Historical people from The Hague

Quite a number of well-known Dutch people were born and/or raised in The Hague. The following is a limited and random selection:

Godfried Bomans (1913-1971)

Author Godfried Bomans was born in The Hague at Bierkade 2a. However, his parents moved to Haarlem while he was still a babe-in-arms.

Simon Carmiggelt (1913-1988)

Author Simon Carmiggelt was born on the Loosduinseweg in The Hague. He lived here until 1944.

Louis Couperus (1863-1923)

Author Louis Couperus was a descendant of a Hague family of high-ranking colonial civil servants. He was born at Mauritskade 43 and lived at Hoge Wal 2 from 1915 to 1923. In the Surinamestraat, where he also lived for a while, a bronze statue was erected in his honour. A statue of Eline Vere, the main character of one of Couperus’ best-known works stands in the Groot Hertoginnelaan. Voorburg boasts the statue of Psyche. Even though Couperus preferred to live abroad, he made the city of The Hague immortal in his novels set in this city: Eline Vere, Noodlot, De Stille Kracht and Psyche.

Louis Davids (1883-1939)

Singer and cabaret performer Louis Davids never lived in The Hague; however, he performed in the Kurhaus Cabaret in Scheveningen from 1931 to 1938. His poem 'Weekend in Scheveningen' is quite famous.

Mr E. Elias (1900-1967)

E. Elias, journalist and writer, lived in The Hague until the Second World War and returned here in 1961. He often used the pseudonym ‘Flaneur’; a statue is dedicated to him on the Lange Voorhout.

Constantijn Huygens (1596-1687)

This poet and diplomat was secretary to Frederik Hendrik, William II and William III. Huygens was not born in The Hague, but did live here from 1627. During the final years of his life Huygens often stayed at his Hofwijk estate in Voorburg. Hofwijk is now a museum. You will find a bust of Constantijn Huygens on the Scheveningseweg at the corner of the Ary van der Spuyweg.

Wim Kan (1911-1983)

Writer and entertainer Wim Kan was born in Scheveningen, but soon moved to Amsterdam. Theater Diligentia and the Koninklijke Schouwburg were his favourite theatres. 

Willem Drees Sr. (1886-1988)

Willem Drees Sr. was Secretary of Labour from 1945 to 1948, and from 1948 until 1958 he was prime minister. Drees introduced the Dutch Old Age Pensions Law while in office.