Motorists can now park at the new P+R Victory Boogie Woogie on Laan van Hoornwijck 70T and travel to The Hague city centre in approximately 15 minutes using tram 1 or 15.
P+R stands for Park and Ride, a system that allows drivers to park their cars outside the city centre and continue their journey by public transport. These facilities are common throughout the Netherlands and offer a convenient alternative to driving into busy city centres, where parking can be expensive.
The new facility has 338 parking spaces and was officially opened on Wednesday 14 October by Alderman for Mobility Adeel Mahmood.
Convenient Parking and Public Transport Connections
The new Park and Ride facility is located near the A4 and A13 motorways, with convenient connections to The Hague’s public transport network.
Visitors can park without booking in advance, although regular parking charges apply. Those wishing to use the discounted P+R combination ticket, which includes parking and return tram travel, should reserve online before their visit.
The parking facility is open 24 hours a day.
P+R Tickets and Tram Travel
A combined P+R parking and tram ticket costs €6.50 for one person, with an additional €1 for each extra passenger, up to a maximum of €10.50 for a group of five.
The ticket includes parking and a same-day return journey on tram 1 or 15. Travellers can book online in advance and should check the applicable parking conditions, including the permitted parking duration, when making their reservation.
Combining Car and Public Transport
According to Alderman Mahmood, the new facility reflects the city’s aim to offer travellers more choice in how they get around.
“Every journey is different. With this location, we are making it easier to combine car travel with public transport. The P+R contributes to the city’s accessibility and a better balance between different transport options.”
The new P+R provides another option for people travelling into The Hague, allowing them to park outside the city centre and continue their journey by tram.
The renovation and expansion of the Haags Historisch Museum (The Hague Historical Museum) has reached an important milestone, with construction reaching its highest point. To mark the occasion, Alderman for Culture Lotte van Basten Batenburg and Museum Director Tjeerd Vrij raised The Hague’s flag on the roof of the building.
The ceremony is a traditional way of recognising the work of the construction teams involved in the project, which aims to create a more accessible, sustainable and welcoming museum for residents and visitors.
“Reaching the highest point is a wonderful moment. A great deal of work is being done here to create a renewed, future-proof Haags Historisch Museum. Thanks to the efforts of many skilled workers, residents and visitors will soon once again be able to enjoy everything the museum has to offer,” said Alderman Van Basten Batenburg.
Renovation Well Underway
The museum, located in The Hague’s historic Museum Quarter near the Hofvijver, has been closed for renovation since autumn 2024.
Much of the demolition work has now been completed. The building’s façades and window frames have been cleaned, painted and repaired where necessary, and the restored façade overlooking the Hofvijver is now visible following the removal of the scaffolding.
The renovation will make the museum more accessible to people with disabilities and better equipped to welcome school groups. Sustainability improvements include the installation of a heat pump and solar panels.
Additional space is also being created for exhibitions, educational programmes and public activities, allowing the museum to welcome a broader audience.
Unexpected Challenges During Construction
Renovating a historic building comes with its own challenges. During the work, old foundations and a former watercourse were discovered underground, requiring adjustments to the plans for the new foundations.
The project has also faced difficulties with some of its planned sustainability improvements because of congestion on the electricity grid, an issue affecting developments across the Netherlands.
Museum Director Tjeerd Vrij joined the alderman to inspect the progress of the work and recognise the contributions of those involved.
“Reaching the highest point is an important moment in the museum’s renewal. That’s why we’re pleased to take this opportunity to acknowledge the skilled workers who are making such a significant contribution to the project,” he said.
The Hague’s History Remains Accessible
Although the museum building is temporarily closed, parts of its collection remain available to the public.
One of its best-known works, Gezicht op Den Haag (View of The Hague) by 17th-century Dutch painter Jan van Goyen, is currently on display free of charge in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall.
The large city panorama depicts The Hague as it appeared in the 17th century and is one of the highlights of the museum’s collection.
During the renovation, the museum continues to organise activities, including guided walks around the city and educational programmes in schools. Important works from its collection are also being loaned to other museums, allowing visitors to continue discovering The Hague’s history.
Reopening Planned for 2028
The renovated and expanded museum is expected to reopen in mid-2028.
The plans include improved visitor facilities, additional exhibition space and a new entrance on Tournooiveld, making the museum more accessible and easier to navigate.
The completed project will bring together the museum’s historic building and new facilities, creating more opportunities to explore the city’s past and present.
The Municipality of The Hague is once again offering gift cards to informal carers and volunteers in recognition of their contribution to the community. Applications opened on Wednesday 14 October and will remain open until 24 December 2026.
The annual initiative acknowledges the thousands of people who give their time and energy to support others, helping to make The Hague a city where residents look out for one another.
Recognising the People Who Make a Difference
Informal carers, known in Dutch as mantelzorgers, are people who provide unpaid care or support to a partner, family member, friend or neighbour who needs additional assistance because of illness, age or disability.
This might involve helping with shopping, household tasks, personal care or providing regular companionship. Unlike professional care workers, informal carers generally provide this support because of their personal connection to the person receiving care.
Volunteers also make an important contribution to life in The Hague, supporting sports clubs, neighbourhood initiatives, community organisations and a wide variety of local activities.
Through the gift card initiative, the municipality aims to recognise and thank both groups for their dedication.
Alderman for Care and Welfare Ralf Sluijs said:
“Behind every informal carer and volunteer is a story of commitment and dedication. They give their time, attention and energy to others. That makes a great difference to many people. With this gift card, we want to show that their efforts are seen and appreciated.”
Alderman for Volunteers Kavish Partiman also emphasised their importance:
“The efforts of volunteers and informal carers make The Hague a pleasant place to live. You may not always see them, but without them the city would come to a standstill. This gift card is our small token of appreciation for this quiet but indispensable group.”
Who Can Apply for a Gift Card?
The municipality has established separate eligibility conditions for informal carers and volunteers.
For informal carers:
You must live in the province of South Holland.
You must provide care for someone living in The Hague.
You must have provided care for at least three months, for a minimum of eight hours per week.
The person receiving care must be elderly, ill or have a disability.
For volunteers:
You must live in South Holland.
You must volunteer for an organisation based in The Hague.
You must have been volunteering for at least three months.
Applicants must be at least 13 years old and can apply for the gift card once per year.
Residents who qualify as both an informal carer and a volunteer may apply for both gift cards, but must submit separate applications.
How to Apply
Applications are open from 14 October until 24 December 2026.
You can apply online through the municipality’s website using DigiD. Once the application has been submitted, the municipality will confirm within four weeks whether it has been approved.
Approved applicants receive access to an online shop where they can choose from more than 100 different gift cards.
The municipality may also carry out telephone checks to confirm that applicants meet the eligibility conditions.
Anyone who needs assistance with the online application can visit a Servicepunt XL, where staff can provide support.
The municipality is also encouraging residents to spread the word. If you know someone who regularly cares for a family member, friend or neighbour, or who volunteers their time to help others, they may be eligible for this recognition.
The Hague has begun testing neighbourhood emergency support points (noodsteunpunten) to help residents during major emergencies, such as prolonged power cuts. The first practical exercise took place in Transvaal on Thursday 8 October, with further exercises planned in three other neighbourhoods throughout October.
The initiative aims to explore how local communities, volunteers and the municipality can work together to support residents when essential services such as electricity, water, telephone networks or internet connections are disrupted.
First Emergency Exercise in Transvaal
During the first exercise, Transvaal Library was temporarily transformed into an emergency support point. Residents involved in neighbourhood networks, welfare organisations, cultural institutions and The Hague Market joined municipal employees in a simulated emergency.
The scenario involved a power cut that had already lasted 16 hours, leaving residents without electricity, working lifts, telephone services or internet access. Participants were told that the disruption could continue for another two to three days.
The exercise explored how residents could help one another, what neighbourhood networks could organise themselves, and when an emergency support point would be needed to provide information or report urgent situations.
One example involved drinking water. During prolonged power cuts, water pressure can fall, potentially leaving residents on higher floors without access to drinking water. Participants worked together to organise water distribution to those most in need.
The Importance of Neighbourhood Connections
Mayor Jan van Zanen praised the involvement of local residents in the exercise.
“The Hague is a city where we look out for one another. Through this municipal pilot, we can see how quickly an emergency support point can become a place where residents can obtain information, ask for assistance and help each other, thanks to the commitment and knowledge of volunteers and neighbourhood networks.”
The municipality hopes the exercises will provide a better understanding of how emergency support points should operate and what resources, staff and equipment would be required.
More Emergency Exercises Across The Hague
The pilot programme includes four neighbourhoods, selected to reflect different population groups, types of housing and mobility needs.
Benoordenhout: Wednesday 14 October, HDM Sports Hall
Ypenburg: Monday 19 October, Ypenburg Library
Scheveningen: Monday 26 October, De Blinkerd Sports Centre
The exercises involve local residents, neighbourhood organisations, sports clubs, cultural and religious organisations and other community networks.
These are temporary, simulated emergency support points. Permanent facilities are not yet in operation in The Hague. The municipality is using the pilot to determine how they could best be established and managed.
Part of a National Emergency Preparedness Initiative
The Hague’s pilot forms part of a nationwide initiative involving all 25 Dutch safety regions (veiligheidsregio’s).
The municipality is working with Leidschendam-Voorburg and the Haaglanden Safety Region to test how emergency support points could operate in practice.
The results will be evaluated and shared with the national government to support the development of a wider network of emergency support points across the Netherlands.
According to Mayor Van Zanen, the exercises have already demonstrated the value of neighbourhood involvement, although further work will be needed to develop a properly functioning system.
How Residents Can Prepare for an Emergency
The municipality is also encouraging residents to prepare for situations in which electricity, water or communications services may be unavailable for an extended period.
Through the national Denk Vooruit (Think Ahead) campaign, households are encouraged to prepare an emergency kit, make an emergency plan and discuss with neighbours how they could support one another.
For international residents, information is available in English and several other languages.
The municipality offers a free Buurtcheck (Neighbourhood Check), a practical tool that helps neighbours discuss how they would respond to an emergency and identify anyone who might need additional support.
Residents can use these resources to make arrangements within their street, apartment building or neighbourhood, rather than waiting until an emergency occurs.
The Hague will be the setting for the start of the Eneco Tour on Tuesday, October 13. From Sportcampus Zuiderpark, both male and female cyclists will begin a spectacular 3.1-kilometer evening prologue. It is a first: not only is it the first time that women are starting in the Eneco Tour, but they will also be starting alternately during the time trial in The Hague. Prior to the professional race, Edwin van der Sar, Richard Krajicek, Viggo Waas, and Lucinda Brand, among others, will be in action during the celebrity prologue.
The evening prologue in The Hague marks the kick-off of six days of cycling spectacle throughout the country. The men’s and women’s races are held on the same day and over the same course during every stage. This all comes together during the opening in The Hague: starting at 6:00 PM, the female and male professional cyclists depart alternately from Sportcampus Zuiderpark, a unique event.
Hague cyclists take to the course
The Hague cycling community will also have a place in the program. Prior to the prologue, women’s cycling community KEK and cycling club Trias will ride a time trial on the official course with their own members. This makes the start of the Eneco Tour not only a top international sporting event, but also a moment when cyclists from The Hague are part of the race themselves. The Hague Cycling Alliance will also gather prior to the start. In this network, committed residents of The Hague and organizations dedicated to cycling in the city meet to exchange knowledge and inspiration and forge new connections.
Nur Icar: ‘Everyone participates’
Alderman Nur Icar (Sport): “Next week, not only will the best cyclists ride through The Hague, but residents of The Hague themselves will also be allowed onto the course. As far as I am concerned, sport is not just something to watch; it must also bring people together and invite them to participate. The fact that men and women will start alternately here makes this opening extra special. Everyone participates, and everyone gets the same podium.”
The public is welcome at the free Cycling Festival in the Zuiderpark starting at 4:00 PM. Visitors can view the team buses, participate in cycling activities, enjoy music, and grab a bite to eat and a drink at the food trucks, among other things. The pros will start their prologue at 6:00 PM. Admission to the event is free.
After the opening in The Hague, the Eneco Tour continues through the Netherlands, with stages in Ede, Tilburg, Sittard-Watersley and Hoogeveen (VAM-berg), and the finale on Sunday, October 18 in Arnhem.
Stek – Buurt & Lukas, a community initiative in The Hague’s Schilderswijk neighbourhood, has won an Appeltje van Oranje 2026 award for its work helping people overcome poverty through practical support, community connections and opportunities to take control of their own lives.
Queen Máxima presented the awards at Paleis Noordeinde in The Hague on Thursday 8 October, recognising three organisations that are making a meaningful difference in tackling poverty.
Tackling Poverty Together
Based in the Schilderswijk, Stek – Buurt & Lukas combines practical assistance and advice with opportunities for residents to meet others, develop their talents and contribute to their community.
An important part of the initiative is its emphasis on working with people rather than simply providing services for them.
Through self-directed groups and activities, participants can draw on their own experiences and abilities to make positive changes in their lives.
The initiative also uses Luisterkracht, an approach that enables residents to share their experiences with one another and with policymakers, ensuring that the voices of people experiencing poverty are included in discussions about possible solutions.
Recognition from the Oranje Fonds
The Appeltjes van Oranje are annual awards presented by the Oranje Fonds to social initiatives that contribute to a more connected and inclusive society.
This year’s theme, Samen armoede doorbreken (Breaking the Cycle of Poverty Together), recognises organisations that understand poverty involves more than financial difficulties. It can also affect health, opportunities and a person’s ability to participate in society.
Alongside Stek – Buurt & Lukas, the other 2026 winners were Stichting Doors Wide Open from Hof van Twente and Mega D Youth Foundation from Sint Eustatius.
Each winning organisation receives €25,000 and a bronze sculpture designed and created by Princess Beatrix.
The awards are now in their 24th year.
Building a Stronger Community
By combining practical assistance with meaningful participation, Stek – Buurt & Lukas demonstrates how community initiatives can provide both immediate support and longer-term opportunities.
Its recognition is also a celebration of the residents, volunteers and professionals working together to create a more inclusive Schilderswijk.
For more information about the awards, visit the Oranje Fonds.
Source: Oranje Fonds press release, 8 October 2026.
