Crossing Border is a rare thing: a festival where novelists, poets and indie musicians share the same stages, and where you can go from a reading to a gig without leaving the building. More than 120 writers and artists take part, and the main language is English, which makes it one of the most expat friendly cultural events in the country.
The heart of it is two festival nights in the grand Koninklijke Schouwburg theatre, with smaller venues nearby and a kids programme on the Sunday.
- When: Tuesday 3 to Sunday 8 November 2026, with the main festival nights on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 November
- Where: Koninklijke Schouwburg, Korte Voorhout 3, Den Haag, plus nearby venues such as Theater De Vaillant and a Spiegeltent on Lange Voorhout
- Tickets: €36 for one festival night or €61 for both; daytime events on Sunday 8 November cost €11 to €16
- Getting there: direct trains from Haarlem to Den Haag Centraal, then a 10 minute walk.
Good to know: most events have a minimum age of 16. Dutch sessions come with interpreters.
Planning your year? See everything on the events calendar.
