The Hague presents the Urban Logistics Action Programme 2026–2030, a package of measures designed to reduce the growing logistical pressure in the city. Due to strong growth in housing, jobs, and residents, the number of trips for construction, deliveries, and waste is increasing rapidly. To prevent the city from grinding to a halt, The Hague is opting for a smarter, cleaner, and safer way of organizing.
“ Construction traffic and delivery vans are part of a growing city. With this program, we ensure that it all fits better and causes less nuisance. We are opting for solutions that make an immediate difference on the streets: fewer vans, less traffic searching for traffic, and more space for everyone. That is important, because The Hague must remain liveable. That is why we are now taking steps to make the city quieter, cleaner, and more pleasant for everyone ,” says Alderman Arjen Kapteijns (Energy Transition, Raw Materials, and Mobility).
Towards a better balance in urban logistics
The need is great. Logistical pressure throughout the city is increasing rapidly due to growing construction activities, parcel delivery, hospitality deliveries, and waste collection. Residents and businesses are experiencing the effects of this growth, such as congestion and limited space. Therefore, the municipality is focusing specifically on the areas where the pressure is highest: in shopping streets, around construction sites, in residential areas, and on key logistical routes. A significant step has already been taken regarding parcel delivery: in the covenant with the G4 cities and carriers, it was agreed that parcel pick-up points and lockers would be expanded so that fewer vans need to enter the neighborhoods.
Smart measures for safer loading and unloading
One of the key measures is the recalibration of delivery window times in shopping areas. The current times no longer align with reality, causing carriers to deliver more frequently outside permitted hours and creating unsafe situations, particularly due to loading and unloading on the street. The Hague is investigating the possibilities for smarter supply chain management through supplier scheduling in combination with smart loading and unloading zones. In the long term, this could lead to new delivery window times as well as the deployment of digital enforcement via ANPR cameras. This should result in improved traffic flow and lower costs for businesses. Improved traffic flow leads to less nuisance and greater safety for pedestrians and cyclists.
To limit nuisance in the short term, the municipality is launching a pilot with smart loading and unloading zones in busy shopping streets such as Denneweg, Fahrenheitstraat, Frederik Hendriklaan, Goeverneurlaan, and Van Hoytemastraat. These spots can be reserved digitally in advance, meaning drivers no longer have to search for space and there are fewer illegally parked vehicles. The goal is clear: more efficient loading and unloading, less traffic searching for parking, and a safer street.
Gaining space in the city
A pilot project for a circular construction hub for civil engineering projects is starting at the HABO site in the Binckhorst. Materials are delivered there in bundles and reused, leading to fewer trips, reduced emissions, and less nuisance around construction sites. The pilot is set to launch shortly and aims to ensure a much more efficient and cleaner approach to construction logistics in the city.
The municipality consolidates hospitality deliveries by having small suppliers use sustainable local carriers and enabling large wholesalers to plan their routes more intelligently. As a result, fewer vehicles enter the same street each day, which noticeably improves traffic safety and livability.
Furthermore, entrepreneurs in BIZ areas are assisted in purchasing waste collection jointly. As a result, multiple waste collectors no longer need to drive into the same street one after another. Business associations can play an important role in this by organizing joint waste collection, which can significantly reduce the number of different collectors in a street.
Finally, The Hague is investigating which quays are suitable for water transport, an alternative that can save space on the road. This is particularly important for large construction projects in Laakhavens. A Hague Logistics Manual for developers will also be introduced, ensuring that internal logistics, loading and unloading, and space utilization are taken into account from the outset of new construction.
A number of measures from the Urban Logistics Action Programme were initiated at the beginning of this year, and measures are being further implemented step by step and monitored annually.
Text & Image: Gemeente Den Haag
Translation to English: The Hague Online