| • More city wardens | ||||||
| • Citizen Services - most requested | ||||||
| • Doing odd jobs can earn you fun rewards | ||||||
| • Digital visitor's parking permit 2011 | ||||||
| • Stronger garbage bags new weapon against seagulls | ||||||
| • Municipal Council | ||||||
| • City Management Service | ||||||
| • City News | ||||||
| • Pass required for garbage & recycling stations | ||||||
| • Recycling points | ||||||
| • The Hague thinks ahead | ||||||
| • Graffiti clean-up arrangement 2010 | ||||||
| • Domestic Nuisance Complaints Centre | ||||||
| • New number for Municipality | ||||||
| • CIPO - information for over 55s | ||||||
| • Council subsidies | ||||||
| • The Hague Finder | ||||||
| • Rubbish collection | ||||||
| • "Big Rubbish" hotline | ||||||
| • "Obstacle telephone"' | ||||||
| • Reporting defective street lighting | ||||||
| • Takkenroute - garden refuse collection | ||||||
| • Dutch canine code | ||||||
| • Free dog poop-scoops available | ||||||
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More city wardens on The Hague’s streets Residents of The Hague consistently name dog poop, street litter and illegal parking as the biggest sources of irritation in the city. People often get away with breaking the rules so the municipality is taking action.
Currently, the municipality is not firm and visible enough when it comes to enforcing the rules. This is because coordination of the various wardens (parking wardens, surveillance teams, internal waters and market inspectors) is too fragmented and the wardens themselves do not have enough of a presence in the city. More authoritative powers and more wardens The Hague Municipal Executive has submitted a proposal to the Municipal Council to among other things gives wardens more authoritative powers to encourage stricter enforcement of the rules and regulations. The number of wardens working for the Liveability and Surveillance department (afdeling Leefbaarheid en Toezicht) will be increased from 100 to 125 next year and their work will be overseen by the Haaglanden Poilice. The 125 parking wardens will remain under the direction of the municipality. Both groups of wardens will be empowered to issue a fine if they see someone throwing rubbish on the street or walking with an unleashed dog, and members of the Liveability and Surveillance Team will also be able to intervene when people park their cars illegally. To improve visibility on the streets the wardens will also patrol in the evenings and weekends, wear a clearly recognizable uniform and a mobile brigade of city wardens will be set up to patrol the city on bikes. Source: /www.thehague.com |  | |||||
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Citizen Services some of the procedures most requested by expats in The Hague Documentation and registration are an important part of life in the Netherlands; below are some of the procedures most requested by expats in The Hague. Nearly all documents can be obtained from your local sub-municipal office (stadsdeelkantoor), including City Hall. Don't see what you're looking for? Email the editor at editor@denhaag.com and we'll get you the information as soon as possible. Certificate of Good Behaviour (VOG) If you apply for a job for example involving confidential data or vulnerable persons, your employer may request a Certificate of Good Behaviour (Verklaring Omtrent het Gedrag/VOG). Certifying a copy or transcript If so requested, the Municipality of The Hague can certify a copy or transcript, for example a diploma or proof of identity. If you live or work in the Netherlands and you have children, you are entitled to receive Dutch child benefits (kinderbijslag). Ever wonder what the rules actually are about dog poop in The Hague? Here they are, and a few fun facts. If you want to get married in the Netherlands, there is a lot you will have to arrange at your local municipality. Guarantor's Declaration (Letter of Invitation) To obtain a visa for the Netherlands, foreign visitors to the country sometimes need a so-called garantverklaring, or letter of invitation. Obligation to carry identification On 1 January 2005 it became compulsory for everyone in the Netherlands from the age of 14 years to carry proof of identity. If your child is born in The Hague, you must register the birth within three days at the municipality. If a person dies in the Netherlands, this is registered in the municipality in which the person died. Sub-municipal offices in The Hague and their hours of operation. The Xpat Desk of The Hague Hospitality Centre is the first point of contact for (new) residents of The Hague. Source: www.thehague.com | | |||||
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Do away with the parking limit on visitor’s permits The Community Association Noordelijk Scheveningen (BNS) has set up a citizen’s initiative (burgerinitiatief) to bring back the old regulations for visitor’s parking in The Hague. According to BNS the new system introduced this year with a digital pass and a clocking-on and clocking-off requirement is expensive and complicated, puts the burden on the residents rather than on those with cars from outside the district and leads to social isolation of the less well-off. BNS’s petition is citywide which means 2,500 signatures are required before it can be submitted to the city council. Every citizen of The Hague over 14 years old, including within the same family, who agrees with the petition is invited to add their support. This can be done via the petition website or by signing the 'ondersteuningsformulier burgerinitiatief' . Follow developments via Twitter at twitter.com/noordscheveningen and www.noordelijkscheveningen.nl/parkeren
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Stronger garbage bag new weapon against seagull The Municipality of The Hague has decided to combat the nuisance caused by seagulls by using more underground rubbish containers and stronger garbage bags. A trial launched earlier in 2010 to reduce the main problems caused by seagulls demonstrated which methods were most effective. The underground rubbish containers appear to be a good weapon against seagull nuisance. In neighbourhoods where underground containers or other kinds of rubbish containers haven’t been placed, it helps to use strong garbage bags and not to set them out on the stoop before 7.30 am. The municipality plans to promote the use of these stronger garbage bags by distributing trial packages in areas where seagulls cause a lot of nuisance. Seagulls nesting on the roofs of houses appear to prefer gravel rooftops. Some 800 brooding seagull pairs cause the most nuisance in the districts of Scheveningen (Belgisch Park) and Haagse Hout (around the Shell offices). The municipality has decided to substitute their eggs with dummy eggs made of plastic. Residents have reported that this fast-change trick seems to work. Source: www.thehague.com | | |||||
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Afvalpas for garbage and recycling stations A special Afvalpas is required for accessing the city’s three garbage and recycling stations (afvalbrengstations). The Afvalpas is distributed to very household in The Hague in the same envelope as the household calendar. The pass will have a bar code linked to your home address. | | |||||
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Are you prepared? Having the right supplies at home will help you cope in the event of an emergency. These supplies are just ordinary everyday things that we’ve listed for you below. Have you got enough to eat and drink for the whole family in your house? And are you sure that the best-before date hasn’t expired?
Emergency radio station: Radio West 89.3 FM For more information, please go to: | | |||||
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Free graffiti removal from your property too?
New graffiti clean-up arrangement for as little as €50: for a clean and safe city
Currently, council premises are already being cleaned-up and the council is working with large-scale property owners to combat the problem of graffiti and flyposting. The Council’s Graffiti Hotline is now offering all owners and tenants of private property in The Hague a special graffiti clean-up subscription. Graffiti is one of the greatest sources of annoyance and the cause of a feeling of insecurity among inhabitants and visitors to the city. It is hoped that the new arrangement will encourage owners to deal with defacement of their property. A certified commercial cleaning agency will remove any graffiti or illegally posted flyers from your property as part of the arrangement. If the walls of your property are defaced again, you just contact the Meldpunt Graffiti and, depending on the weather for example, within two working days any graffiti or posters will again be removed at no extra cost and as many times as is necessary. Subscription costs The council will foot the lion's share of the cleaning costs and subscribers pay a modest annual contribution determined by whether they register as individuals or as a collective and the dimension of the frontage of their homes or premises:
Registration Visit the Digitaal Loket at www.denhaag.nl (graffiti schoonmaakregeling) or contact the Meldpunt Graffiti: 070 353 46 05; meldpuntgraffiti@bsd.denhaag.nl. | | |||||
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Complaints Centre cracking down on domestic nuisance
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If you have any questions, complaints or something to report, please contact the gemeentelijk ContactCentrum (gCC / Municipal Contact Centre). You can also do this via the website at www.denhaag.nl/contact. In addition you can contact the gCC by telephone on 14 070 or +31.70 - 353 3000 from abroad (open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 20.00 hrs.). You are also welcome to enquire at the counter in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 16.00 hrs. On Thursdays the gCC is open from 9.00 to 20.00 hrs.
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I N F O R M A T I O N & S E R V I C E S F O R O V E R - 5 5 s New website for The Hague's over-55s The Central Informatiepunt Ouderen (CIPO) provides all kinds of information and services for citizens over the age of 55. It publishes pocket guides containing information on a number of subjects. Get your copies (some free) by visiting their website, Information Counter or contact them by telephone or e-mail.
Photo: www.cipo.org CIPO (Central Information Point for over 55s) Nutshuis, Riviervismarkt 5 (tegenover de Grote Kerk); (070) 364 38 18, Open Monday – Friday 10.00 – 16.00
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Organize a street party and get to know your neighbours Get in your application for a subsidy soon
The Hague council will continue to support inner city neighbourhood and street events in 2011 but applications must be submitted between 1 January – 15 June 2011 and you should allow six weeks for the application to be processed. The events involve small-scale activities of an expressly open character initiated by a number of individual residents. All Hague citizens with a interesting idea for an event in their street or neighbourhood can apply for a subsidy of maximum €650 (does not include the cost of food or drinks). Such an application does however have to fulfil certain criteria. More... Street Party estimated budget form The subsidy was introduced in 2001 with great success. In the succeeding years initiatives have included street play-days, sports and games events, amateur dramatics and street parties. The idea behind the events is to bring residents from different backgrounds and cultures together in a relaxed way in their own neighbourhood or street. Specific information (in Dutch) ... | | |||||
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The City Management Service is responsible for the management and maintenance of public space. This includes the collection of household refuse, sweeping the streets and taking care of the city's trees, flower beds, roads, drains and water. The Service also issues all manner of permits, from environmental licences to parking permits, and is charged with supervising compliance with them. The City Management Service also develops and implements a range of measures to maintain the environment in The Hague to an acceptable standard. So if you notice situations adversely affecting public places (overflowing litter bins, accumulation of rubbish on the streets and any other sort of inconvenience) report them to the municipal authorities’ Contact Centre. Another
very noticeable task of the Service is development and implementation of major
infrastructural works, such as tunnels. In addition to these activities, the Service
administers two municipal cemeteries, the Port of Scheveningen and The Hague markets;
the Department's Archaeology Section studies historical finds in the city. Dienst Stadsbeheer 2500
DP Den Haag
070 353 3000 source: | | |||||
| The
Hague Finder Another source of information is The Hague Finder (published by the Municipal Council), a guide for international residents of The Hague offering practical information on organizations and facilities in the city, from schools to sports clubs and leisure centres, and from international organizations to information on the city's history and the Dutch Royal Family. The Hague Finder online | | |||||
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A L L A B O U T R U B B I S H C O L L E C T I O N Rubbish collection & recycling It has been reported that some expats are unsure of which bin to use for organic waste. It is the "bright" green bin that comes in a 35-litre, 140-litre or 240-litre format. See photos below. Order or replace household rubbish bins Select the bin you need (one per household) and fill in the request form (Naar het formulier). If you live on an upper floor of a building you can only order a 35 litre bin.
Household refuse calendar 2010/2011 This calendar which is disseminated to all households in The Hague in late November each year has been designed as a handy reminder of the usual collection days as well as special collections around public holidays. The rules about how refuse should be bagged, its weight and when it can be put out on the street are all clearly explained: if these rules are not adhered to there is the a minmum fine of €166. The calendar contains information about: - the three milieudepots in The Hague accompanied by maps; - an overview of the recycling containers in your particular neighbourhood; - vermin controle (ongedierte); - special winters services like "salting"; - keeping The Hague clean; - organic waste; - chemical waste - prevention of needless fouling of the water we pour or flush into the drainage system; - arrangements for bulky, over-sized refuse (grofvuil) collection; - the "canine code" . For more information : Recycling-and-Waste Environmental
Depots It is hoped that the household refuse calendar will encourage all householders throughout The Hague to take more care about the disposal of rubbish by clearly indicating collection days thus hopefully eliminating confusion. In fact, householders should take note that anyone placing household rubbish on the street on any day other than that indicated officially on the calendar is liable to a minimum fine of €166 per sack of rubbish! | | |||||
| "Big
Rubbish" hotline The same department that deals with the collection of bulky, oversized household rubbish (Grofvuil) can also be contacted for the removal of unsightly rubbish such as abandoned bicycles and other environmental problems. Just send an e-mail to contactcentrum@dsb.denhaag.nl and you will receive a registration number as confirmation of your request. Should the department be unable to resolve the particular problem within 3 working days, you will be duly notified. | | |||||
| "Obstacle
telephone" This is an initiative set up to combat ‘accidents waiting to happen’. So if you notice problems caused by building projects, road works, uneven paving stones, subsidence in road surfaces, anti-social parking, defective auditory signals at traffic lights, inadequate signposting, lack of ramps at curb sides or obstacles blocking the public thoroughfare just call the
The Municipal Council needs the extra eyes and ears of its residents in order to keep abreast of all the daily dangers that plague our hectic and congested city – a system of free advice and monitoring provided by the citizens of The Hague themselves. All reports will be passed on to a special working party (a combination of council services, public transport, the police and organizations representing the handicapped), which will discuss recurring complaints and seek appropriate solutions. | | |||||
| Reporting
defective street lighting From 1 February 2007
onwards any problems affecting street lighting in The Hague can also be reported
24 hours a day: 070 353 30 00 or www.denhaag.nl/openbareverlichting. | | |||||
| Takkenroute
– garden refuse collection
10 - 14 October & 17 - 21 October
The garden looks great again but where do I put all those branches and leaves? During the 'Takkenroute' from 10 to 14 October and from 17 to 21 October 2011, large garden waste such as tree branches and trunks will be collected by the municipality for free. You can make an appointment by phoning the Grofvuiltelefoon. Separately collected garden waste will be used to make compost and is better for the environment.
Collection by appointment - Hague residents wishing to have their oversized garden refuse collected should phone the Grofvuiltelefoon on 070 366 08 08. Please note: garden refuse cannot be combined with normal grofvuil (oversized household rubbish); two separate appointments are required. Your request will be handled within three working days. Collection rules - Because of the manoeuvrability and capacity of the collection vehicles, certain rules apply with regard to this free collection service. Only plant, shrub and tree prunings measuring no more than 1.20m and with a diameter of no more than 20cm will be collected, and all materials must be bundled with string. Plant pots, earth, sand, paving-slabs/tiles, fencing and suchlike will not be removed by the collectors. More details Other options - You can also take your garden refuse to three environmental depots yourself or arrange for collection at other times of the year whereby your garden refuse will be collected as normal grofvuil. The addresses are: Plutostraat 1 (Binckhorst), Vissershavenstraat 2 (Scheveningen) De Werf 13 (Zichtenburg) More information: www.thehague.com (in English) |
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Combatting dog poop All dog owners are required to clean up after their pets no matter where they are in the city. Nevertheless, too much poop is being left behind on the street, much to the great annoyance of local residents. The police and surveilance teams plan to come down hard on the culprits: so dog owners beware!. High finesThe fine for not cleaning up after your dog is €100. In order to clean up the doggie doo, dog owners need to have a proper ‘pooper scooper’ with them at all times. You must be able to show that you have paper or plastic doggie doo bags or a small scoop with you, punishable by a €70 fine. There are also fines for people who let their dog out where it’s not allowed (€100) and for people who don’t have their dog on a lead where it’s required (€70). Easy to avoidIt is easy to avoid a fine by keeping your dog on a lead where it’s required, letting your dog out only where it’s allowed and cleaning up after your pet. Special doggie doo bags (including biodegradable baggies) are available at pet shops and supermarkets. The bags may be thrown away in all public rubbish bins.
The regulations regarding dogs are simple: * Wherever you see sign boards with the text uitlaatplek or uitrengebied you are permitted to let your dog run free unleashed, otherwise you are required to keep your dog on a leash at all times throughout The Hague. * In all areas where you are required to keep your dog on a leash, you are also required by law to clear up after your dog. * In the areas where dogs are allowed to run free off the leash, you are not required to clear up your dog’s excrement. The beach, with the exception of 2 areas (see Exceptions to the regulations below) is out of bounds for dogs from 15 May - 1 October. Signs at the entrance to the beach indicate this clearly and please note this a 24-hour prohibition. * Dogs are not allowed on playgrounds, playing fields and sunbathing areas; there are always sign boards (verboden voor honden) clearly indicating this.
Here, dog owners are allowed to let their dogs run free to their heart’s content.
Here too, dogs are allowed to run free. 'Uitlaatplekken’ are generally smaller in comparison to ‘uitrengebieden’.
Here, dogs are banned. These sign boards are to be found next to playgrounds, playing fields and sunbathing areas, and a number of important and vunerable scenic areas or nature reserves.
Clear up that excrement Everyone is upset/disgusted when they see a street with dog excrement everywhere. People carry the excrement inside on their shoes, and for people with buggies and prams, for example, dog excrement can be a very unpleasant surprise. And what about people who are dependent on wheelchairs. If you are a dog owner, you must clear up the excrement your dog leaves behind whether it is in the gutter or on the pavement or grass. This is required by law. On ‘uitlaatplekken’ and in ‘uitrengebieden’ you are not obliged to clear up after your dog, but fellow citizens without dogs will be extremely grateful when you do nevertheless do this on the paths surrounding these areas. This can be done using a plastic bag and depositing it in the nearest litter bin, although a specially designed dog bin (with a so-called ‘stankklep’ would be preferable). If you have never cleared up after your dog before, it may seem strange at first, but you’ll soon get used to it. The great advantage is that nobody unwittingly treads in dog poop anymore. Special bags (poop-scoops and other useful gadgets) for clearing up dog excrement are available from pet supply stores. Free bags/poop-scoops are also available (as long as the supply lasts) from your stadsdeelkantoor (district council office). Exceptions to the regulations The beaches at Scheveningen (Noorderstrand) and Kijkduin (Zuiderstrand) have a special status. This is because of the nuisance dogs can cause to the many beach users in the summer months. Dogs are banned from these beaches from 15 May - 1 October each year, except for two areas: a small part of Noorderstrand, next to Zwarte Pad (see the map of Scheveningen), and part of Zuiderstrand, near Kwartellaan (see the map of Segbroek). Here dogs are permitted to run free from 15 May - 1 October, but be aware that here the removal of excrement by owners does apply. Surveillance and enforcement Where these regulations apply, there is surveillance and enforcement. The council, police and judiciary work together closely on this issue, and the Urban Preservation teams also keep a watch out for people who do not keep their dogs on a leash or clear up after their dogs. Remember, there is a hefty fine if you ignore these regulations. Not keeping your dog on a leash will cost you €70, and if you don’t clear up your dog’s excrement straight away this will cost you another €100. If you are found to be without any means of cleaning up after your pet, i.e. a bag of some kind, you will be fined €70. Dogs welcome on the beach in winter The regulations have been adjusted so that dogs are allowed on the Noorder and Zuider beaches in the summer more often than was previously the case. From 15 May to 1 October dogs are allowed off the leash on the following parts of the beach:
Map (Centrum or Scheveningen kleine & grote kaart) showing where dogs can be let out (Scheveningen Woods: green = the whole year off the leash) and where dogs are absolutely forbidden (the playground on Ary vd Spuyweg and the cemetery at the top of the Bankastraat on the right and the section of woods immediately oppositered: red = dogs forbidden) in our neighbourhood. Anywhere else dogs must be kept on the leash at all times. Website: www.denhaag.nl/honden
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It will now join forces with the police to improve enforcement and aims to get residents more involved in keeping the city clean, safe and well managed. Neighbourhood organisations will be approached to discuss how this can best be handled. 
It’s
a way to encourage youngsters to get more involved in their local community while
earning fun rewards by saving up points. Rewards like 
A
tanker overturns and is split open, spilling dangerous substances. Or extreme
weather conditions hit the Netherlands. Or a flu pandemic. Or our electricity,
gas and water supply is cut off for days on end. Inconceivable? By no means: all
these things could actually happen. The municipality is prepared: a contingency
plan has been drawn up, and the emergency services hold regular practice drills.
The graffiti clean-up arrangement for all house owners in
The Hague and those renting private property is new. 
2011
CIPO social guide
A
street party is an ideal way to break the ice and bring people in your street
together. It's a lot of fun for adults and children as the 
The dates for the autumn collection 2011: 
The
Hague, clean city without dog mess