as a brewery or society venue.
Alderman Bredemeijer serves as one-off wedding officiant
For Alderman Hilbert Bredemeijer, it was also a special day. At the beginning of the afternoon, he officiated a wedding in the wedding hall of the City Hall on the Spui, also known as the Ice Palace. It was a festive and personal moment in his final days as Alderman for Services. For this occasion, he was specially sworn in once as a Special Registrar of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Registered Partnerships, known in Dutch as a Buitengewoon Ambtenaar van de Burgerlijke Stand, or BABS.
A busy day for wedding officiants
The Hague’s wedding officiants were also working at full capacity on 26 June, with some officiating several marriages and registered partnerships. Despite the busy schedule, their enthusiasm, care and dedication helped ensure that each couple enjoyed an unforgettable ceremony.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online
Photo: Alderman Hilbert Bredemeijer was sworn in once as a BABS and married a couple at City Hall.
The first National Zonnebloem Week has come to an end. From June 15 to 21, volunteers and participants of the National Association de Zonnebloem went out together throughout the Netherlands. A total of 183 activities took place: from climbing, cycling, and boating to museum visits, theater, accessible sports activities, and neighborhood get-togethers.
During the National Zonnebloem Week, what the Zonnebloem is committed to all year round became visible in 183 locations across the country: giving people with a physical disability the opportunity to go out, meet others, and continue participating. For them, attending an activity or going out together is not always a matter of course. That is precisely why the Zonnebloem’s visits, activities, and outings are so important.
From climbing forest to Venlo The week began festively at the climbing and adventure forest in Goirle, where participants and volunteers literally took to the skies together with Kees the Beaver. In Venlo, the National Zonnebloem Week concluded with an accessibility experience in the town squares and a festive closing ceremony by Zonnebloem ambassadors John and Kees the Beaver at De Maaspoort.
Made possible by partners The National Zonnebloem Week was made possible in part by main sponsors Rabobank and Welzorg. Partners such as La Place, NS Retail, Tuinland, and Medialane also contributed to the week with special promotions and collaborations. Thanks to their support, participants were able to enjoy wonderful experiences together at various locations throughout the country.
For 77 years, De Zonnebloem has been dedicated to the 1.4 million people in the Netherlands with a physical disability for whom going out is not a matter of course. Together with nearly 30,000 volunteers, activities are organized throughout the country and 100,000 people receive home visits. In addition, the association actively works towards an accessible society through awareness campaigns.
