Today, the Municipality of The Hague presents the 2025 Programme Account. With this annual report, the financial year is concluded and the municipality looks back on what has been achieved. In a time of growth and change, work has continued on a city that remains liveable, accessible, and inclusive. A total of €3.9 billion was spent in 2025, and the year concludes with a positive result.
In the program account, the municipality accounts for the policy pursued and the expenditures of the past year. The Hague continued to develop, with visible results in the city, but also with challenges that require continued attention.
Space for growth and development
The Hague is growing, and this was be clearly visible in 2025. New homes and facilities are being built throughout the city. In the past year, construction began on more than 3,000 homes, a large proportion of which are in the affordable segment. Steps have also been taken in larger area developments. The Binckhorst area program was open for public inspection, and agreements have been made with market parties regarding the Laakhavens. Together, these developments offer space for nearly 20,000 new homes. For The Hague Southwest, the administrative agreements Woondeal Zuidwest 2025-2029 were signed in 2025. These include agreements on accelerating the construction of 6,000 affordable homes in Southwest.
To support this growth, investments have been made in accessibility and road safety. Bicycle use has been encouraged by creating more space for cyclists and addressing bottlenecks. In addition, the municipality has started the renewal of tram lines 6 and 12 to make them suitable for modern, sustainable low-floor trams that are more accessible to everyone.
Investing in a green and equal opportunities
A growing city requires a pleasant living environment. Therefore, the focus in 2025 was on greening and sustainability. More than 350,000 tiles were replaced by greenery and plants, over 2,000 trees were distributed, and more than 500 rain barrels were installed. Approximately 75 sports and play areas were also renovated.
Equal opportunities remain an important guiding principle. With the new Hague Educational Agenda, a step has been taken towards future-oriented and inclusive education. Reading proficiency received particular attention in this regard. The Hague libraries were visited more than 2 million times in 2025, and the number of youth members reached a record high. The library thus remains an important place for meeting and development. In addition, attention was paid to our shared history and connection. With the unveiling of the Remember Our United Beginning monument , the history of slavery has been given a permanent place in the city.
A strong and innovative economy
In 2025, The Hague continued to build a strong economy and an attractive business climate. In districts such as Transvaal and the Schilderswijk, shopping streets have been renovated and local entrepreneurship has been stimulated. Impact entrepreneurship plays an increasingly important role. ImpactCity celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2025. The Hague now has more than 200 impact enterprises working on solutions for societal challenges.
In addition, The Hague was the host city for various events. For instance, the opening stage of the Tour of Holland took place in the Zuiderpark, and the city welcomed the European Wheelchair Rugby Championship. The Hague was also in the international spotlight during the NATO summit in June, where approximately 9,000 visitors were received. The active recruitment of international organizations has led to the establishment of nine new organizations, including UNDP, GNI, and Investing for Peace, which contribute to the profile of the city as an international city of peace and justice.
Positive result
The year of 2025 closed with a positive financial result of over €64 million, approximately 1.7% of the total budget. Part of this amount flows back into the reserves, thereby remaining available for its original purpose. The remaining result of €21.9 million is added to the general reserve. The municipality’s financial position remains solid, and thanks in part to improvements in budgetary rules and the planning and control cycle, a strong foundation has been laid for the future.
At the same time, challenges remain, including those related to the city’s growth, the financing of youth care, and uncertainty regarding central government funding. These call for careful consideration and targeted choices.
View the council proposal and the full annual accounts here: Other administrative documents Program Account 2025 Municipality of The Hague
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online