Willemsvaart
20 Oct - 31 Dec
Boat trips
The Willemsvaart lets you discover The Hague from the water! The Willemsvaart, named after King Willem I who had a waterway dug from the Prinsessegracht to the coast, has offered various boat tours in the city centre of The Hague and towards Scheveningen beach since 2009. An experienced guide will tell you historical facts and interesting anecdotes about the city during the cruise. Besides the standard tours, De Willemsvaart regularly organises themed tours, often in collaboration with museums, hotels and festivals in The Hague. In short: De Willemsvaart offers an alternative and relaxed mode of transport, where you get to know The Hague from a new side!
Programme October to December 2025
History Month
Boat trips on 4, 11, 18 and 25 October
Thanks to William of Orange, who signed the Act of Redemption in 1576, the Haagse Bos is the oldest (first) protected nature reserve in the world. Every Saturday in October, the Willemsvaart sails a special route through the canals of The Hague, past Koekamp, Malieveld and towards the Haagse Bos.
- Start time 11:00 a.m. (Paxhaven, Prinsessegracht)
- End time 12:00 noon (Paxhaven)
- Price: €15.00 per person
- Children aged 3-11 years: €5.00
Autumn holiday: 11 to 19 October 2025 (Southern region) - 18 October / 26 October 2025 (Northern and Central regions)
- Afternoon cruises at 12.30 and 14.00
- Start and finish at Piet Heinplein
- 1 hour sailing
- Passengers aged 3-11 years €5.00
- Passengers aged 12 years and older €12.50
Halloween: Friday, 31st October 2025
Spooky Vaarten with pancakes with sugar/syrup/jam and a choice of hot chocolate, tea, syrup or a bottle of water. Children are welcome to come in fancy dress.
- Price: children aged 3-11 years €12.50 (boat trip with pancake/drink)
- 12 years and older €17.50 (cruise with pancake/drink)
- Starts at 5 p.m., the boat trip lasts 1 hour
- Start and finish at Piet Heinplein
Light cruises with the Willemsvaart
November & december
Royal Pendulum Ferries
19, 20 and 21 December
From Friday 19 to Sunday 21 December, Willemsvaart will be operating boat trips between SnowFest The Hague (Koningspark between Prinsessegracht and Koekamp) and the Royal Christmas Fair on Lange Voorhout (Hooikade mooring, close to Lange Voorhout).
- First departure at 1 p.m., last departure at 10 p.m.
- Departure Paxhaven, Bezuidenhoutseweg, Prinsessegracht
- The trips take approximately 15 minutes.
- Fifteen minutes after arrival, the boats depart from Hooikade back to Paxhaven.
- Price: €2.00 per person
Advance reservations can be made via info@willemsvaart.nl. Spontaneous boarding may also be possible. Maximum number of passengers per trip on Friday 23rd and on Saturday and Sunday is 46.
At the end of this year, there will once again be atmospheric Winter Cruises. With open boats from Willemsvaart, you can also sail on the canals of The Hague in November and December.
Special Winter Cruises
Light parades
A unique winter outing with friends and/or family, from 1 November to 31 December 2025. Discover charming The Hague from the water during a pleasant boat trip. This trip along The Hague's canals, with special lighting at various locations along the route, takes approximately 70 minutes. You are welcome to bring your own refreshments.
An unforgettable evening for young and old(er)!
Departure times are Saturday and Sunday at 6 p.m. from the Dunne Bierkade landing stage. The boat trips end at Central Station. You can take the tram back to the starting location if you wish.
Prices
- Passengers aged 3-11 years €5.50
- Passengers aged 12 years and older €12.50
Please reserve at least 48 hours before departure via info@willemsvaart.nl
The Royal Christmas Cruises 2025
From 15 to 19 December, there will be Royal Christmas cruises with the open boats.
- Start and finish at 4 p.m. at the Piet Heinplein landing stage
- At Bagels and Beans, you can get a hot drink to take with you on the boat.
- The boat trips last 60 minutes.
- Advance booking via: info@willemsvaart.nl
- Prices for boat trip (60 minutes): Passengers aged 3-11: €5.00, 12 years and older €12.50
The Winter King, 22 and 23 December
Boat trip with the story of "the Winter King" (and Frederik Hendrik, Amalia & Trijntje... the tallest girl in the whole world)
- Start at 4 p.m. at Dunne Bierkade.
- With radio play and true 'fairy tale' on board.
- The price also includes hot soup.
- Passengers aged 3-11 years €12.50
- Passengers aged 12 years and older €25.50
31 December
New Year's Eve at a very special location, watching fireworks from the water and the quay.
- Starts at 8 p.m., lasts until 12:25 a.m.
- With cold and hot snacks and drinks
- Passengers aged 3-11 years €12.50
- Passengers aged 12 and over €26.00
For further information and reservations, please visit info@willemsvaart.nl.
Dates and Times
| Monday |
10:00 – 23:00
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| Tuesday |
10:00 – 23:00
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| Wednesday |
10:00 – 23:00
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| Thursday |
10:00 – 23:00
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| Friday |
10:00 – 23:00
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| Saturday |
10:00 – 23:00
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| Sunday |
10:00 – 23:00
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