Fresh air beats another rainy afternoon on the couch. This list pulls together the outdoor events coming up in the city and nearby towns, soonest first: lantern parades, beach bonfires, funfairs, kids' runs, holiday markets and street festivals. Dress warm, check the weather, and pick one for the weekend. It refreshes as new dates are announced, so check back before each school break.
A neighborhood lantern parade for Sint-Maarten, the Dutch tradition when children carry lit lanterns through the streets after dark. This one gathers at the Vruchtenbuurt shopping street and has been running for more than a decade.
It suits preschoolers and young primary-school kids who can walk with a lantern in hand. Join the local families.
Museumpark Archeon, the history museum park in Alphen aan den Rijn, fills with twinkling lights, crackling fire baskets and a covered Christmas market selling home decor, clothing and gifts.
Kids can make a candle or their own Christmas souvenir, watch the laser show and winter shows in the Arena, and hear the Dickens choir. It suits families who like browsing; kids who dislike shopping may tire of the stalls.
Sinterklaas sails into Scheveningen harbor on his pakjesboot, the gift boat, and The Hague turns out to greet him. Once the boat docks, he is welcomed on stage, then sets off with his entourage on a ride through the streets of The Hague.
It suits kids who still believe and families who want to see the tradition up close. It is less fun for kids who hate crowds.
A no-pressure evening walk through a lit-up Scheveningen, in support of KWF Kankerbestrijding. You pick a route along the boulevard and through the dunes, passing light spots and music on the way.
It suits families with kids who can walk a while in the cold and dark, and who like being out after bedtime for once.
The Pepernotenexpres is the Sinterklaas event at Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden, a narrow-gauge railway museum outside Leiden. Kids board a festively decorated train for a loop along the Valkenburgse Meer and meet Sint and his Pieten, on the train or in the museum.
It suits toddlers and primary-school kids who still believe in Sint.
A temporary Christmas ice rink floats on the Nieuwe Rijn in the historic center of Leiden, under the city's festive lights. Kids skate on rental skates from the rink, with the old town all around them.
The rink is part of Leiden's Winter Wonder Weeks, so a visit pairs easily with the Christmas market, the old-fashioned fair and the Christmas circus in the same city center.
Lichtjesavond is the evening Delft's old center lights up for winter, part of the city's Delft Verlicht season. Families wander the lit streets and canals, stopping for Christmas choirs, concerts and theater in churches and venues, with plenty happening outdoors too.
It suits kids who are happy on foot on a cold winter evening. A silent disco and sing-alongs give them something to join in, not just watch.
Every December, Gouda receives a Christmas tree from its Norwegian sister city, Kongsberg. People gather on the Markt to welcome it, watch the ceremony and see its lights switched on together.
It suits families happy to stand with a crowd on an outdoor square on a December evening, and kids who like a big shared moment more than a sit-down show.
Leiden's Christmas market fills the historic center with a winter village of wooden chalets, where local businesses sell their own products and food trucks serve winter treats and hot drinks.
Kids can browse the stalls and see the lit Christmas tree. It is a browsing market more than an activity, so for restless kids, pair it with the ice rink or the nostalgic fair nearby.
Scheveningen's New Year's Eve bonfire is a Hague tradition: a public bonfire on the Noorderstrand, with a fireworks show set off by professionals. Families come and go along the beach to watch the fire and the sky.
It suits school-age kids and teens who can handle a late night, a crowd and loud bangs. Toddlers and noise-sensitive kids may find it a lot.
The Unox New Year's Dive is an annual tradition on Scheveningen beach: a crowd warms up together to music, then everyone dives into the North Sea.
It suits kids who can wade or swim and don't mind cold water. Younger kids, and anyone who would rather stay dry, can cheer the divers on from the sand.
The gro-up Jeugdloop is the kids' part of the NN CPC Loop Den Haag, the city's major running event. Children run a 1 km or a 2.5 km race, starting on Koningskade beside the Malieveld.
Finish times are officially measured and every finisher gets a medal to keep. The 1 km suits first-timers and younger kids; the 2.5 km is for older kids who already enjoy running.
Keukenhof is a spring garden in Lisse where millions of flowers bloom, and the park adds flower shows and events through the season.
It suits families happy with a long outdoor walk. Kids who need rides or play equipment to stay interested may find a full day of flowers long.
The Bloemencorso is a procession of floats decorated with spring flowers that rolls through the Bollenstreek from Noordwijk to Haarlem, passing the tulip fields and Keukenhof flower park on the way.
Kids stand along the roadside and watch the floats go by. It suits families who don't mind crowds and some waiting outdoors.
Koningsdag, King's Day, turns The Hague orange. The big draw for families is the vrijmarkt: free street markets where people lay out blankets and stalls full of second-hand goods, vintage finds and snacks.
Markets pop up in neighborhoods across the city, so you can stay local and wander at your own pace. It suits families who like a browse and a treat more than a big show.
The Hague's Bevrijdingsfestival marks Dutch Liberation Day with live music at the Malieveld, an open field in the city center.
It suits kids who are happy in a big crowd with loud music. A child who needs quiet may find it too much.
On Prinsjesdag, the day the Dutch parliamentary year opens, King Willem-Alexander rides in the Glass Coach from Paleis Noordeinde to the Koninklijke Schouwburg, where he reads the King's speech (troonrede).
Kids watch from the roadside as the coach and the royal procession pass. It suits kids happy to wait for a few minutes of spectacle, less so those who need constant action.
Fresh air beats another rainy afternoon on the couch. This list pulls together the outdoor events coming up in the city and nearby towns, soonest first: lantern parades, beach bonfires, funfairs, kids' runs, holiday markets and street festivals. Dress warm, check the weather, and pick one for the weekend. It refreshes as new dates are announced, so check back before each school break.
A neighborhood lantern parade for Sint-Maarten, the Dutch tradition when children carry lit lanterns through the streets after dark. This one gathers at the Vruchtenbuurt shopping street and has been running for more than a decade.
It suits preschoolers and young primary-school kids who can walk with a lantern in hand. Join the local families.
Museumpark Archeon, the history museum park in Alphen aan den Rijn, fills with twinkling lights, crackling fire baskets and a covered Christmas market selling home decor, clothing and gifts.
Kids can make a candle or their own Christmas souvenir, watch the laser show and winter shows in the Arena, and hear the Dickens choir. It suits families who like browsing; kids who dislike shopping may tire of the stalls.
Sinterklaas sails into Scheveningen harbor on his pakjesboot, the gift boat, and The Hague turns out to greet him. Once the boat docks, he is welcomed on stage, then sets off with his entourage on a ride through the streets of The Hague.
It suits kids who still believe and families who want to see the tradition up close. It is less fun for kids who hate crowds.
A no-pressure evening walk through a lit-up Scheveningen, in support of KWF Kankerbestrijding. You pick a route along the boulevard and through the dunes, passing light spots and music on the way.
It suits families with kids who can walk a while in the cold and dark, and who like being out after bedtime for once.
The Pepernotenexpres is the Sinterklaas event at Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden, a narrow-gauge railway museum outside Leiden. Kids board a festively decorated train for a loop along the Valkenburgse Meer and meet Sint and his Pieten, on the train or in the museum.
It suits toddlers and primary-school kids who still believe in Sint.
A temporary Christmas ice rink floats on the Nieuwe Rijn in the historic center of Leiden, under the city's festive lights. Kids skate on rental skates from the rink, with the old town all around them.
The rink is part of Leiden's Winter Wonder Weeks, so a visit pairs easily with the Christmas market, the old-fashioned fair and the Christmas circus in the same city center.
Lichtjesavond is the evening Delft's old center lights up for winter, part of the city's Delft Verlicht season. Families wander the lit streets and canals, stopping for Christmas choirs, concerts and theater in churches and venues, with plenty happening outdoors too.
It suits kids who are happy on foot on a cold winter evening. A silent disco and sing-alongs give them something to join in, not just watch.
Every December, Gouda receives a Christmas tree from its Norwegian sister city, Kongsberg. People gather on the Markt to welcome it, watch the ceremony and see its lights switched on together.
It suits families happy to stand with a crowd on an outdoor square on a December evening, and kids who like a big shared moment more than a sit-down show.
Leiden's Christmas market fills the historic center with a winter village of wooden chalets, where local businesses sell their own products and food trucks serve winter treats and hot drinks.
Kids can browse the stalls and see the lit Christmas tree. It is a browsing market more than an activity, so for restless kids, pair it with the ice rink or the nostalgic fair nearby.
Scheveningen's New Year's Eve bonfire is a Hague tradition: a public bonfire on the Noorderstrand, with a fireworks show set off by professionals. Families come and go along the beach to watch the fire and the sky.
It suits school-age kids and teens who can handle a late night, a crowd and loud bangs. Toddlers and noise-sensitive kids may find it a lot.
The Unox New Year's Dive is an annual tradition on Scheveningen beach: a crowd warms up together to music, then everyone dives into the North Sea.
It suits kids who can wade or swim and don't mind cold water. Younger kids, and anyone who would rather stay dry, can cheer the divers on from the sand.
The gro-up Jeugdloop is the kids' part of the NN CPC Loop Den Haag, the city's major running event. Children run a 1 km or a 2.5 km race, starting on Koningskade beside the Malieveld.
Finish times are officially measured and every finisher gets a medal to keep. The 1 km suits first-timers and younger kids; the 2.5 km is for older kids who already enjoy running.
Keukenhof is a spring garden in Lisse where millions of flowers bloom, and the park adds flower shows and events through the season.
It suits families happy with a long outdoor walk. Kids who need rides or play equipment to stay interested may find a full day of flowers long.
The Bloemencorso is a procession of floats decorated with spring flowers that rolls through the Bollenstreek from Noordwijk to Haarlem, passing the tulip fields and Keukenhof flower park on the way.
Kids stand along the roadside and watch the floats go by. It suits families who don't mind crowds and some waiting outdoors.
Koningsdag, King's Day, turns The Hague orange. The big draw for families is the vrijmarkt: free street markets where people lay out blankets and stalls full of second-hand goods, vintage finds and snacks.
Markets pop up in neighborhoods across the city, so you can stay local and wander at your own pace. It suits families who like a browse and a treat more than a big show.
The Hague's Bevrijdingsfestival marks Dutch Liberation Day with live music at the Malieveld, an open field in the city center.
It suits kids who are happy in a big crowd with loud music. A child who needs quiet may find it too much.
On Prinsjesdag, the day the Dutch parliamentary year opens, King Willem-Alexander rides in the Glass Coach from Paleis Noordeinde to the Koninklijke Schouwburg, where he reads the King's speech (troonrede).
Kids watch from the roadside as the coach and the royal procession pass. It suits kids happy to wait for a few minutes of spectacle, less so those who need constant action.
