A number of bus and tram stops in The Hague are being fitted with green roofs. With this step, the city is being made more climate-adaptive, and even waiting areas contribute to cooling, water retention, and biodiversity. Barker (PvdD): ‘With these small green roofs, a bit of greenery is added to paved areas.’
The municipality not only wants to encourage residents to go green, but is setting a good example itself. By installing green roofs on tram stops as well, The Hague demonstrates that every available square meter can be utilized for a climate-resilient city. This makes the principle of “practice what you preach” visible in the streetscape. Alderman Robert Barker (Green Spaces, Sustainability): “With these green shelters, we show that every square meter counts. Even a tram or bus shelter can contribute to a cooler, healthier city. It is a small intervention with a big effect: less heat, more greenery, and a city that is better prepared for the climate of the future.”
Cooler during the heat
Green roofs provide natural cooling. The vegetation evaporates water and partially blocks solar heat, keeping it noticeably cooler under the roof during hot summer days. For travelers, this means a more pleasant waiting area during high temperatures. In this way, the bus shelters help make the city more resilient to extreme weather. Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Energy Transition, Mobility): “By greening our stops, we show that sustainable mobility goes beyond clean vehicles alone. Even the infrastructure surrounding public transport can contribute to an energy-efficient, future-proof city. This is how we seize every opportunity to make The Hague smarter, cleaner, and more comfortable for travelers.”
With the green roofs, The Hague is simultaneously drawing attention to the importance of green roofs in people’s homes. A publicity campaign is currently underway to make people aware that the municipality subsidizes the purchase:
https://www.denhaag.nl/subsidieregenwater
Photo: Alderman Robert Barker at a green bus shelter at the Van Musschenbroekstraat (Laak) stop.
With the opening of the tulip season, the express bus service between The Hague Central and Keukenhof officially launched last week. The direct connection follows a successful pilot in 2025 and responds to the growing demand for fast and comfortable transport options from The Hague to the popular flower park.
The bus, an initiative of HopOn HopOff Holland in collaboration with Keukenhof, runs directly from The Hague Central train station to the entrance of Keukenhof in Lisse. The journey takes approximately 35 minutes. This makes the connection an efficient alternative to both the car and regular public transport.
The bus runs several times a day during the Keukenhof season, from March 19 to May 10. It connects with the park’s international visitor flow, which is increasingly staying in The Hague. The connection contributes to a better distribution of tourism in the Randstad and reduces car traffic towards the Bulb Region.
With the new connection, it is easier for both (inter)national visitors and residents of The Hague to visit Keukenhof, which last year attracted 1.4 million visitors from 100 countries to its world-famous blooming tulip fields and spring gardens.
Tickets are available from €42.50 per person, including admission to Keukenhof and return transport. The shuttle departs twice a day, at 10:00 and 13:30. The meeting point is The Hague Info Store , which will open 15 minutes earlier in the coming weeks to welcome morning bus passengers. For a 10 percent discount on the ticket price, visit denhaag.com .
The progressive parking tariff will take effect on April 1, 2026, for 22 streets: five in Scheveningen and seventeen in the Old Centre. In addition, the green-yellow zones and the shopping street scheme will be replaced by consumer parking in some shopping streets. Both measures are intended to discourage long-term on-street parking, so that scarce public space is better utilized and shops remain accessible.
Moreover, these changes ensure that entrepreneurs remain accessible to customers wishing to park for a short time, which benefits the local economy. All parking meters, parking apps, and parking signs will be updated as of April 1, 2026.
Progressive rate
In the designated 22 streets, the current day ticket rate of 50 euros will be abolished. This will be replaced by a progressive rate. For the first 20 minutes, the rate is €0.35 per minute. After that, the rate increases every 10 minutes. Anyone parking for longer than 90 minutes will pay a total of €50. This ensures that short-term parking remains possible, while long-term on-street parking becomes less attractive.
Old Center: 17 streets
Aprochestraat, Amsterdamse Veerkade, Bierkade, Bierstraat, Dunne Bierkade, Glasblazerslaan, Helena van Doeverenplantsoen, Hamerstraat, Herderinnestraat, Hoge Zand, Kranestraat, Lange Beestenmarkt, Looijerstraat, Nieuwe Molstraat, Paviljoensgracht, Stille Veerkade and Zuidwal (between Paviljoensgracht and Boekhorststraat).
Scheveningen: 5 streets
Seinpostduin, Jongeneelstraat, Pellenaerstraat, Harteveltstraat, Gevers Deynootweg (near the Oranjeflats).
Consumer parking replaces green-yellow zone
The current ‘green-yellow parking zones’ are being replaced by consumer parking. In the former green-yellow zones, it was possible to register repeatedly and thus park on the street for extended periods at a low cost. With the introduction of consumer parking, this is no longer possible. The system encourages short-term parking through a low rate, while long-term parking is discouraged. A rate of €1 per hour applies for the first two hours; from the third hour onwards, the rate is €2.75 per hour, the same rate as the surrounding streets. Consumer parking is being introduced on Loosduinse Hoofdstraat, Almeloplein, Tesselseplein, Steentijdsingel, and Speerpunt.
“ The Hague is growing and street space is limited. By organizing parking more intelligently, we not only keep the city more accessible, but also create more space for greenery, safe streets, and a pleasant living environment for everyone ,” says Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Mobility).
Why these changes?
The municipality makes deliberate choices to keep the city liveable, safe, and accessible. Less long-term on-street parking means it becomes easier for residents to find a parking spot, and moreover, this creates more space for pedestrians, cyclists, greenery, and residents looking for a parking spot. Finally, more space remains available for customers who want to run a quick errand, ensuring shops remain easily accessible and traffic flow in shopping streets improves. The new regulations align with The Hague Parking Strategy 2021–2030 , which focuses on more efficient use of public space and future-proof mobility.
This year, all young people up to the age of 18 can visit the Panorama Mesdag museum for free. The Municipality of The Hague is making €537,000 available for this purpose annually for the next three years. Free entry already applied to children aged 0–12; now, young people aged 13–18 can also admire the Panorama free of charge.
Museum Panorama Mesdag has been a national museum since January 1, 2026, and consequently receives support from the central government. The Municipality of The Hague has – as agreed with the central government – decided to use funds previously allocated to the museum within the Multi-Year Policy Plan for Art and Culture 2025–2028 to make the museum more accessible to young people.
Alderman for Culture, Saskia Bruines: “With this step, more young people can view both the unique Panorama of Scheveningen and the special museum collection of the artist couple Hendrik Willem Mesdag and Sientje Mesdag-van Houten. Everyone who lives in The Hague or visits the city should definitely see the Panorama at least once. I am pleased that this contribution ensures that the special collection of Museum Panorama Mesdag can also inspire the new generation!”
Museum Director Minke Schat: “The unique Panorama is the centerpiece of our museum and the oldest worldwide still in its original historical setting – not without reason also called the ‘Night Watch of The Hague’. Thanks to the generous gesture of the municipality, we can welcome even more young people and introduce them to art, heritage, and the history of our city in an accessible way.”
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Caption: Alderman Saskia Bruines (left) and museum director Minke Schat (right) on the cherry picker at the Panorama of Scheveningen. Photo: Freek van den Bergh / Museum Panorama Mesdag
The Hague will further expand the number of 30 km/h streets in the coming period. Following the earlier selection of 110 streets already designated for conversion to 30 km/h, this plan takes the next step towards a traffic-safe city: over the next two years, approximately 200 additional streets, which are not on the main route map for emergency services and public transport, can also be converted to 30 kilometers per hour. Examples of streets eligible include Junostraat, Fahrenheitstraat, Kerkhoflaan, Dwarskade, Barbeeldam, and Bronovolaan. The streets will not be redesigned immediately; that will only happen when maintenance work is scheduled.
This plan aligns with the Network Strategy 2040, in which residential and pedestrian streets are designated as logical 30 km/h zones. In doing so, the city is taking a major step towards a safer and more liveable The Hague.
Medemblikstraat in Leyenburg has been redesigned and adjusted from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour. The asphalt has been replaced by paving stones, there is a wide green central reservation, and there is more space for cyclists and pedestrians. The surrounding Nieuwendamlaan, Den Helderstraat, Heiloostraat, Hoogkarspelstraat, and Ransdorpstraat have also been redesigned. This new layout automatically encourages motorists to drive slower. The redesign is part of the municipality’s broader approach to lowering the maximum speed from 50 to 30 kilometers per hour wherever possible.
“ The redesign of Medemblikstraat shows what a 30 km/h street can look like: traffic-safe, well-organized, and a pleasant place to live. And this is just the beginning. With this plan, in which we aim to convert 200 streets without redesign in the coming years, we are taking a huge leap forward. That means fewer accidents, more peace and quiet in the neighborhoods, and space for greenery, cyclists, and pedestrians. This is how we are building a city where everyone can move around safely ,” says Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Mobility).
Why this expansion?
Research by the municipality shows that more than 75% of traffic accidents in The Hague occur on roads where the speed limit is 50 km/h, even though these roads constitute only one-third of the total road network. The chance of a fatal accident on a 50 km/h road is ten times greater than on a 30 km/h road. There are also more injuries.
Lowering speeds using signage alone also makes sense. Every 10% speed reduction results in 20% fewer accidents, 30% fewer injuries, and 40% fewer fatalities. With the addition of the new 200 streets, the total number of 30 km/h streets in The Hague grows to approximately 75%. As a result, 30 km/h is increasingly becoming the norm in residential areas and on local streets.
Space for a growing city
The Hague is growing, and with it, traffic and the risk of traffic accidents. By introducing a 30 kilometer per hour speed limit, we increase road safety and make the city a more pleasant place to live. At lower speeds, narrower lanes are possible, freeing up space during redesigns for wider sidewalks, bike paths, and more greenery.
Combined activities
The redesign of Medemblikstraat and the surrounding streets has been combined with the replacement of the sewer system. By bundling the work, streets need to be opened less frequently, keeping inconvenience for residents and costs to a minimum.
The provisional results of the municipal council election on March 18, 2026, in The Hague have been announced. 100% of the votes have been counted. These are the votes from all 261 polling stations in The Hague. Of the eligible voters in The Hague, 46.39% voted.
Provisional result
This concerns a first provisional result, following the count by party. On Thursday, March 19, the votes will be counted again, by candidate. A second provisional result will follow on Friday, March 20. From that moment on, the official reports from the polling stations can be viewed at uitslagen.denhaag.nl .
On Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., the Central Electoral Committee will convene to announce the final results.
Voters can report (suspected) counting errors to the Central Electoral Office until Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM. This can be done via the reporting form . After the Central Electoral Office session, the final results can be viewed at uitslagen.denhaag.nl .
Remaining seats
After the first distribution, a few seats usually remain. This is because parties often do not obtain exactly a multiple of the electoral quotient. The remaining seats are called residual seats. These are distributed among parties that still have votes ‘left over’. A special calculation is used for this: the method of largest averages.
Details regarding the electoral quotient and the distribution of full seats and residual seats can be found at denhaag.nl/verkiezingen .
Number of votes per party
Side
Provisional number of votes (after counting per party)
Percentage
1. Hart voor Den Haag / Groep de Mos
62,855
30.90%
2. GROENLINKS / PvdA (Labour Party)
31.331
15.40%
3. D66
31,587
15.53%
4. VVD
14,983
7.37%
5. Partij voor de Dieren
9,802
4.82%
6. CDA
8,762
4.31%
7. DENK
12,970
6.38%
8. Haagse Stadspartij
1,760
0.87%
9. SP (Socialist Party)
4,403
2.16%
10. PVV (Party for Freedom)
2,717
1.34%
11. ChristenUnie-SGP
3,991
1.96%
12. Forum voor Democratie
4,162
2.05%
13 Volt
4,004
1.97%
14. Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC)
649
0.32%
15. INL The Hague
667
0.33%
16. Blank list (Çetinkaya, T.)
1,958
0.96%
17. Drerrie voor Den Haag (DvD)
2,912
1.43%
18. Partij voor de Rechtsstaat
232
0.11%
19. Blank list (Ramdhani, N.)
104
0.05%
20. 50PLUS
2,270
1.12%
Blank votes
376
0.18%
Invalid votes
925
0.45%
Total
203,420
100%
Turnout
46.39%
Seat distribution
Side
Seats in 2022
Provisional number of seats in 2026 (after counting by party)
1. Hart voor Den Haag / Groep de Mos
9
16²
2. GROENLINKS / Labour Party (PvdA)
8*
7
3. D66
8
8¹
4. VVD
7
3
5. Partij voor de Deiren
3
2
6. CDA
3
2
7. DENK
2
3
8. Haagse Stadspartij
1
0
9. SP (Socialist Party)
1
1
10. PVV (Party for Freedom)
1
0
11. ChristenUnie-SGP
1
1
12. Forum voor Democratie
1
1
13 Volt
–
1
14. Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC)
–
0
15. INL The Hague
0
0
16. Blank list (Çetinkaya, T.)
–
0
17. Drerrie voor Den Haag (DvD)
–
0
18. Partij voor de Rechtstaat
–
0
19. Blank list (Ramdhani, N.)
–
0
20. 50PLUS
0
0
GROENLINKS and the Labour Party (PvdA) participated separately in the 2022 municipal elections. GROENLINKS won 5 seats. The Labour Party (PvdA) won 3 seats.
Based on the current results, the distribution of the 34 full seats and the first 9 remaining seats is very likely fixed.
¹The 10th remaining seat has been provisionally awarded to D66. The difference is 19 votes against Hart voor Den Haag / Groep de Mos.
²The 11th remaining seat has been provisionally awarded to Hart voor Den Haag / Groep de Mos. The difference is 12. votes against GROENLINKS / Labour Party (PvdA), 182 votes relative to VVD and 418 votes compared to D66.
Image and text: Municipality of The Hague. Translation to English: The Hague Online
