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Essentially The Hague – Saturday, October 10, 2026

Essentially The Hague
Saturday October 10, 2026
Good morning, The Hague. Today: the city refuses every fireworks exemption for New Year’s Eve, free flower seeds go out across The Hague, and SUPAFLY 2026 serves neo-soul, R&B and UK jazz.

At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 16°C / 60°F (2° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 13°C / 56°F · 73% chance of rain · wind W 34 km/h (18 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Wet from early morning, take the tram.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:58 · Sunset 18:59 · New Moon · Moonrise 07:47 · Golden hour 18:29 to 18:59
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality fair (AQI 21) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,131 (+0.9%) · S&P 500 7,812 (+0.6%) · €1 = $1.12 · $1 = €0.89
News
The Hague refuses all fireworks exemptions for New Year’s Eve: Mayor Jan van Zanen will not grant exemptions under the national consumer-fireworks ban. The future of displays at two bonfires is uncertain, while the city plans one-off support for organizers.
Schilderswijk charity Stek wins Appeltje van Oranje: The organisation was honoured for Buurt & Lukas, a walk-in project working on poverty in the neighbourhood. Queen Máxima presented the award, which includes 25,000 euros, at Noordeinde Palace.
Free flower seeds offered across The Hague: Residents can request untreated seeds for flowers native to The Hague, including poppies and daisies. The packets are for bare soil around street trees, with sowing due in November or December.
The Hague’s zebra clock could be back at the station by the end of 2026: Designed for Koningin Julianaplein, the clock has survived two fires and repeated construction work. A photograph of the 1985 blaze will feature in a Museumnacht exhibition.
Rivierenbuurt campaign seeks funds for over 1,200 Stolpersteine: Residents in The Hague’s Rivierenbuurt have launched a campaign to fund more than 1,200 Stolpersteine. One of the organisers also wants to create a digital walking route through the neighbourhood’s Jewish history.
Empty Hague garden centre opens as Christmas outlet: A former garden centre on Noordweg is being used for a one-off Christmas outlet, selling new decorations at reduced prices. Patricia Mollenman has returned to help after 35 years working there.
Tram spotter Daan, 12, texts HTM with corrections: The 12-year-old can name the GTL, Avenio and TINA on sight and follows the tram timetable closely. His videos of The Hague’s trams have drawn more than 2,000 followers on Instagram.
Family / Children
Happy Halloween in Drievliet brings back the Griezelbus: The park’s Halloween programme includes a daily show and a Trick or Treat mission aboard the bus from the 2005 film. 10 October, 10:00, Familiepark Drievliet. FESTIVAL / FAIR
The Walking Hat: a raccoon family’s wedding preparations: For ages five and up, this puppet show follows a raccoon family preparing a wedding and a high hat that can walk. 10 October, 14:30, Kooman’s Poppentheater. FAMILY SHOW
Kinderboekenweek puppet show at Bibliotheek Nieuw Waldeck: Max Velthuijs stories come alive on stage in a forty-five-minute puppet adaptation geared toward young children and parents. 10 October, 10:00 – 10:45, Bibliotheek Nieuw Waldeck. FAMILY SHOW
Music
Museum Night: Nusantara Beat, music and family stories: Nusantara Beat plays three semi-acoustic sets between discussions, while visitors can try batik workshops, make felt jasmine flowers and hear family-history podcasts. 10 October, Museum Sophiahof – from the Indies to today. WORLD / FOLK
Basily Gipsy Band plays Roma-rooted jazz and familiar songs: The theatre concert combines gipsy music, world hits and covers recast in the band’s style, with themes of travel, family and tradition. 10 October, 20:30, Podium aan Zee. WORLD / FOLK
Mystical Sounds: choral works with Cantamus Alati and Cologne choir: Cantamus Alati and Oratorienchor Köln join for Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Herman Finkers and Ola Gjeilo, in a programme conducted by two choir leaders. 10 October, 20:00, Grote Kerk. CHOIR / VOCAL
A 300-year-old organ plays modern soundscapes: Organist Martijn Pranger and sound designer Xhabi use the Garrels organ for modern soundscapes, as the church raises restoration funds. 10 October, 19:00 – 00:00, Oud-katholieke schuilkerk van de H.H. Jacobus en Augustinus. CLASSICAL
SUPAFLY 2026: neo-soul, R&B, hip-hop and UK jazz: The programme includes Kofi Stone, Moses Yoofee Trio, Nectar Woode and Dominique Fils-Aimé, alongside artists from several countries. 10 October, PAARD, Kleine Zaal. ELECTRONIC / DANCE
Chef’s Menu pairs choral music with international pieces: No Quartet and the Lendvay Ensemble perform European and global works, including Gershwin, Skoryk and a csárdás with violinist József Lendvay. 10 October, 20:15, Oude Kerk Voorburg. CLASSICAL
Events: Watch
RollerSkateDisco takes over Atrium for Museumnacht: Rent a pair of skates, circle the hall to DJ sets, and browse historical photography between laps. 10 October, 19:00 – 00:00, Atrium Den Haag. FESTIVALS
Japanese Garden opens for free autumn visits: Free timed tickets are required to see the garden’s rare plants and Japanese maples during its short autumn opening. 10 October, 10:00 – 16:00, Landgoed Clingendael. OUTDOOR / ACTIVE
NIMH Military History Day: free talks and battlefield tours: The programme pairs talks on military health and history with expert-led battlefield tours around Bezuidenhout, Waalsdorpervlakte and Clingendael. 10 October, 10:00, Frederikkazerne. TALKS / IDEAS
Marron Day celebration with an a cappella theatre work: Miela Mofu and Fiamba perform PEE using voices, movement and choir singing, alongside the traditional Kuutu gathering of Marron leaders. 10 October, 15:30, Koninklijke Schouwburg. FESTIVALS
Fantasy Fest: cosplay, stalls, workshops and live bands: The two-day festival ranges across fantasy, gothic, steampunk, Victorian style, anime and comics, with food stalls and lectures. 10 October, 12:00, De Broodfabriek Expo en Event Center Rijswijk. FESTIVALS
Come Inside: a free collection weekend in The Hague: Saturday’s free programme marks 160 years of the collection, with activities around new exhibitions on icons and Mondrian’s path to abstraction. 10 October, 10:00, Kunstmuseum Den Haag. ART / MUSEUMS
Events: Do
Climb 288 steps inside The Hague Tower: A guide pauses on four floors during the climb to explain the tower, which rises 92.5 metres above the city. 10 October, 13:00, Grote Kerk. TOUR
Make tortillas and salsa in a vegetarian Mexican workshop: Participants prepare a complete vegetarian Mexican menu, then share the meal; ingredients are included and no cooking experience is needed. 10 October, 15:30, Voedsellokaal De Gymzaal. WORKSHOP
Bieryoga at the National Library for Museumnacht: Half-hour Dutch-language stretching sessions where every participant balances poses while holding and finishing a cold beer. 10 October, 19:30 – 20:00, KB nationale bibliotheek. SPORTS
Queer history walk through The Hague: Stops include the International Homomonument, former queer bars and dance halls, and sites linked to the city’s dance ban and article 248bis. 10 October, 10:30, Hofvijver. TOUR
The Hague Film Walk: locations behind famous scenes: The guided route pairs filming locations from Ocean’s Twelve and Soldaat van Oranje with original clips and stories of vanished cinemas. 10 October, 14:00, Pathé Buitenhof. TOUR
Kolam workshop: paint a traditional Indian design: Make a canvas design with acrylics, brushes and markers; materials, traditional Indian snacks and drinks are provided, with no experience needed. 10 October, 15:00, Edamstraat. WORKSHOP
iLocal Food Tour through the Schilderswijk: A neighbourhood guide leads a 90-minute to two-hour walk sampling Eritrean, Ethiopian, Afghan and Moroccan food, with tastings paid separately. 10 October, 15:30, Standbeeld Haagse Harry, Grote Markt. TOUR
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Two Weeks (Prime Video), Doctor Sleep (HBO Max), Star Trek (Netflix), Anemone (SkyShowtime)
New on the big screen: Drishyam: The Conclusion is now showing at 3 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post from someone dealing with loneliness after a breakup; replies suggested joining hobby groups and communities to rebuild social connections.
Today’s supermarket deals: Douwe Egberts Aroma red filter coffee (30% off) from Albert Heijn, Royal Club of Rivella (2 for €3.25) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Escher in Het Paleis, The Hague’s Escher museum, occupies a real 18th-century royal winter palace whose ballroom mirrors are angled to create endless reflections.
116 years ago today: On October 10th, 1910, Hague School painter Willem Maris died in the city, having built a career painting the shimmer of light on cows.
Adoptable pet of the dayAdoptable pet of the day: Meet Tex, a cat at Haags Dierencentrum. Take a look →
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in The Hague over the next seven days.
•  Food La Route – The Hague Centre · Sunday 11 October
•  Eneco Tour – Professional Cycling Race and Festival · Tuesday 13 October, Sportcampus Zuiderpark en Zuiderpark
•  The Hague Cocktail Week · Thursday 8 October to Sunday 11 October
•  The Hague Film Festival · Friday 16 October
In tomorrow’s edition: Indian classical music plays at the Sufi centre in The Hague, Tante Alie brings metal yoga to Musicon, and De Koto: meer dan een kledingstuk opens at Kunstmuseum Den Haag.
Have a great Saturday.
Running something in The Hague? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
October has properly settled over the city now, so the scarf by the door earns its place.
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