Events & Activities in December
Events & Activities The Hague in December
Cool Event Scheveningen
December – 20 Janurari, 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
This winter Scheveningen is again the place to be for the ultimate winter sport experience. From 10 November 2018 to 20 January 2018 The Hague’s beach resort is transformed into a true winter wonderland called Cool Event with several activities.
Old Masters New Heroes – The Hague HighLights: video projection Ridderzaal
Thursday 6 December, 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
In the MuseumKwartier (Museum District) you can make a visual journey in time past the cornerstones and milestones of our democracy in the playful video projection Old masters, New heroes, on show at Ridderzaal.
Think of The Hague and images of the iconic residential buildings quickly come to mind. From Thursday 8 November – Saturday 8 December the Ridderzaal on Binnenhof will be under the spotlights for fifteen evenings (every Thurs/Fri/Sat). Fascinating video projections bring the building to life. A projection will also take place at the Kurhaus. Keys of Light.
Scheveningen Light Walk
Saturday 8 December, 4:30 PM – 11:00 PM
A dark December evening, winter cold, passion and romance from bygone eras combined with state-of-the-art lighting techniques: Scheveningen Light Walk. A new walking event through the Hague resort, where you will feel as if you have landed in a wonderful fairytale world. There are different distances: 7.5 km, 12.5 km and 18.5 km. Start at Scheveningen Pier, walk along the beach, through the dunes, forest, parks, famous Scheveningen districts, the harbour and then finish at De Pier. During the Scheveningen Light Walk you will encounter spectacular light, sound and fire acts, in which various Scheveningen artists collaborate.
European Championship Bicycle Beachrace
Sunday 9 December, 8:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Riding a mountain bike on the beach in winter is gaining popularity. That is why this year again the European Championship Bicycle Beachrace takes place on the beach of Scheveningen.
The beach race
The event starts in Scheveningen, participants then drive across the beach to Katwijk. They return to Scheveningen there. The riders will do this twice. In total, the platoon will cover 54 kilometers. There is also the possibility for sportspeople to get down to work. They can do the 27 kilometer variant (1 round).
Guido Weijers
Monday 10 December, 8:00 PM
Guido Weijers sleurt je in zijn negende oudejaarsconference mee door het afgelopen jaar. Hij trekt het uit z’n voegen, keert het binnenstebuiten, om het vervolgens met veel en soms bikkelharde humor weer aan elkaar te lijmen. Confronterend, provocerend, filosoferend, intelligent, wars van regels en razendsnel werpt hij zijn blik op de afgelopen 365 dagen. Nou ja, iets minder dus want pas op 31 december is het jaar compleet.
Vanzelfsprekend dus dat ‘De Oudejaarsconference 2018’ in deze fase nog een try-out is. Maar jij zult er niet minder hard om lachen.
Turn on the lights of the Christmas Tree Lange Voorhout
Thursday 13 December, 6:00 PM
Come to the traditional ceremony on Lange Voorhout as the lights in the Swedish Christmas Tree will be lit, and listen to the Santa Lucia-choir and Salvation Army Band. Enjoy a glass of hot chocolate or Gluhwein next to the Christmas tree and celebrate the start of the Christmas Season.
Feast of Lucia
The Embassy of Sweden has donated a Swedish Christmas tree to the city of The Hague almost every year since 1998. The candles in the tree are traditionally lit around 13 December, the day upon which the Feast of Lucia is celebrated in Sweden. At the darkest time of the year Lucia, dressed in white and with candles in her hair, will bring light into the dark winter night.
Royal Christmas Fair
Friday 14 – Sunday 23 December, 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Royal Christmas Fair in The Hague is one of the biggest Christmas markets in the Netherlands. Twinkling lights and familiar Christmas carols at the romantic Lange Voorhout are bound to get you in the ultimate Christmas mood. Among this year’s 100 stalls you’ll be able to find gift ideas, wintery fashion and design decorations.
Original Christmas gifts
Royal Christmas Fair The Hague is a unique Christmas market where you can do extensive Christmas shopping in an atmosphere of good cheer. This is the number one spot for finding lovely, original Christmas gifts. A thick layer of snow completes the fairytale decorations. And a mug of hot chocolate or Glühwein is the perfect accompaniment.
Rotary Santa Run
Saturday 15 December, 11:00 AM
Come in the Christmas mood with this hilarious course and support the Food Bank Haaglanden! On Saturday 15 December, the first Rotary Santa Run will take place in Scheveningen, an initiative of 4 Hague Rotary clubs. The Rotary Santa Run is a very cozy walk of about 3 km where each participant gets a Santa suit.
Start (at 11 o’clock) and finish at Madurodam. Participation costs 10 euros per person, the proceeds of which go to charities (Haaglanden Food Bank and the Kidney Foundation). You can keep the Santa suit! You can register at denhaag.rotarysantarun.nl. It is a walk for young and old, the little ones can join in the pram. Flinking through is also fine. Unfortunately, dogs can not be taken a long.
Kerstfeest Spuiplein
Saturday 22 December, 3:30 PM – 8:15 PM
Come on Saturday, December 22 to the free surf movie in the open air! With music, oliebollen, mulled wine, soup, hot chocolate. And – not unimportantly – blankets and fire pits to keep you warm. From 3.30 – 8.15 pm on the square in front of Filmhuis Den Haag and Theater aan het Spui.
Christmas Circus The Hague
22 December – 6 January, 3:00 PM
The Christmas Circus is back during the winter break at The Hague’s Malieveld, bringing a highly entertaining collection of dazzling acts by performers from all over the world.
In a fairytale-like richly decorated tent, Christmas Circus The Hague (‘Groot Kerstcircus Den Haag’) present a top show with dozens of acts by international performers. Humour and spectacle await the thousands of visitors from around the country.
New Year’s Eve party at the Hofvijver
Monday 31 December, 10:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Fireworks over the historical Hofvijver! On 31 December The Hague is organizing a free New Year’s Eve party in the city centre. DJ music and a grand firework display around midnight will ring in the New Year with a bang.
Free New Year’s Eve party
The New Year’s Eve party at the Hofvijver (Court Pond) in The Hague is free. Everyone can enjoy the performances and fireworks from Korte Vijverberg.
New Year’s Dive
Tuesday 1 January 2019, 12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
Start the New Year off fresh with a dive into the cold North Sea water along the coast of Scheveningen, just by the Pier. Even for the not so daring amongst us, it is a perfect day out because the sight of all those shivering people is – and always has been – a fabulous sight to see.
The largest dive in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands the 1st of January is traditionally celebrated with a new year’s dive (‘Nieuwjaarsduik’). No matter how cold it is, at least 25.000 people plunge into the freezing water each January. There are over 60 locations in the Netherlands where you can jump into the sea or a lake. The largest dive is held at the beach of Scheveningen, where well over 10.000 people plunge into the sea each year.
Dutch tradition
The Dutch tradition started in 1960 in Zandvoort when a swim club decided to start the year fresh with a plunge in the sea. The new year’s dive received national attention after a big soup brand decided to sponsor it. From that moment on, the amount of participants and locations has increased every year.
Still think this isn’t enough? Then check out https://denhaag.com/en for even more!
