Free-run areas for dogs

In 2008 The Hague Municipal Executive re-designated the areas where dogs may roam freely and where they are not allowed. A total of 41 new free-run areas were added to the city’s list of areas. 18 new areas became prohibited to dogs.

In addition to playing fields and sunbathing areas, playgrounds and schoolyards, a number of new locations were chosen where dogs are not permitted. Dog owners may take their dogs out in other parts of the city as long as the dog is on a leash.

510 hectares of public space

The 12,500 dogs in The Hague now can enjoy a total of 510 hectares of public space to freely roam, including a number of green areas. This is excluding the free-run areas on The Hague’s beaches.

Compared to the previous situation, some 18 additional hectares were made available to dogs. With these changes the municipality is aiming to meet the needs of dog owners for more free-run areas in the city. In designating the new free-run areas the interests of other users and of the natural qualities of the various areas were taken into consideration.

The new free-run areas took effect on 15 May 2008.

More space on the beach

Dogs are welcome in a greater portion of the North and South Beach (Noorderstrand and Zuiderstrand) during the summer months (15 May to 1 October). Dog owners may let their dogs run freely on the South Beach from 21.00 tot 07.00 hrs.

Another change is that throughout the year dog owners may let their dogs roam freely between beach access 2 (by the entrance to Kijkduinpark/end of Machiel Vrijenhoeklaan) and the border with the Municipality of Westland.

On the North Beach between the beach acceess at the end of Zwarte Pad and the Municipality of Wassenaar, dogs may run freely throughout the year.

From 1 October to 15 May dogs are not required to be leashed on the beach. 

Dog policy

It is important to the Municipality of The Hague that dogs and their owners feel at home in The Hague but that they also take into consideration the interests of other people and the natural qualities of the public areas. Therefore The Hague follows a strict dog policy and has indicated areas where dogs may roam freely and areas where dogs are not allowed or where they must be leashed.

The Hague’s dog policy aims to provide sufficient space for dogs to run freely, to protect the city’s nature, to prevent dogs from being a nuisance to other people and to put a stop to traffic accidents caused by dogs running on the street. In addition The Hague aims to keep the city clean. The dog clean-up rule is meant to keep our streets free of dog poop.

More information

TheDutch-municipal website provides a map indicating where dogs in The Hague may roam freely and where they are not allowed. You can view this map per city district. A paper version of this dog map will be available later this year at all the sub-municipal offices. All registered dog owners in The Hague will also receive a dog map.