NATO Summit, June 24 and 25

The Netherlands will host the NATO summit on Tuesday, June 24, and Wednesday, June 25. Our country will welcome dozens of world leaders and ministers, as well as thousands of delegation members, to the World Forum in The Hague. The summit is a significant moment. During the summit, NATO will make decisions that are important for our peace and security. This is the first time a NATO summit has been held in the Netherlands. It is a tremendous honor that the NATO member countries have chosen the Netherlands to host this event. In this way, we demonstrate that we are an active and reliable ally in a world where tensions are rising.

First disruptions starting Sunday, June 22

Road users traveling between Amsterdam, The Hague, and Rotterdam should expect the first traffic disruptions as early as 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 22. This is due to necessary preparations, such as setting up barriers. Due to temporary and partial closures of highways, roads, on- and off-ramps, overpasses, and tunnels on the A5, A4, A44, and N44, significant traffic disruptions are expected from that time through Thursday, June 26. The same applies to regional and local roads around and within The Hague, Rotterdam, Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk, Haarlemmermeer, and Leiden. Emergency services (police, ambulance, and fire department) will, of course, be granted free passage for emergency response on local and regional roads.

Working from Home During the Summit

Rijkswaterstaat advises everyone to avoid the Randstad if possible by working from home as much as possible from Monday, June 23, through Thursday, June 26. In any case, do not travel during rush hour. This will help keep the Hague region as accessible as possible.

Measures by Topic

To ensure that the summit proceeds safely and without disruption, extensive traffic and security measures are necessary. In the Randstad—and therefore also in Voorschoten—you may experience significant disruptions on the days surrounding the summit.

See below for the measures by topic.

Bicycle

If you're cycling, the NATO summit won't cause you much inconvenience. You'll only need to allow for extra travel time if there's a bike tunnel on your route.

The following bicycle tunnels will remain open:

  • The Kerkehout bike tunnel under the Rijksstraatweg in Wassenaar. However, it will be temporarily closed when a delegation from the NATO summit passes through. So please allow for extra travel time.
  • The Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema bicycle tunnel under the Rijksstraatweg in Wassenaar. However, when a delegation from the NATO summit passes through, it will be temporarily closed. So please allow for extra travel time.
  • Bike path along Ommedijkseweg under the A44 between Valkenburg and Leiden. This bike path is always open.

The following bike tunnels will be completely closed:

  • Bicycle tunnel at Houtlaan, under the Rijksstraatweg in Wassenaar.
  • Bicycle tunnel under the A44, extending from the N434 (Corbulo Tunnel), near Stevenshof in Leiden.

Public Transportation

Trains

Trains are running according to the regular schedule. However, they may be more crowded than usual.

Buses 43, 44, 45, and 46

From Monday, June 23, through Wednesday, June 25, buses 43, 44, and 46 will operate on a modified schedule. Only bus 45 will run on its normal schedule. For the most up-to-date information, visit the EBS website at.

Bus 55

Qbuzz Bus 55 will continue to run. However, please be prepared for crowds and the possibility that the line may be canceled after all. For the most up-to-date information, visit the Qbuzz website at.

Public Transportation in The Hague

Trams and buses in The Hague are running according to their regular schedules, with the exception of the lines near the World Forum.

Car

Roads and highways

There is a risk of severe traffic disruptions on the A5, A4, A44, and N44. You can find the specific measures on the Rijkswaterstaat website at. For residents of Voorschoten, the following measures are particularly important:

  • The A44 between the Burgerveen interchange and Wassenaar, in the direction of The Hague, will be closed from Sunday evening through Friday morning.
  • The N44 between The Hague and Rozenweg in Wassenaar will be closed in both directions from Sunday evening through Friday morning.
  • On Wednesday afternoon and evening, June 25, the A44/N44 toward Amsterdam will also be closed.
  • The N434 (Corbulo Tunnel) will be closed in both directions on Wednesday afternoon and evening, June 25.

Papeweg to Wassenaar

In addition, if you’re driving from Voorschoten toward the center of Wassenaar via Papeweg, you may experience significant delays. At Rijksstraatweg, you won’t be able to turn left or right. Occasionally, you may be able to go straight, but in that case, you should expect delays of at least three quarters of an hour. Cycling is the best alternative. The Dobbewijk neighborhood will remain accessible as usual.

Other regional and local roads

There is also a risk of serious traffic disruptions on other regional and local roads. Would you like to know more? Check the current web pages for The Hague, Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk, Haarlemmermeer, Leiden, and Rotterdam.

Emergency Services

Emergency services (police, ambulance, and fire department) are, of course, granted right of way for emergency responses on local and regional roads.

Shipping

Measures have also been announced for maritime traffic, though all of these are still subject to change. If your vessel can fit under a bridge, you may continue on as usual. If a bridge needs to be opened, please visit www.vaarweginformatie.nl or. 

Town Hall Hours

The following arrangements will be in effect at City Hall during the week of Monday, June 23, through Friday, June 27:

  • The Customer Contact Center and Civil Affairs counters are open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • On these three mornings, the Civil Affairs Office will be open only for urgent requests and civil registry services, such as death certificates and birth registrations.
  • The municipality can be reached by phone all week at 14071. That is, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Important Links

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