Saturday September 19, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: the immigration service admits to deploying unregistered AI chatbots, Chinatown celebrates the Moon Festival alongside Neighbours Day, and robotic light arms accompany Cello Octet Amsterdam at Amare.
The activities listed below are just a curated sample of what’s going on in The Hague. Check out our completely redesigned events calendar here.
At a glance
π¦οΈ Weather: Hi 20Β°C / 68Β°F (2Β° warmer than yesterday) Β· Lo 16Β°C / 61Β°F Β· 28% chance of rain Β· wind SW 29 km/h (16 knots)
π² Cycling: Dry until about 10:00, wet after that.
π Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:23 Β· Sunset 19:48 Β· First Quarter Β· Moonrise 17:00 Β· Golden hour 19:18 to 19:48
π Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 21) Β· grass pollen low
πΆ Markets: AEX 1,092 (-0.8%) Β· S&P 500 7,638 (+1.1%) Β· β¬1 = $1.15 Β· $1 = β¬0.87
New stairlift helps older ADO supporters reach stands: A dedicated stairlift has opened at the ADO Den Haag stadium for fans aged 65 and older. The project was completed following a community crowdfunding campaign.
Chinatown combines Moon Festival with Neighbours Day: A joint cultural programme will take over Rabbijn Maarsenplein on Saturday 26 September. Most activities are free, including Tai Chi sessions, traditional dances, and a walking route.
Immigration service deployed unregistered AI chatbots for asylum: The IND began using two automated tools this summer to process asylum paperwork faster. Internal rules required public registration of all algorithms, but the agency bypassed the national database.
Hermine Deurloo and Anton Goudsmit play Loosduinen: The duo brings harmonica and guitar music to Bibliotheek Loosduinen this month. Co-organisers ProJazz previously hosted the musicians at a warm performance in Leidschenveen.
Mariahoeve holds tenth annual open doors day: Local artists and community initiatives across the neighbourhood will open their spaces to the public on Sunday 27 September. The route includes the final appearance of KunstPost at LOOkatie364.
Kunstmuseum schedules public events for fashion exhibition: Reflections on Fashion will feature workshops, guided tours and talks running through December. The events cover traditional dress, repair techniques and centuries of clothing history.
Hands-on engineering for kids at LEGO Robotica: Working in pairs with tablets, children snap together motorized models and test sensors in ninety-minute guided blocks. 19 September, Elke Dag Vers. π
KIDS WORKSHOP
Children’s theatre show De parapluvogel for ages five up: Aimed at children aged five and up, the youth performance De parapluvogel brings imaginative storytelling to the stage for young audiences. 19 September. π
FAMILY SHOW
Family visits to the Literatuurmuseum and Kinderboekenmuseum: Het bericht Literatuurmuseum/Kinderboekenmuseum kidsproof favoriet – 20260919 verscheen eerst op Kidsproof Den Haag . 19 September, Literatuurmuseum/Kinderboekenmuseum. π
MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Robotic light arms surround Cello Octet Amsterdam: Eight cellists perform inside a moving shelter of robotic arms responding live to pieces by contemporary electronic composers. 19 September, 20:00, Korzo. π
CLASSICAL
Free open-air swing sets at Haags Big Band Festival: Four regional ensembles take turns playing live swing and brass arrangements in the open shopping arcade. 19 September, Winkelcentrum Waldeck / Winkelcentrum Loosduinen. π
JAZZ / BLUES
Afra invites Steve Rachmad and Queen Saba: Late-night electronic sets share the room as three selectors trade control behind the decks. 19 September. π
ELECTRONIC / DANCE
Solo sets and poetry in Paard’s Kleine Zaal: Two indie singer-songwriters and a published poet each take the stage solo to share new material. 19 September, 19:30, PAARD. π
SINGER-SONGWRITER
Live Polish hip-hop with Dudek P56 and WiΕnia Bakajoko: Expect live sets, guest support, DJ tracks, and a chance to meet both rappers after the show. 19 September, 20:00, Musicon. π
HIP-HOP / R&B
Green Waves Festival on the coast: The local festival gathers audiences for music and culture by the sea at Podium aan Zee. 19 September, Podium aan Zee. π
FESTIVALS
Binnen Handbereik tactile sculpture tour and clay studio session: Visually impaired visitors explore selected sculptures through touch before heading to the studio to work with clay. 19 September, Museum Beelden aan Zee. π
ART / MUSEUMS
Bob Harms on Caribbean resistance, spirituality, and diaspora: Historian Bob Harms discusses Creole mourning rituals, Apinti drums, and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions over drinks. 19 September, Nationaal Archief. π
TALKS / IDEAS
Community workshops, food and cinema at Weimar’s Wijkpaleis Open Deuren: Neighbours drop in for creative sessions, local conversation, an evening community meal and a low-cost screening in the hall. 19 September, 10:00 – 22:00, Weimar’s Wijkpaleis. π
FESTIVALS
Kites, ballet and poetry at Vliegers voor Vrede: Live painting, Ukrainian ballet, Residentie Orkest players and spoken word mark the International Day of Peace. 19 September, Kunstmuseum Den Haag, Tuinzaal. π
FESTIVALS
Theatergroep Toetssteen presents Dolle Mina on Dutch feminism: Wilhelmina Drucker’s early feminist activism meets the modern online manosphere in a Dutch-language stage play. 19 September, De Regentes. π
THEATER
Afro-Creole spirituality talk by author Bob Harms: Author Bob Harms discusses resistance, CuraΓ§aoan proverbs, and Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions inside the National Archives. 19 September, Nationaal Archief. π
TALKS / IDEAS
Eight centuries of history at 800 jaar Duivenvoorde: Eight chronological presentations trace the estate from its thirteenth-century keep wall through to nineteenth-century photography and rare family loans. 19 September, Kasteel Duivenvoorde. π
ART / MUSEUMS
Spot edible herbs on an English foraging walk: Ten walkers head through local green spaces learning to safely identify useful wild plants and remedies. 19 September, Westduinpark. π
TOUR
Behind the scenes of local power at Open Energiedag: Guided tours walk through circular solar panels, high-capacity battery storage, and neighborhood grid management at Slim Strandnet. 19 September, Slim Strandnet. π
TOUR
All-levels movement session at OFFprojects open class: Amos Ben-Tal guides an hour of open movement welcoming any style, age, or background without previous dance training. 19 September, Korzo theater Korzo Kerkstudio. π
CLASS
Try stand-up writing at the Cameretten Comedy Class: Professional comics guide beginners through drafting material, testing jokes, and shaping stage timing with zero experience needed. 19 September, Het Huisje van NOORD. π
WORKSHOP
Workshop Cirkel van democratie at Mariahoeve library: ProDemos educators guide interactive group assignments and a quiz exploring the everyday democratic rule of law. 19 September, 14:00 – 16:00, Bibliotheek Mariahoeve. π
WORKSHOP
Try out local sports clubs at Stadsspelen Den Haag: Free outdoor clinics cover 3×3 basketball, climbing, boxing, and freerun alongside food stalls and club demonstrations. 19 September, Sportcampus Zuiderpark. π
SPORTS
Six decades of dance music at Swingtown: An art society turns its hall into a dancefloor with guest DJs spinning tracks from the sixties onward. 19 September, Pulchri Studio. π
SOCIAL / DRINKS
Coffee, Code and Chat at the big station table: Bring a laptop or drop by to chat about programming without any formal talks or set agenda. 19 September, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Lebkov & Sons. π
NETWORKING
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Dead of Winter (HBO Max), Best of the Best (Netflix), Toi+Moi – Seuls Contre Tous (Prime Video), Dark Matter (Apple TV)
New on the big screen: Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now showing at 4 cinemas, and Sugar at 4 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post asking if anyone had found a lost Nintendo 3DS on public transit prompted a commenter to link to the transport operator’s official lost-and-found page, while another joked that they had taken the console for themselves.
Today’s supermarket deals: AH Fresh American spicy salami pizza (2 for β¬12.00) from Albert Heijn, Chocomel, Fristi, Campina or Optimel (1+1 free) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Queen Wilhelmina was gifted The Hague’s famous Golden Coach in 1898 but declined to use it on her actual inauguration day, waiting until the following day to accept it.
3 years ago today: On September 19th, 2023, the International Criminal Court in The Hague announced it had detected a hack of its own IT systems.
In tomorrow’s edition: The Peace Palace hosts Just Peace Open Day, venues open across the city for the Just Peace Open Dag, and the OPCW welcomes visitors for Just Peace Open Day.
Have a great Saturday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
The autumn breeze is picking up along the coast, so wrap up warm if you are cycling out to the dunes.
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