Sunday September 13, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: thousands of monuments open their doors for free across the city, researchers trace the Prime Minister’s roof timbers to a 1547 Swedish kit, and Black Harmony marks twenty years at Amare.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 20°C / 67°F (1° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 17°C / 63°F · 66% chance of rain · wind W 21 km/h (11 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Wet from early morning, take the tram.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:13 · Sunset 20:02 · Waxing Crescent · Moonrise 10:09 · Golden hour 19:32 to 20:02
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 21) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,099 (+0.5%) · S&P 500 7,657 (+0.9%) · €1 = $1.16 · $1 = €0.86
Prime minister’s office roof was 1547 Swedish kit: Researchers examining the Binnenhof complex discovered that the roof structure of the Torentje arrived as pre-cut timber from Sweden. The 478-year-old construction survived two demolition threats before being sealed away.
Thousands of Dutch monuments open free this weekend: Around 6,000 historic sites across the country will offer free admission for Open Monuments Day on Saturday and Sunday. Participating locations include castles, industrial sites, churches, and historic residential homes.
Zuiderstrand horizon observation returns for 21st edition: Artist Bruno van den Elshout will host another 24-hour group session on the beach this September. Participants sit near the tide line from sunset to sunset.
Six young designers reshape secondhand fashion along Hofvijver: Finalists in the PrinsjesOntwerpwedstrijd have reworked existing garments to explore themes of democracy and climate. The winning design will be announced during a free festival on Saturday.
Schilderswijk plane tree nominated for national contest: A plane tree in the Schilderswijk is representing South Holland in the annual national Tree of the Year vote. The tree is named after an eighteenth-century local doctor who died of cholera.
Major planetary science congress arrives in The Hague: Around 1,200 scientists and engineers have gathered at Amare for the Europlanet Science Congress. Local residents can visit related art installations and follow an outdoor planetary walking route through the city.
A family day out at the Literatuurmuseum and Kinderboekenmuseum: Kidsproof singles out the joint museum as an easy destination for families looking for books and interactive exhibits. 13 September, Literatuurmuseum/Kinderboekenmuseum. 📅 MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Black Harmony marks twenty years with Afro-Surinamese styles at Amare: Soul, R&B, and close harmony blend with apinti and kawina, sung entirely in Sranan Tongo across three distinct chapters. 13 September, 16:00, Amare, Conservatoriumzaal. 📅 WORLD / FOLK
Open Monumentendag Choral Evensong honours composer Charles Wood: Chorale Haganum sings sixteenth-century Genevan psalm melodies reworked with contemporary Dutch text, alongside an organist and liturgical readings. 13 September. 📅 CLASSICAL
Jaap Reesema plays an open-air band show: Dutch pop tunes with a full band outdoors, where you choose between seated and standing spots. 13 September, Zuiderparktheater. 📅 POP / ROCK
Morning modern jazz at Huygens Museum: A piano trio with guest guitar plays original tunes and mid-century standards, preceded by morning coffee. 13 September, 11:00 – 12:00, Huygens Museum: Notarishuis. 📅 JAZZ / BLUES
Touring the Cold War government fallout shelter: Walk inside the subterranean emergency seat built to shield Dutch cabinet members during a potential Soviet nuclear strike. 13 September, 10:00, voormalig noodzetelcomplex. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
Spanish stand-up comedy open mic night: Comedians of various nationalities test fresh material in Spanish at this casual open mic session. 13 September, 18:00 – 20:00, Señor Torres. 📅 COMEDY
Prinsjescabaret 2026 takes on the Dutch political year: Sanne Wallis de Vries and Patrick Nederkoorn dissect twelve months of national politics through music, satire, and stand-up routines. 13 September, 20:15, Theater Diligentia. 📅 COMEDY
Lectures, workshops and philosophy at Museum Sophiahof: Three talks, practical sessions and an ethical cafe examine Blavatsky’s core ideas on karma and human solidarity. 13 September, 10:00 – 15:30, Museum Sophiahof – from the Indies to today. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Screening Richard Linklater’s Before Sunrise in English: Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy roam Vienna overnight in the 1995 dialogue-driven romance, shown without Dutch subtitles. 13 September, Flora Filmtheater. 📅 FILM
Marcel Breuer architecture explored at the former American embassy: An English-language guided walk explores the ambassador’s office, auditorium and library inside the brutalist landmark. 13 September, 16:30, Onze Ambassade. 📅 TOUR
Shape polished Japanese clay pearls with Julie van Riel: Participants shape and polish layers of earth, water, and clay around a seed using Japanese Dorodango methods. 13 September, 14:00 – 16:00, Het Puntje. 📅 WORKSHOP
Morning museum yoga in the period rooms: Bring your own mat for a quiet twenty-person movement class held among historic period interiors. 13 September, 09:30 – 10:15, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. 📅 CLASS
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: En Coma (Netflix), Deep Revenge (HBO Max), The Sentinel (Prime Video), The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (Disney+)
New on the big screen: Pressure is now showing at 5 cinemas, and Paw Patrol: De Dinofilm at 4 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A thread asking why so many young couples are moving from The Hague to the neighboring Westland region brought replies pointing to more affordable single-family homes with gardens close to the city, though others noted prices there are still steep and that they would miss Hague city life.
Today’s supermarket deals: Snickers White ice cream bars (2 for €6.49) from Albert Heijn, Yildriz, Gouda’s Glorie or Remia sauces (2e halve prijs) from Jumbo.
Did you know? The Hague hosts the King, parliament, and the entire seat of government, yet Amsterdam – not The Hague – holds the official title of capital of the Netherlands.
52 years ago today: On September 13th, 1974, Japanese Red Army militants stormed the French embassy in The Hague, holding hostages there for five days.
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: PrinsjesNach fills city stages with local music, Ed Struijlaart plays Bibliotheek Ypenburg, and Bibliotheek Benoordenhout hosts morning storytelling for adults.
Have a great Sunday.
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