The Municipality of The Hague officially launched the next phase of the Child-Friendly City program earlier this week. To mark the occasion, Alderman Hilbert Bredemeijer for Education, Youth, Sports, and Services presented a “discussion chart” to the Children’s Neighborhood Council at community center De Mussen in the Schilderswijk.
Three years ago, the process to become a candidate municipality – or member – of Child-Friendly City, an initiative by UNICEF, was also launched there. The presentation of the visual aid marks an important step in a series of actions the municipality has undertaken in recent years to make The Hague more child-friendly.
During the meeting, children aged 9 to 12 engaged in a discussion with each other and with the alderman based on statements related to children’s rights, contributing ideas to the municipality, and improving their own neighborhood. With this, the municipality emphasizes that children have an important voice in decisions that affect them.
Action plan
The visual aid is based on the Municipality of The Hague’s Child-Friendly City action plan and describes how work will be done in the coming years to create a city where children can grow up safely, healthily, and with opportunities. The plan focuses on four priorities: youth participation, mental health, playing & chilling, and the importance of the child in all municipal decisions.
These themes are based on a broad survey among children, young people, parents, and professionals through various participation processes, Kids and Youth City Labs, and an internal analysis within the municipal organization. UNICEF monitored and contributed ideas throughout the entire process.
Over the next two years, the municipality will work on implementing the action points from the plan. This will be followed by an evaluation by UNICEF to determine whether the Municipality of The Hague is recognised as a Child-Friendly City.
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The meeting on April 20 aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that children have the right to a voice, health, safety, and play. With the aforementioned action plan, the municipality aims to strengthen these rights in practice and structurally incorporate them into policymaking.
“With this action plan, we are taking a big step towards a city where all children can grow up safely, healthily, and happily. Their voice plays an important role in this,” says Alderman Bredemeijer. “Children and young people know better than anyone what they need in their neighborhood, at school, and in the city. That is why they have been involved in creating this action plan from the very beginning. That is what a truly child-friendly city means: a place where you feel seen, heard, and taken seriously.”
Children’s opinions make a difference
The presentation of the discussion chart to the Children’s Neighborhood Council aligns with the ambition to actively involve children and show them better how their opinions can really make a difference. The Children’s Neighborhood Council was founded in 2022 by De Mussen and is part of the Peaceful Neighborhood program.
During the meeting, various statements were discussed, such as:
Schools need to talk to children more often about feelings and stress.
The municipality must do more to help children when they feel sad or stressed.
In addition, the children shared experiences regarding their own neighborhood and provided ideas to the municipal policymakers present. “We believe it is important that children can contribute their ideas. We know what can be improved in our neighborhood, because we are here every day. We have plenty of ideas, such as how it can become safer and the streets cleaner,” says Nathan from the Children’s Neighborhood Council.
More information
Children, parents, and professionals who want to know more about the Child-Friendly City program, participation opportunities, or activities in the neighborhood can visit: www.denhaag.nl/cf070 or contact: OCW Jeugd – cf070@denhaag.nl
The Municipality of The Hague warns that the consequences of the congested power grids will become increasingly visible in the city in the coming years. Due to new national regulations, grid operators must prioritize all applications for power connections based on societal priority as of July 1, 2026. As a result, vital functions such as housing, education, heat projects, and public transport will be given priority, while functions without societal priority, such as SMEs and charging infrastructure, will be considered later. The updated impact analysis shows how The Hague is dealing with the scarce grid capacity and what steps are needed until the expected solution in 2034–2036.
“Grid congestion affects our city on many fronts: from housing to education, and from businesses to social facilities. With this impact analysis, we map out the steps we need to take to strengthen the grid and distribute the available capacity fairly and wisely,” says Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Energy Transition).
The analysis shows that grid congestion in The Hague is primarily caused by peak loads from households in the morning and early evening, causing the electricity grid to become overloaded at all levels. This peak load means that available capacity is running out faster than new infrastructure can be built. TenneT and Stedin have therefore declared grid congestion on the high-, medium-, and low-voltage networks. As of July 1, 2026, all applications – both large and small consumers – will be processed according to the grid congestion prioritization framework of the Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM), whereby vital functions such as hospitals, drinking water companies, and fire stations are connected first, and companies without societal priority only after January 1, 2027, if capacity is still available.
Consequences for housing, education, and social facilities
Only housing projects that are sufficiently far along in the planning phase can apply for priority earlier. The municipality is therefore compiling an overview of projects eligible for this, so that it is clear which housing developments can be connected in the coming years.
Priority can also be requested earlier for the renovation and new construction of schools included in the Integrated Housing Plan. Sustainability projects for schools must be carried out within the existing electricity connection. To limit delays, as of October 1, 2026, it will be possible for housing projects and educational institutions to apply for a connection at an early stage and thus reserve a place on the waiting list in a timely manner. Heat projects and other basic facilities will also be given priority, but cannot be applied for earlier.
Limited space for economy and mobility
The consequences are significant for SMEs as well. Companies are only given priority if they are part of a residential plinth or deploy congestion reducers, such as batteries. The mobility challenge is also coming under pressure. As of July 1, 2026, new public charging stations will be placed on the waiting list without priority, causing the municipality to now accelerate the application process for additional connections. Public transport, however, is given priority, provided capacity is available.
The municipality is actively seeking solutions.
The municipality is working intensively with TenneT and Stedin to limit the impact of grid congestion. The focus is on spatially enabling new electricity facilities and utilizing available capacity as efficiently as possible. To increase grid capacity, major expansions are necessary: approximately 500 new transformer substations must be integrated into existing neighborhoods, and two new main distribution stations and additional medium-voltage substations will be built in Scheveningen and Mariahoeve/Leidschendam-Voorburg. Due to limited space in the city, these expansions are complex and far-reaching, but necessary to reinforce the grid and make it future-proof. In addition, the municipality is working on smart solutions such as batteries, energy hubs, grid-aware charging, and grid-aware construction. These measures will not resolve grid congestion, but they can mitigate it and offer a course of action in the short term.
In The Hague, it remains difficult for some groups to find a suitable home. Research shows that in multiple segments—both rental and purchase—there is high demand from residents wishing to move within The Hague. Therefore, the Municipality of The Hague is increasingly building specifically for these target groups.
The desire for a suitable home is greatest particularly among young people wishing to move within The Hague and the region, a home they are not always able to find. The Housing Vision 2040 establishes that this is the target group for whom construction is working hardest in The Hague.
Mismatch
The ‘mismatch’ is greatest particularly for owner-occupied homes under €300,000, social housing, and mid-market rentals. This picture of the balance between housing supply and demand emerges from ‘WoON2024’: a study conducted by ABF Research on behalf of the municipality into the mismatch between supply and demand on The Hague housing market. This study shows, among other things, that households under the age of 55, low-income earners, first-time buyers, and those moving up the housing ladder struggle to secure a social rental home. The shortage is exacerbated by the decreasing supply of available social rental homes, while demand is actually growing.
Flow-through from social housing is also proving difficult. About three-quarters of tenants of housing association properties can borrow a maximum of €250,000 for a home purchase, while the supply in this price range has fallen to 12% of housing transactions. As a result, there is little outflow from housing association properties, and the pressure on social housing continues to increase.
Right groups
“With the Housing Vision 2040, which we adopted a year and a half ago, we are fully committed to what is most needed,” says Alderman Co Engberts. “The WoON2024 study confirms that we are building for the right groups in The Hague, but that there is still a great deal to be done. We are aligning as closely as possible with what is most in demand.”
Although housing construction is under pressure due to challenging business cases, new construction remains crucial. Furthermore, there is also demand for more expensive owner-occupied homes: 21% of The Hague residents looking to move want to relocate within the city to this housing segment. New construction across all segments contributes to housing mobility, but an increased focus on affordable and mid-priced homes is necessary to restore balance to The Hague’s housing market.
Today marks a special milestone for The Hague as an international city of peace and justice: the International Court of Justice (ICJ) celebrates its eightieth anniversary. On the occasion of this jubilee, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is in the Netherlands. Prior to the official celebration, he was received yesterday by Mayor Jan van Zanen at the Old City Hall on the Dagelijkse Groenmarkt.
It is remarkable that a UN Secretary-General is received separately by a mayor. Guterres visited the Old Town Hall to thank the city for eighty years of hosting the International Court of Justice.
During the bilateral meeting, Mayor Van Zanen and Secretary-General Guterres discussed the special relationship between The Hague and the United Nations. The Mayor underscored that The Hague intends to remain a stable and reliable host city for the United Nations and the international legal order in the future. He offered that The Hague is willing and able to host additional UN organizations and meetings. This can also contribute to employment in the city.
The Hague has been the legal heart of the UN for eighty years.
During the meeting, the Secretary-General said that he: “could not have been in The Hague at a better time, as we are marking the eightieth anniversary of the International Court of Justice. In our joint efforts to ensure international law prevails, that Court forms a fundamental pillar of the international legal system.”
Guterres added:
This is a difficult moment, a moment in which international law is being called into question by many. Some who bear a greater responsibility to uphold the law are precisely the ones who undermine it. But the truth is: lawlessness brings chaos, lawlessness brings debt, lawlessness brings destruction. Therefore, at this moment, here in The Hague, it is of great importance to reaffirm that international law is the guiding principle. To underscore that the force of the law must prevail over the law of the strongest.
During the conversation, Mayor Van Zanen emphasized The Hague’s special responsibility within the international legal order: “The Hague has been the legal heart of the United Nations for eighty years. The international legal order is one of the most important achievements of the modern world. The International Court of Justice forms its center.”
For The Hague, the responsibility is clear: we support the institutions and the people working here to uphold international law. We welcome international organizations and, as a host city, work closely with the Dutch government to ensure the safety and functioning of these institutions and their staff. These institutions exist because previous generations understood the price of their absence.
The Hague Charter for Peace and Safe Communities
The shared interest in defending and strengthening the international legal order and international cooperation was also discussed, at a time when these are under increasing pressure. Municipalities play an indispensable role in this, the mayor emphasized, partly in his role as chair of the international committee of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG). Municipalities are the place where global issues impact the daily lives of residents. Strong governments and institutions at the local level are therefore indispensable.
Partly for this reason, Mayor Van Zanen presented ‘The Hague Charter for Municipal Peace’ to Secretary-General Guterres during his visit: a Hague charter for peace and safe cities. The charter, which was compiled by a wide variety of partners under the coordination of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) and the Municipality of The Hague, was adopted in October 2025 during the General Assembly of the global association of local governments: United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG).
International City of Peace and Justice
For more than a century, the city of The Hague has played a unique role in promoting international peace and justice. Since the Hague Peace Conferences in 1899 and 1907, the city has grown into a global center of international institutions.
In addition to the International Court of Justice, The Hague is home to, among others, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), the International Criminal Court (ICC), the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Europol, Eurojust, and various UN (related) organizations and tribunals. In total, approximately 500 international organizations are based in the city, accounting for over twenty thousand jobs.
Historic setting Old Town Hall
Mayor Van Zanen received the UN chief in the historic Mayor’s Office of the Old City Hall, which served as the office of The Hague mayors for hundreds of years. The paintings from 1682 by Theodorus van der Schuer can still be seen on the ceiling, including the Eye of Justice and Lady Justice, which underscore the importance of the (international) rule of law.
Prior to the meeting, the Mayor showed Mr. Guterres around the Vierschaar (Schepenzaal), the oldest hall of the former town hall, where justice was administered from the seventeenth-century magistrates’ pews.
Second meeting between the two
It was the second time that Mayor Van Zanen and Secretary-General Guterres met. On 12 February 2025, the Secretary-General received Mayor Van Zanen in New York at the United Nations headquarters, then in his role as Chair of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). At that time, they discussed the structural involvement of local and national governments in UN decision-making.
Visit Guterres to the Netherlands
The Secretary-General landed in the Netherlands on Thursday and will attend the 80th anniversary of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) today. On 3 April 1946, elected judges of the Court met for the first time at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The inaugural session of the International Court of Justice took place on 18 April 1946.
On Friday, April 17 at 3:00 PM, the solemn session marking the anniversary will take place in the Great Hall of Justice of the Peace Palace, in the presence of, among others, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, and representatives of the Security Council. Mayor Jan van Zanen will also be present.
The Pletterijkade was officially opened yesterday after an extensive two-year renovation. Many residents, business owners, and involved partners gathered by the water to celebrate the renewed area. With a completely renewed quay wall, a safe cycle route, more greenery, and a quieter streetscape, the Pletterijkade is ready for the next hundred years.
Alderman Robert Barker performed the opening and emphasized the scale of the project: “We haven’t just replaced a quay wall here,” said Barker. “We have given a place back to the city: safe, green, and ready for the future. Residents and business owners have had to be very patient, and I am pleased that we can now see the result together.”
A quay that can last another 100 years
The immediate reason for the project was the necessary replacement of the quay wall. At the same time, the sewer system was renewed and the street was redesigned. The Pletterijkade forms an important link in the Star Cycle Route between the city centre and Ypenburg. Where cyclists previously had to take detours or squeeze onto a narrow strip, there is now a safe, comfortable, and logical cycle connection. Pedestrians also benefit: the sidewalk along the homes has been significantly widened, and the crossing over the Rijswijkseplein has become safer and more direct. The speed limit has been reduced from 50 to 30 km/h, and the street is no longer a through route for cars, resulting in more peace and quality of life.
More greenery and better growing conditions
A great deal of new greenery has been restored. In total, 575 m² of green areas with shrubs and bushes have been planted, plus 340 m² of grass on the Rijswijkseplein. The new trees are planted in special tree crates that provide more space, better water retention, and a longer lifespan. In doing so, the quay contributes to a cooler, climate-resilient city.
History kept visible
The rich history of the site has not been forgotten. On the corner with Rijswijkseplein, a commemorative plaque to the Haringkoning now stands, a nod to the famous Hague song. Additionally, a plaque was unveiled in memory of the Metaalpletterij en IJzergieterij LI Enthoven & Co, the factory that once produced the iconic Hague lampposts – the same posts that now stand along the quay again. The opening concluded with the unveiling of the historic plaque, together with Pim van Veen, Operations Manager at contractor Dura Vermeer.
Many new entrepreneurs immediately get stuck on something very basic: their administration and tax returns. Understanding accounting rules and tax obligations turns out to be more complicated for many start-ups than expected. The lack of this knowledge regularly leads to uncertainty and even financial stress. This is evident from research by the Chamber of Commerce (KVK) among nearly 800 entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs consider knowledge of taxes and accounting crucial for a successful start, but much of that basic knowledge came later. One-fifth of start-ups would have liked to receive more explanation about taxes during the incorporation phase, while one in seven lacked information regarding administration and laws and regulations.
Lack of knowledge causes financial stress for first-time buyers
The open-ended comments reveal that a significant proportion of start-up entrepreneurs experienced financial stress in the initial phase of their business. Entrepreneurs state that a lack of basic knowledge led to uncertainty regarding tax assessments, accounting errors, unclear rates, or simply the question of whether sufficient revenue would be generated.
Some entrepreneurs describe extremely vulnerable situations. “Paying the bills. Will I lose everything? My house?” one entrepreneur recounts. Another writes how the start felt like “occasionally barely keeping my head above water.” Uncertainty regarding financial obligations also sometimes led to significant losses. As one entrepreneur reflects: “Losing a lot of money on the table due to too little emphasis on figures and accounts receivable management.”
These experiences show that insufficient knowledge at the start not only leads to administrative bottlenecks, but for many entrepreneurs has direct consequences for their financial stability, continuity, and livelihood.
Start-ups primarily seek information from networks and the Chamber of Commerce.
Starting entrepreneurs appear to find their way primarily through people around them and via the Chamber of Commerce (KVK). Almost half (44%) received important start-up information from other entrepreneurs, family, or friends. Four out of ten made use of information from the KVK, ranging from online explanations to other forms of start-up guidance. An equally large group discovered what is involved through trial and error. SMEs, in particular, learn in practice: almost half of them say that they simply started and discovered along the way what needed to be arranged. One entrepreneur sums it up aptly: “It was a matter of learning the hard way. I didn’t always feel like I really had things under control.”
Freelancers and SMEs have different information needs at the start.
Self-employed professionals and SMEs appear to have different information needs as soon as they start their business. Self-employed professionals primarily seek practical guidance: they consider information about taxes essential more often than SMEs (67% versus 60%), as well as knowledge about insurance (47% vs. 39%) and finding and retaining customers (47% vs. 39%). SMEs, on the other hand, look more often at the rules they must comply with. For instance, at the start, they more often wished they had had clarity earlier regarding legislation and regulations (20% vs. 14%) and subsidies and schemes (17% vs. 10%). “Did not always fully realize what was legally possible and what was not,” stated one SME owner.
Stumbling over the basics
Chamber of Commerce business advisor Christiaan Hazelaar on the importance of basic knowledge at the start:We see that many entrepreneurs start out full of good ideas, but stumble over the basics. If you struggle with administration and taxes right from the start, unrest and financial stress quickly arise. Some entrepreneurs face difficult choices within just a few months, simply because they didn’t know what was expected of them.
“Starters often learn by doing,” Hazelaar explains. “But without basic knowledge, that quickly leads to uncertainty and preventable mistakes.”
Hazelaar sees the importance of starting well-informed: “A good start is not a luxury, but a prerequisite. If entrepreneurs inform themselves well from day one, it saves not only stress, but also money and opportunities that would otherwise be missed. Reliable information is available, including from the Chamber of Commerce (KVK), but entrepreneurs do not always know where to find it in time. The KVK is there to help, and we do so wholeheartedly. Our website contains a huge amount of general information. And entrepreneurs can always contact the KVK Advisory Team. We can further interpret that information, also tailored to your personal situation.”
Reliable information and advice essential for start-ups
The results of the research underscore how important it is for entrepreneurs to have access to reliable information and timely advice. The Chamber of Commerce helps both start-ups and experienced entrepreneurs with practical knowledge, clear explanations of regulations, and personal advice. This enables entrepreneurs to make better-informed choices and stay ahead of problems at every stage of their entrepreneurship.
