Something I love about the Hague is that unlike Amsterdam where you can get overwhelmed with the choice of events, the Hague has just the right amount of events to keep you busy. I’ve rounded up the best events in the Hague this April to help you mark your calendars accordingly (or cancel your plans to stay in on this lovely evening!)
lentebierfestival (Spring beer festival)
Beer lovers of the Hague, you all better toast with me! The Hague Spring Beer Festival starts on April 12th and ends on April 13th. Some of the local beer producers along with some favorite Dutch craft beer breweries will be out in Grote Markt. You generally need to pay for a glass at these beer festivals, but it’s a nice souvenir that can be used as a water glass. It’s free to visit besides whatever you drink.
gin festival
If you’re looking for a boozy fun day, head to the Gin Festival in the Hague. This will on April 13th, 2019 within the Grote Kerk. Tickets are still available, so buy your ticket (22 euros) online if you hope to attend. Hundreds of gin producers will be here from all across the world although you will need to pay extra for tonic if you wish to have a G&T. There are also “School of Gin” workshops for a bit extra if you want to learn more about gin beyond drinking. I expect that it will be a fun festival for anyone attending.
king’s carnival (Koningskermis op malieveld)
For some classic fun with kids or as a date idea (click for more date ideas!), you can head to Malieveld for the King’s Carnival. As of today (until King’s Day weekend), there will be classic carnival rides and poffertjes at Malieveld. It’s a great excuse to get out of the house and pretend that you’re a kid again! It’s open daily although it’s open later (until midnight) on the weekends. For some good old-fashioned fun, come on down to the carnival!
antique & Book market
Each Thursday in April day-time, you can visit the Antique and Book Market in the Hague within Plein. This is not the most convenient day,
bonfire beach festival
The Bonfire Beach Festival in the Hague is happening again this year! This festival is full of flammable art (think Burning Man!) on the beach, lots of music, and a good time. It will be occurring on April 19th and April 20th. It’s best visited close to sunset prior to dancing the night away! Expect live music, singer-songwriters by campfires, and games. It’s free to attend.
hague metal festival
For metalheads, the Hague has its own metal festival on April 20th and 21st at Paard. Tickets for the Hague Metal Festival cost 30 euros, but if you’re starved of seeing metal within the Hague, buy your tickets to rock out.
Home made easter market festival
The homemade markets in the Hague are always a great excuse to get out of the house. One of the larger renditions will be the Home Made Easter Festival along Lange Voorhout. This year, it will be occurring April 20th to April 22nd, 2019, so if you’re free during the weekend, consider heading down to Lange Voorhout for browsing the market for indie products, vintage clothes, and food trucks (my favorite part). I’m crossing my fingers that the Japanese food truck that serves delicious okonomiyaki will be back!
Japanese garden opening!
One of the gems of the Hague in April is the Japanese Garden. This beautiful and fragile garden opens on King’s Day (April 27th). It’s open only until June 9th, so be sure to visit while you can. It’s free to visit and you’ll instantly be transported to Japan! The crowds can be a bit intense on the weekends, but you can avoid them in the evening (the garden is open until 8 pm) or in the mornings. Click for more information about the Japanese Garden.
King’s night
There’s a reason why King’s Night in the Hague is famous. If you’ve never experienced King’s Night (April 26th; the night before King’s Day) like a local, bring your own drinks in a backpack, wander the streets, and find the live music spread throughout the city. The cafes are busy, but not too insane (compared to other cities). Yours truly forgot to take photos last King’s Night, but I promise that it’s a blast. The Fiddler (one of the best beer cafes in the Hague) was a good spot to get away from the crowds. If you’re looking to dance the King’s night away, click for a guide to the best clubs with music in the Hague!
king’s day
If you’re not too dead after celebrating King’s Night, you’ll want to rise early to browse the best of the yard sales all throughout the city on King’s Day. (Hint: King’s Day is on April 27th.) Stoll by the King’s Palaces and toast him on his Birthday. It’s just a fun day to experience the Hague, so if you’re off from work, consider stopping by Hema or Xenos to pick up silly orange items to complete your look!
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