In 2033 The Hague has the opportunity to become the European Capital of Culture. This rare honor, available only once every fifteen years, is a unique chance to celebrate our city's rich cultural heritage and bring our community together. By leveraging the power of culture, we can create a lasting impact across the city, embracing a diverse range of stories and perspectives. We invite everyone to join us on this journey. Culture shapes a shared future, holding different meanings for each of us, and our strength lies in this diversity.
The Hague, a beautiful city by the dunes, deserves to showcase its vibrant cultural expressions and the wealth of individual talents within our community. While this may seem like a distant dream, now is the time to turn it into reality by supporting our candidacy!
The initiative to make The Hague the European Capital of Culture comes from our city's cultural creators—artists and innovators who recognize the potential of our cultural landscape. A year ago, during the presentation of the Cultural Vision The Hague 2033, the city council adopted a motion to support this initiative, indicating that our politicians are open to considering our candidacy.
To advance this idea, we are developing a cultural manifesto: a document that reflects the collective values of our community. This manifesto will outline our priorities, vision for the future, and the significance of becoming the European Capital of Culture. However, we need your input to ensure it truly represents our diverse community and its cultural aspirations.
Based on this manifesto, the city council will vote early next year on whether to pursue an official nomination. All potential candidate cities will then prepare a detailed bid book to submit to the European Commission in 2027. In 2029, we will learn if we have been selected to hold this title in 2033.
We need your input: artists, creatives, organizations, institutions, venues, and museums that contribute to the vibrancy of our city. We need all of you! Only by standing together can we succeed. Whether your contribution is big or small, achieving cultural capital is a collective effort.
What does this title mean to you? What are your visions? What makes our city's culture unique? How can we ensure our efforts are meaningful, now and in the future? Through this website, you can share what you consider essential. Together, we will create a manifesto that truly represents us all.