Bibliotheek Den Haag will introduce a new membership system from January 2027, including a free option for all residents of The Hague. The library says the changes are designed to make it easier for more people to become members and make use of its services across the city.
Under the new structure, residents will be able to choose between three memberships: Gratis (free), Basis (Basic) and Compleet (Complete). The free membership allows users to borrow up to five books per year and includes access to computers and online learning programmes.
For more regular visitors, two paid memberships will also be available. The Basis membership will cost €4 per month and allows members to borrow up to five items at a time, while the Compleet membership at €6 per month increases this to twenty items. Both paid memberships also include access to the digital collection and reservable study and workspaces at the Centrale Bibliotheek.
The changes also replace the current system, which mainly offers a single standard adult membership costing €40 per year. While the new structure introduces a free option for occasional users, regular members may notice that the comparable paid membership becomes slightly more expensive. Membership remains free for children under 18 years old.
Another key change is that overdue fines will officially remain abolished. Bibliotheek Den Haag stopped charging fines in 2023 and says continuing this policy helps reduce barriers and improve accessibility for residents.
Alderman Klaas Verschuure described the library as “a place for everyone”, whether people visit to read, study, meet others, or simply spend time there.
With the Centrale Bibliotheek at Spui and 17 neighbourhood branches across the city, Bibliotheek Den Haag welcomed more than two million visitors in 2025.
More information
https://www.bibliotheekdenhaag.nl/word-lid.html
https://www.bibliotheekdenhaag.nl
Image: Gemeente Den Haag