The bollards on Hoefkade and Parallelweg were replaced by ANPR cameras in February. Since then, the cameras have been registering vehicles driving through the area without a permit. Starting Monday, June 15, the municipality will issue fines at these cameras for driving through the area without a permit. Over the past 4.5 months, drivers who continued driving without a permit received a warning letter. Drivers who have never received a warning up to June 15 will receive a warning first upon their first offense after June 15. This prevents anyone from receiving a fine immediately for a first offense. The proceeds from the fines will go entirely to the national government.
On the Parallelweg, there are an average of 650 passages per day, and on the Hoefkade, 600 passages per day. Since the start of the trial, it has become apparent that many drivers are still driving through the Hoefkade and the Parallelweg even though they are not permitted to do so. Approximately a quarter of these journeys were made without an exemption. With the cameras, the municipality aims to reduce through traffic and make the neighborhood safer, while residents, business owners, and informal caregivers with an exemption retain access to the area.
In total, 1,235 exemptions have now been granted to residents, entrepreneurs, informal caregivers, and institutions. With this, the vast majority of eligible residents and entrepreneurs have received an exemption.
What the municipality has done to warn motorists
Over the past few months, the municipality has done a great deal to inform residents, business owners, and visitors. A warning letter was sent for every violation. In addition, matrix signs have been placed at the entrances to the area, the signage has been adjusted, and neighborhood organizations and business owners have been actively approached. The matrix signs will remain in place for at least another two months. Clear markings are still being applied to the road indicating that driving into the area is prohibited. Inspections and discussions have been organized in the neighborhood to gather feedback from residents, business owners, and other stakeholders, and to answer questions.
Despite these measures, more than 18,000 letters were sent during the warning period. In February, at the start of the pilot, there were 4,553, and by the end of May, this number had dropped to 3,442 warnings. We also see that approximately 20% of drivers received multiple letters.
Evaluation
The pilot will last two years. With the cameras, the municipality aims to reduce through traffic and make the neighborhood safer. The number of sightings, warnings, and fines is monitored and shared annually with the city council. Based on this, it will be assessed how and whether the camera surveillance system can be deployed further in other parts of the city.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag. Translation to English: The Hague Online
Photos: Valerie Kuypers
Den Haag, 10 juni 2026.
Hoefkade, camerasysteem ipv pollers
The Municipality of The Hague is warning against fake QR codes on parking meters. This week, stickers with fake codes were found on meters in Scheveningen. Scammers are attempting to obtain money and bank details via these stickers. Municipal enforcement officers are aware of this fraud and are actively checking the meters for fake stickers.
The municipality itself does not offer QR codes as a payment method for parking. Payment is exclusively possible via the machine using your debit card, by inserting the card into the machine, or by using contactless payment. Additionally, parking can be paid for via a recognized parking provider app.
Scanning such a QR code bring you to a website where you are asked for bank details. Anyone who enters these risks having money stolen from their account. A fake QR code can often be recognised because the sticker is stuck onto the terminal. After scanning the QR code, it redirects to a website that is not the official payment environment.
The municipality advises against ever scanning QR codes on parking meters. If a suspicious sticker is spotted, it can be reported by calling 14070 or via the municipal social media channels.
Thursday 11 June 2026 is an important day for secondary school students in the Netherlands – those who took their central final exams hear whether they have passed, need to take a resit, or have not yet met the requirements for their diploma.
For international families, the Dutch exam system can be difficult to understand at first. Different school tracks, including vmbo, havo and vwo, structure their final diploma around a combination of school exams and national central exams. The final result depends on both school-based assessments and the central exams taken at the end of the school year.
One of the most visible Dutch traditions on exam results day is the school bag and flag. When a student passes, many families hang the Dutch flag outside their home, often with the student’s school bag attached. Some also add a sign or decoration with the word “geslaagd”, which means “passed”. It is a proud and public way to celebrate the end of secondary school.
On results day, schools calculate each final result after the national exam standards have been published. Many students then wait for a phone call from school. For those who pass, the day is often a moment of relief, celebration and family pride.
For students who do not pass immediately, 11 June can also be stressful. Some may be able to take a resit in the second exam period. Others may need advice from their school about their options for the next school year. Decisions can sometimes need to be made quickly, so it is important for students and parents to speak with their school as soon as possible if the result is disappointing or unclear.
The second exam period in 2026 takes place in June, with results expected on Tuesday 30 June. This period is generally used for resits or for those who missed an exam in the first period for a valid reason.
International parents who are less familiar with the Dutch education system may wish to ask their child’s school for clear information about the result, possible resits, deadlines, and what the result means for the next step in their child’s education. Schools are the first and most important point of contact.
There are also online resources that explain the Dutch exam system, exam dates and options after the results. Some education organisations also offer information or advice around exam results day, although families should check directly whether support is available in English.
Havenmeester, a project by Haag Wonen, Van Wonen, Stebru, and ARE, has won the Golden Crane 2026. The project deserves the award for the exceptional performance delivered by the parties in getting a challenging project off the ground.
Alderman Co Engberts (Housing): “Havenmeesters shows what this prize is intended for, by demonstrating that through collaboration you can achieve more than originally seemed possible. Not only more homes, but also a project that contributes to affordable housing. With both social rental homes and a substantial share of mid-priced rental homes, Havenmeesters makes an important contribution to our city’s housing challenge.”
The jury praises the Havenmeesters, partly because housing corporation Haag Wonen has seamlessly taken over the Vestia site. Furthermore, according to the jury’s assessment, the developers have extensively optimized the potential of the location, resulting in the realization of a larger construction program than initially planned.
The Golden Crane is a rotating trophy that was awarded for the second time this year. Last year, the ‘BoogieWood’ project won the first edition of the Golden Crane. The Golden Crane is intended to highlight a project where parties, through a joint effort, have demonstrated guts and daring to expedite construction. The award is given to a single project and can therefore be presented to multiple parties simultaneously.
De Havenmeesters is a construction project in the new Laakhavens neighborhood in the Laak district. Upon completion, De Havenmeesters will contain 242 apartments, of which 148 will be social housing units. Completion of the first homes is scheduled for 2028.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag
Photo : Representatives of Havenmeesters, the winner of the Golden Crane 2026. From left to right: Co Engberts (Alderman, Municipality of The Hague), Albert-Jan Moerman (Director, Stebru), Lisette Nijs (Director, Municipality of The Hague), Michel Zaadhof (Director, Van Wonen), Rick Boelkens (Haag Wonen), Dennis Koens (Achmea Real Estate), Mohamed Baba (Chairman of the Board, Haag Wonen)
ADO Den Haag has announced Zelesta as its new main sponsor. The Dutch brand, known for its original washable duvet with a fixed cover, will become the club’s most important commercial partner from the coming season.
The sponsorship begins in the 2026–2027 season, when ADO Den Haag returns to the Eredivisie, the top tier of professional football in the Netherlands.
For international readers who are less familiar with Dutch football, ADO Den Haag is The Hague’s professional football club and an important part of the city’s sporting identity. The club has a loyal local following and plays a visible role in the wider community, both on and off the pitch.
Zelesta is a fast-growing Dutch brand that aims to make bed-making easier. Its washable duvet has become popular with customers who want to make their bed quickly and conveniently. From its base in the Netherlands, the company has grown into a recognised brand in several European countries.
Martijn van Opstal, Commercial Director of ADO Den Haag, said the club is proud to welcome Zelesta as its new main sponsor.
“We are extremely proud to be able to connect Zelesta to ADO Den Haag as our new main sponsor. Zelesta is a fast-growing Dutch brand that fits perfectly with our ambitions and modern image. From the first contact, we felt a shared energy and entrepreneurial drive. With Zelesta, ADO Den Haag is bringing in an ambitious and innovative partner with whom we want to continue building the future of our club in the coming years.”
Zelesta CEO Sven Bosschaart also responded positively to the new partnership.
“ADO Den Haag is a club with enormous energy, a loyal fan base and a strong identity. That fits well with who we are as a brand. For Zelesta, this partnership is a great step towards further growth in the Netherlands and increasing our visibility as a brand. We look forward to achieving great things together, both on and off the pitch.”
Last week, ADO Den Haag also announced that Unicomm will be the sleeve sponsor of the men’s team next season. The club already has long-term partnerships with EasyTech Technical Solutions on the sleeve and Biersteker on the back of the shirt.
The #ADOgroen initiative, through which the club aims to help get The Hague moving, will also feature on the shirts. This will appear on the lower back of the match shirts for the men’s, women’s and youth teams.
Text: ADO Den Haag, translated and adapted by The Hague Online Image: ADO Den Haag/Angelo Blankespoor
Thousands of participants, volunteers, and supporters raise millions for people with cancer.
During a festive closing party in Rotterdam on Saturday evening, the Roparun Foundation announced the proceeds of the 35th edition. Thanks to the efforts of thousands of participants, volunteers, sponsors, donors, and supporters, the Roparun raised a sum of €5,045,030.81 for people with cancer.
With the announcement of the final amount, a special anniversary edition of an event that has held a permanent place in Dutch society for 35 years comes to an end. What once began as a sporting challenge has grown into a nationwide movement in which thousands of people dedicate themselves annually to making the lives of people with cancer more bearable. With this final result, the goal set for this 35th edition has been reached.
During the Whitsun weekend, over 5,000 participants, divided into two hundred teams, set off from Enschede and Clastres in France. In a relay format, they covered hundreds of kilometers towards Rotterdam. Along the way, they were supported by hundreds of volunteers and welcomed by thousands of supporters along the route. Villages, cities, associations, entrepreneurs, and residents once again formed the backdrop for an event that has been connecting people around a shared goal for decades.
The finish on Rotterdam’s Coolsingel on Monday formed the emotional highlight of the event. Under the watchful eyes of family members, friends, supporters, and Mayor Carola Schouten, the teams reached the finish line after days of effort. That finish marked not only the end of a sporting achievement but, above all, the result of months of fundraising and preparation.
Director Lesly Wolters looks back with pride on the anniversary edition: “When we arrived at this final result after much deliberation, we were absolutely stunned. We set ourselves a goal of five million euros, but it was certainly an ambitious one. Thirty-five years ago, no one could have imagined that the Roparun would grow into what it is today. This anniversary edition has once again shown how many people are willing to selflessly dedicate themselves to others. Behind this magnificent amount lie thousands of personal stories, months of preparation, countless fundraising activities, and enormous commitment from participants, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters. Thanks to them, we can continue to invest in projects that make the lives of people with cancer and their loved ones more bearable in the coming years. We are incredibly grateful for that.”
More than 150 goals per year
The proceeds from the Roparun are spent on projects that contribute to the quality of life of people with cancer. Every year, the organization supports more than 150 causes and initiatives in the Netherlands. These include hospices, palliative care, wigs, peer support, holidays for people with cancer and their families, and other facilities that contribute to comfort, support, and dignity during a difficult time. At the start of the Roparun two weeks ago, Roparun pledged to donate 20,000 euros to the Kanjerketting, a bead necklace for sick children where each bead represents a treatment, examination, or important event, making their personal story of illness visible.
Roparun also aims to fund all Dutch wish ambulances through 2035. The organization has allocated approximately seven million euros for this purpose. With this, the organization wants to ensure that people can still fulfill a special wish in the final phase of their lives.
All year round
Although the finish on the Coolsingel traditionally forms the visible highlight, Roparun emphasizes that the event is much more than a weekend of running. Throughout the year, teams organize campaigns, events, and sponsorship activities to raise money for the charity. In doing so, Roparun has formed a unique combination of sport, togetherness, and social commitment for 35 years.
With the proceeds from this anniversary edition, the organization is once again taking an important step in its mission to add life to the days, where often no more days can be added to life.
The Roparun is an annual event during Pentecost in which thousands of participants run and cycle in a relay format along two routes through the Netherlands. They finish on the iconic Coolsingel in Rotterdam. The participants raise money to make the lives of people with cancer more bearable, where possible.
