In The Hague, as in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, in some parts of the city there is a total ban on drinking alcohol on the street and in public places such as parks, pavements, squares or gates.
In the Netherlands, local governments decide which parts of the city are subject to an “alcohol ban.” In The Hague, these areas are designated annually by the mayor and city council. The city authorities also determine where other bans apply, such as the use of soft drugs (e.g. marijuana) in public places and the ban on begging.
In places where alcohol is prohibited, drinking beer or wine can result in a fine. The ban also means that you cannot have an open bottle or can of alcohol or, for example, a glass or a tumbler of an alcoholic beverage.
A police officer or city guard can therefore impose a fine for drinking in a public place even before the person has consumed even a sip of alcohol. Opening a bottle or can in a prohibited place is enough.
The ban on alcohol, soft drugs and begging covers a large part of the centre of The Hague. Other districts of the city also have large areas where alcohol is not allowed. Maps of the individual districts , where these areas are marked, can be found on the city’s website .