Last Tuesday, 20 January 2026, our Chair, Harry Wientjens, met with Peter Kievoet and Marijn Fraanje of the Municipality of The Hague to discuss the ambition of connecting The Hague directly with Europe via international rail.
The position of the Economic Board The Hague is clear: this is not merely about running a train service, but about The Hague’s position within Europe. Not out of overconfidence, but grounded in economic reality. International companies choose where to locate based on accessibility, quality of life and international connectivity.
Achieving this requires close cooperation between government, the business community and transport operators, as well as shared responsibility. Once the train service is in place, it must also be actively used. Only then will the business case be viable and the international connection be sustainably maintained.
Direct, reliable and comfortable rail connections with cities such as Brussels, Düsseldorf, Paris and London strengthen the sustainable international competitiveness of The Hague, the wider region and the Netherlands as a whole. Every international company that chooses to locate here brings jobs and opportunities for our residents. International connectivity is therefore not a luxury, but a strategic prerequisite.
