The Municipality of The Hague has loads of amenities and free-run areas for dogs but at the same time “pooper-scoopers” are mandatory everywhere in the city.
Fines
Dog owners will be obliged to clean up after their dogs everywhere in the city, including the free-run areas (uitrengebieden or uitlaatplekken) or they face a fine of €90. Dog owners who are caught without their dog on a lead in non free-run areas or who cannot produce their pooper-scooper risk a fine of €60. And finally if they let their dogs out in an area where dogs are not allowed, they should be prepared to pay a €90 fine.
In particular areas of the city; the centre and Scheveningen, for example, dog waste left behind illegally is vacuumed up due to the high concentration of visitors: poop-covered streets and sidewalks give the city a bad name.
Poop-scoop Bags
The hondenbelasting, or dog tax, collected from dog owners is used for this and other initiatives such as dog run areas, poop receptacles and signs, informational material and poop-scoop bags. You can get the poop-scoop bags at the local sub-municipal offices and city farms (stadsboerderijen).
Kids in the City is a foundation in The Hague promoting clean streets and play areas.
Rules for dog owners in the city of The Hague.
The straight poop on dog waste.
A brochure entitled “Dogs in The Hague” is available in four languages.
From 15 May to 1 October dogs are permitted at only a few spots on The Hague’s beaches. In order to give dog owners the chance to enjoy the beach with their dogs during the summer months, several sections of the beach have been designated a free-run area.
At the end of April 2008 The Hague Municipal Executive redesignated the areas where dogs may roam freely and where they are not allowed.