Prince's Day 2025
Royal
What is Prince Day (Prinsjesdag)?
Prinsjesdag represents the start of the new parliamentary year on which the reigning monarch of the Netherlands addresses a joint session of the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives. At this day the Royal Family rides through The Hague in the Glass Carriage.
Prince's Day in The Hague: Tradition, Pageantry and Politics
Every year on the third Tuesday of September, The Hague takes centre stage for Prince's Day (Prinsjesdag) — the ceremonial opening of the Dutch parliamentary year. All eyes turn to the city as King Willem-Alexander delivers the Speech from the Throne, outlining the government's key plans for the year ahead.
Before the speech, there's a royal procession worth seeing: King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima ride in the historic Glass Carriage, followed by dignitaries and military escorts. The route winds from Noordeinde Palace through the stately Lange Voorhout, drawing crowds eager to catch a glimpse of the royals and soak in the festive atmosphere.
Programme Prince's Day 2025
- 12:45 - Glass Coach rides from the Royal Stables to Noordeinde Palace
- 13:00 - Departure of royal procession from Noordeinde Palace to the Royal Theatre
- 13:15 - Speech from the Throne Royal Theatre
- 13:50 - Glass coach departs from the Royal Theatre towards Noordeinde Palace
- 14:00 - Balcony scene at Noordeinde Palace
Every year, a unique sight on Prince's Day: the carriage and horse parade along the Lange Voorhout.
Experience Prince's Day exclusively from the stands
Watch the carriage tour from the Orange grandstand on Lange Voorhout
What is the route of the driving tour during Prinsjesdag?
Due to the renovation of the Binnenhof (Inner Court) an alternative route will be used.
The usual route has been in use since 1925, when an elevation of the street made it no longer possible to pass under the Stadhouderspoort at the front of the Binnenhof. Now, the Glass Coach drives up the Kneuterdijk via Noordeinde, along the shell path of Lange Voorhout and Korte Voorhout to the Royal Theatre. The United States General Assembly and the reading of the speech from the throne by the King, take place here.
During the traditional driving tour, a gun salute is fired every minute by the battery 11th Division Riding Artillery (Gele Rijders) on Malieveld.
From Central Station, there are two walking routes towards Lange Voorhout:
1. Central Station, Herengracht, Korte Poten, Plein, Korte Vijverberg, Lange Voorhout
2. Central Station, Turfmarkt, Kleine Houtstraat, Plein, Korte Vijverberg, Lange Voorhout
Traffic measures during Prinsjesdag
During Prinsjesdag, some streets in the city centre of The Hague will be closed and garages will have limited access. You are advised to come by bike or public transport. Some tram and bus lines will run a different route. Check the HTM website for more information.
The municipality places fences at streets that will be closed for Prinsjesdag. The carriage route will be closed on both sides between 12:45 and 14:30. Pedestrians can cross the route at the flags until 11:30am. From 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, the pedestrian crossings will be closed.
From DH Central Station, there are two walking routes (see orange dotted line) to Lange Voorhout. Here you can watch the carriage ride of the Glass Coach.
Experience the splendour and tradition of Prinsjesdag during the carriage tour – a royal spectacle in the heart of The Hague.
Balcony scene
Around 13:50, the Royal Family departs again by Glass Coach to Noordeinde Palace. After King Willem-Alexander and the other members of the Royal Family have returned to Noordeinde Palace, the balcony scene follows around 14:00, with the Royal Family being cheered on the balcony by the people. This balcony scene was introduced in the 1960s for security reasons. Previously, if the weather permitted during Prinsjesdag, the family, after returning to the palace, would switch from the Glass Coach to an open carriage that drove through The Hague with trotting horses.
The crowd waves enthusiastically to the Royal Family during the balcony scene at Noordeinde Palace.