In December 2026 The Hague has the free Royal Christmas Fair on the Lange Voorhout (3–23 December, daily 12:00–21:00), two ice rinks in Scheveningen (€7.50, €12.50 with skates), Cirque du Soleil's first Christmas show in Europe, at the World Forum (10 December – 3 January, from €53), a free bicycle light parade on 12 December, the free Snowfest on 18–20 December and Christmas concerts in Amare. The school holiday runs from Saturday 19 December to Sunday 3 January. Consumers may not set off fireworks this New Year's Eve, and the year starts with the big New Year's dive in Scheveningen. Below: what's on each week, what it costs, skating, concerts, New Year's Eve, getting there and the weather.
Checked 21 October 2026. Not announced yet: the Lichtjes in de Haven switch-on, the Kurhaus light projection (last year 18 December – 4 January), Snowfest's location and times, the bonfire times and HTM's timetable for 31 December.
The Hague in December 2026 at a glance
| What | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Christmas Fair | Thursday 3 – Wednesday 23 December, daily 12:00–21:00 | Lange Voorhout | Free |
| Kurhaus on Ice | Daily until Sunday 28 February, 10:00–22:00 | Kurhausplein, Scheveningen | €7.50, €12.50 with skates |
| Skate by the Sea | Saturday 5 December – Sunday 10 January | Boulevard, Scheveningen | €7.50, €12.50 with skates |
| Lichtjesavond Delft | Tuesday 8 December, 16:00–22:00 | Delft city centre | Free |
| Cirque du Soleil: 'Twas The Night Before… | Thursday 10 December – Sunday 3 January | World Forum | From €53 |
| Haagse Fietslichtjesparade | Saturday 12 December, 18:00–20:00 | Starts at Korte Voorhout 5 | Free |
| African Christmas Market | Saturday 12 December, 12:00–18:00 | Amare, Kunstenplein | See Amare |
| Snowfest The Hague | Friday 18 – Sunday 20 December | Not announced yet | Free |
| De Sneeuwkoningin (6+) | Thursday 24 – Monday 28 December, mostly 14:30 | Amare | €30–€52, up to 12 €17–€38 |
| Unox New Year's Dive | Friday 1 January, dive at 12:00 | Scheveningen beach | Tickets on site |
Everything Evenitto lists for the season is on Christmas in The Hague and New Year's Eve in The Hague, with concerts on classical music in The Hague and shows on theatre in The Hague.
What's on in The Hague in December, week by week
| Week | Highlights | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday 1 – Sunday 6 December | The Royal Christmas Fair opens (3 December), Skate by the Sea opens on the boulevard (5 December), pakjesavond (Saturday 5 December) | The fair is free and open every day from 12:00 to 21:00 |
| Monday 7 – Sunday 13 December | Lichtjesavond in Delft (8 December), Cirque du Soleil starts (10 December), Kerst met Mahler 3 (11 and 13 December), the bicycle light parade, the African Christmas Market, Christmas in Scheveningen's Keizerstraat and Christmas Holiday in Amare (12 December) | Saturday 12 December has three markets by day and the parade in the evening |
| Monday 14 – Sunday 20 December | Snowfest (18–20 December), holiday starts (19 December), Handel's Messiah (19 December), the Weihnachtsoratorium (20 December) | From 19 December Kurhaus on Ice opens at 09:00 |
| Monday 21 – Sunday 27 December | Kerst in de Nieuwe Badkapel (21 December), Christmas Cheer and the fair's last day (23 December), De Sneeuwkoningin (from 24 December), Cirque du Soleil on Christmas Day | The Royal Christmas Fair has ended after 23 December; the rinks, Cirque du Soleil and De Sneeuwkoningin play on |
| Monday 28 December – Sunday 3 January | De Sneeuwkoningin's last shows (28 December), the Haags Aftelmoment at the Hofvijver (31 December, 22:00–01:00), the New Year's dive (1 January), Cirque du Soleil's last show (3 January) | Consumer fireworks are banned nationwide this year; sparklers are allowed |
Ice skating in The Hague in December
The Hague has two rinks by the sea and a 400-metre track in De Uithof.
| Rink | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurhaus on Ice | Saturday 7 November – Sunday 28 February; daily 10:00–22:00, from 09:00 on 19 December – 3 January | Kurhausplein, under cover | €7.50, €12.50 with skate hire; 5 rides €30, 10 rides €50 |
| Skate by the Sea | Saturday 5 December – Sunday 10 January; daily 10:00–22:00 in the holiday | Boulevard, Scheveningen | €7.50, €12.50 with skate hire |
| De Uithof | Open now (2026–2027 season) | Jaap Edenweg 10, Den Haag | From €10.50 online, at most €12.50 in busy holiday weeks; skate hire €8.50; prices valid until 1 April 2027 |
Kurhaus on Ice is a covered 600 m² rink in front of the Kurhaus. Tickets work on any day it is open, online or at the rink, and you don't need to book. Skates for hire run from size 27 to 47, with double-bladed skates for small children and skating aids for beginners. Gloves are required, and Dutch long-track skates (noren) are not allowed on the ice. Curling evenings are in the organiser's event calendar, among them Wednesday 9 December.
Skate by the Sea is the second rink of the same organiser, this year 90 metres long, on the boulevard with a view of the North Sea and a separate area for curling. Every evening from 17:00 to 22:00 it turns into disco skating. Outside the holiday, its hours are not on the page yet (checked 21 October).
De Uithof has a 400-metre track for laps. Prices change with how busy it is: from €10.50 online at quiet times to €12.50 in holiday peaks, a family ticket for four from €39.95 online. Rinks elsewhere are in our ice skating guide.
Royal Christmas Fair 2026: dates, hours and entrances
The Royal Christmas Fair is The Hague's Christmas market: dozens of wooden Christmas houses on the Lange Voorhout from Thursday 3 to Wednesday 23 December, open every day from 12:00 to 21:00, with free entry. 2026 is its eleventh edition. There is a stage with daily music and other acts, choirs, storytellers, children's activities and Father Christmas on most days, plus bars with terraces and a heated covered terrace at the Royal Christmas House.
- Entrances: at the Kloosterkerk (Kneuterdijk), Hotel Des Indes (Denneweg) and the American embassy (Korte Voorhout).
- Getting there: the fair is within walking distance of Den Haag Centraal; from the fair, trams 1, 9 and 11 take you to Scheveningen beach within a quarter of an hour.
- Wheelchairs and walkers: the market is on the shell path of the Lange and Korte Voorhout, which the organiser says can be hard going before it is trodden down. There are two accessible toilets.
- Dogs are welcome.
The fair closes on 23 December, so it is not open on Christmas Eve or the Christmas days. More markets in the region are on Christmas markets in The Hague and in our Christmas markets guide.
Other Christmas markets and lights around The Hague
| Event | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| African Christmas Market | Saturday 12 December, 12:00–18:00 | Amare, Kunstenplein | See Amare |
| Kerstmarkt Oude Kerk | Saturday 12 December, 10:00–16:30 | Oude Kerk, Keizerstraat 8, Scheveningen | See the church |
| Kerst in de Straet | Saturday 12 December, from 13:00 | Keizerstraat, Scheveningen | See the listing |
| Lichtjesavond Delft | Tuesday 8 December, 16:00–22:00 | Delft city centre | Free |
| Delft Verlicht | Tuesday 8 December – Sunday 3 January | Delft city centre | See the programme |
| Lichtjes in de Haven | 2026 not announced yet | Tweede Haven, Scheveningen | Not announced |
| Kurhaus in de Spotlights | 2026 not announced yet | Kurhaus, sea side | Not announced |
The African Christmas Market in Amare has food, music, dance, fashion, workshops such as an Ethiopian coffee ceremony, and a children's corner with face painting and crafts. Evenitto has it as a listing.
Scheveningen has its own Christmas Saturday on 12 December: the Oude Kerk on the Keizerstraat holds its Christmas market from 10:00 to 16:30, with Christmas goods and treats for sale and the proceeds going to the neighbourhood association, and from 13:00 the Keizerstraat hosts Kerst in de Straet, which starts at Muzee Scheveningen.
In Delft, the Lichtjesavond on Tuesday 8 December starts Delft Verlicht, with a lights market, Christmas choirs and street theatre; the lights, tall Christmas trees and a skating rink stay until 3 January. Evenitto lists the Lichtjesavond and a free silent disco at De Veste.
Lichtjes in de Haven: last winter more than 60 lit sailing boats filled the Tweede Haven in Scheveningen from Saturday 29 November 2025 to 31 January 2026. The 2026 date is not announced yet (checked 21 October). Last winter the Kurhaus was also lit up with a video projection from 18 December to 4 January, daily from 17:00 to 23:00, and on 27–28 December and 2–3 January Magical Scheveningen added skating shows on the Kurhausplein at 17:45 and 18:45; neither is announced for 2026 yet. In the same harbour, Christmas Village Scheveningen is a large Christmas shop, with a pop-up store at the Royal Christmas Fair from 3 to 23 December.
The Haagse Fietslichtjesparade on 12 December
The Haagse Fietslichtjesparade is a parade of bikes decorated with lights on Saturday 12 December. The sixth edition starts at Korte Voorhout 5, next to the Koninklijke Schouwburg: the festival grounds open at 16:30, and the parade rides from 18:30 to 19:30. Taking part is free and open to anyone who can ride a bike, and people who signed up to borrow a bike can collect it there. Registration is on Eventbrite.
Christmas concerts in The Hague 2026
Most Christmas concerts are in Amare, the concert hall and theatre on the Spuiplein. Prices are per seat by section; under-30s and students pay €15 in most sections.
| Concert | When | Where | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerst met Mahler 3, Residentie Orkest | Friday 11 December 20:15, Sunday 13 December 14:15 | Amare | €30–€68 |
| Christmas Holiday, Amsterdam Sinfonietta and John Holiday | Saturday 12 December, 20:15 | Amare | €32–€55 |
| Handel's Messiah, Residentie Orkest | Saturday 19 December, 20:15 | Amare | €39–€68 |
| Weihnachtsoratorium, Nederlands Kamerkoor | Sunday 20 December, 14:15 | Amare | €26–€58 |
| Kerst in de Nieuwe Badkapel, RO Brass | Monday 21 December, 20:15 | Nieuwe Badkapel, Scheveningen | €29 |
| Christmas Cheer, B'Rock Orchestra | Wednesday 23 December, 20:15 | Amare | €32.50 |
Handel's Messiah by the Residentie Orkest and the Residentie Bachkoor runs from 20:15 to about 22:30, with an interval (Residentie Orkest). The €30 seats with a restricted view go on sale later. The Weihnachtsoratorium on Sunday afternoon is all six cantatas, about three hours. RO Brass plays a Christmas concert in the Nieuwe Badkapel on Monday 21 December; the price includes a glass of mulled wine after the concert by the fire pits. Its Sunday concert in the Nieuwe Kerk is sold out. Want to sing along? Evenitto lists a sing-along Messiah in Scheveningen on Tuesday 8 December. More concerts across the country are in our Christmas concerts guide.
Shows and outings with children in December
- Cirque du Soleil: its first Christmas show in Europe, 'Twas The Night Before…, plays the World Forum from Thursday 10 December to Sunday 3 January, including Christmas Day and New Year's Day, and lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes. Tickets from €53; Evenitto has the listing.
- De Sneeuwkoningin (6+): a dance show for families by De Dutch Don't Dance Division in Amare, from Thursday 24 to Sunday 27 December at 14:30, and on Monday 28 December at 14:00 and 19:30. Adults pay €30–€52, children up to 12 €17–€38.
- Snowfest The Hague: the Rock A Rail Tour of snowboarders and freeskiers ends in The Hague on 18–20 December, with sledding and a first try on skis or a snowboard. Sunday is Kids Day, and entry is free all weekend. The location and times for 2026 are not announced yet (checked 21 October).
- Christmas circus: the Groot Kerstcircus on the Malieveld is in our Christmas circus guide.
New Year's Eve in The Hague 2026
Consumers may not buy or set off fireworks this New Year's Eve. The national ban applies from 1 August 2026; only category F1, such as sparklers and knalerwten, is still allowed. What the ban means for you is in our fireworks ban guide.
Countdown: the Haags Aftelmoment at the Hofvijver is a free light and laser show without fireworks on Thursday 31 December, from 22:00 to 01:00, with the countdown to midnight. Bonfires: the municipality is subsidising the bonfires of Scheveningen and Duindorp (up to €191,000 together) and Laak (up to €105,000); the organisers announce the build and the lighting times later (checked 21 October). Evenitto collects the shows and parties as they are announced on New Year's Eve in The Hague.
Getting home: HTM has not published its New Year's Eve timetable yet. Last year the last tram left around 20:30 from the start of its route and the last bus around 20:00 on 31 December, and on New Year's Day the service started at 9:00 on a Sunday timetable.
New Year's dive: the Unox New Year's Dive in Scheveningen, Unox's biggest, is on Friday 1 January 2027. The grounds and ticket sales open at 10:30, the warm-up is at 11:30 and the dive at 12:00. You buy your ticket on site, by card or cash. All dives are on New Year's dive 2027.
Getting around and parking in December
- Park and ride: P+R Victory Boogiewoogie on Laan van Hoornwijck costs €6.50 per car for one person up to €10.50 for five, including the tram to the centre: the ticket is valid on tram 1 and 15, and the ride takes about 15 minutes.
- On the Christmas days: last year HTM ran a Sunday timetable on 25 and 26 December, with no night bus on 26 December. The 2026 timetable is not out yet (checked 21 October).
- To the beach: from the Royal Christmas Fair, trams 1, 9 and 11 take you to Scheveningen beach within a quarter of an hour.
What's the weather like in The Hague in December?
December by the sea is mild, wet and dark. At the KNMI station Hoek van Holland, the nearest coastal station, the 1991–2020 average for December is 5.2 °C, with an average high of 7.2 °C and low of 3.1 °C. It brings 83.9 mm of rain and 56.8 hours of sunshine in the month. On average 7 nights drop below freezing, and 1.2 days stay below freezing all day. Snow is rare: at the KNMI station Voorschoten, just outside The Hague, it snows on 3 days in an average December (2003–2020). Bring gloves: they are required on the ice anyway.
Quick answers
When is the Christmas market in The Hague in 2026? The Royal Christmas Fair is on the Lange Voorhout from Thursday 3 to Wednesday 23 December, daily from 12:00 to 21:00. Entry is free.
Is the Royal Christmas Fair open on Christmas Day? No. Its last day is Wednesday 23 December.
Is there a Christmas market in Scheveningen? Yes, on Saturday 12 December: the Oude Kerk's market on the Keizerstraat (10:00–16:30) and Kerst in de Straet from 13:00.
Where can I ice skate in The Hague in December? At Kurhaus on Ice on the Kurhausplein (until 28 February) and Skate by the Sea on the boulevard (5 December – 10 January), both €7.50 or €12.50 with skates, and on the 400-metre track in De Uithof.
What's on in The Hague on Christmas Day? The Scheveningen rinks are open daily in the holiday, Cirque du Soleil plays the World Forum, and De Sneeuwkoningin is on in Amare at 14:30. The Royal Christmas Fair is closed by then.
Can I set off fireworks in The Hague this New Year's Eve? No. Consumer fireworks are banned nationwide from 1 August 2026; sparklers and other F1 fireworks are allowed. The city counts down at the Hofvijver with a free light and laser show from 22:00.
What time is the New Year's dive in Scheveningen? On 1 January 2027 the grounds open at 10:30 and the dive is at 12:00.
When is the Christmas holiday in 2026? From Saturday 19 December 2026 to Sunday 3 January 2027, in every region.
How cold is The Hague in December? About 5 °C on average at the coast, with highs around 7 °C, and seven frost nights in an average December.
Does it snow in The Hague in December? Rarely: on about 3 days in an average December, according to KNMI's Voorschoten station.
Cover photo: the Royal Christmas Fair on the Lange Voorhout, Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.