Spooky Season in The Hague: Halloween and Sint Maarten
Everyone knows Halloween — the spooky celebration filled with costumes, pumpkins, and trick-or-treating. In the Netherlands, it has also become a beloved tradition, bringing families, friends, and neighbourhoods together. But alongside Halloween, there’s another heartwarming autumn celebration deeply rooted in Dutch culture: Sint Maarten. Read further if you dare...
Halloween in The Hague
As Autumn nights grow darker, The Hague embraces the Halloween spirit with parties, costumes, and community fun for all ages. Celebrated every autumn on 31 October, this year’s Halloween falls on a Friday, making it the perfect night to dress up, gather with friends, and enjoy the festivities.
At PIP Den Haag, Halloween is celebrated in grand style over two nights — 31 October and 1 November — with music, costumes, and a vibrant atmosphere that draws partygoers from across the city. The Boterwaag Halloween Party on 31 October has also become a local favorite, featuring festive decorations, face painting, and free entry for anyone arriving in costume.
Beyond the nightlife, The Hague’s neighbourhoods bring Halloween to life for families and children. On Theresiastraat, the annual Halloween treasure hunt invites young detectives to help find Aunt Theresia’s lost toys, while in Belgisch Park, shops and restaurants join forces for a lively trick-or-treat event filled with spooky surprises. The Duinoord neighborhood, Reinkenstraat and De Frederik Hendriklaan in Statenkwartier also celebrate Halloween with trick or treat festivities.
Whether you’re looking for a night of dancing or a fun outing with the kids, Halloween in The Hague offers something for everyone!
Sint Maarten celebration
Every year on the evening of 11 November, children across the Netherlands celebrate Sint Maarten. They walk through their neighbourhoods carrying colourful homemade lanterns during the traditional so called 'lampionnenoptocht', and go door-to-door singing age-old folk songs while (hopefully) receiving candies in return. In The Hague, this charming tradition comes alive in areas like Vogelwijk, Koningsplein, Huygenspark, and Statenkwartier, though most neighbourhoods organise their own routes. If you have school-aged children, it’s a wonderful opportunity for them to meet other kids nearby—and for parents to join in as chaperones, enjoy the festive atmosphere, and get to know their neighbours better.
Origins of Sint Maarten
Sint Maarten's Day honors Saint Martin of Tours remembered as a kind and generous figure who devoted his life to helping the poor and caring for others. Legend has it that he once cut his cloak in half to share it with a beggar on a cold winter night—a story that perfectly captures the spirit of giving behind the tradition. Historically, the poor would go from farm to farm asking for food to prepare for winter, but in the Netherlands this custom gradually transformed into a festive evening for children, where light and songs are an important element of this celebration.
What do I have to do?
Other than getting a lantern for your child, little preparation is needed. About a week in advance, you’ll likely receive details about the route and participation through a neighbour or the local newsletter. The event usually begins around 18:00 and if you’d like the children to stop and sing at your door, simply light a candle and have some sweet treats ready to hand out.
We wish you great autumn celebrations!
