Welcome to Wassenaar Weekly, your English-language roundup of local news, events and community updates. Here is what happened in Wassenaar this week.
Tech Discovery Days bring hands-on technology to Valkenburg
Unmanned Valley in Valkenburg will host the first Tech Discovery Days from 5 to 7 November, giving young people and families the chance to explore technology through hands-on activities.
Organised by Unmanned Valley and STO Leiden, Duin- en Bollenstreek, the three-day event will feature drones, robotics, programming, building and experiments.
Thursday 5 November is reserved for pupils in the final two years of primary school, while Friday 6 November is aimed at second-year secondary school pupils in the MAVO stream. Both school days are free, including transport, with registration arranged through schools.
On Saturday 7 November, the event opens to families, technology enthusiasts and other visitors. Tickets are required for the public day.
Jasper Blom Trio brings Stevie Wonder’s music to Wassenaar
Jazz Sociëteit Wassenaar will welcome the Jasper Blom Trio on Sunday 15 November for a concert inspired by the music of Stevie Wonder.
The trio’s WonderYears project reinterprets compositions from Wonder’s influential 1970s albums, including Songs in the Key of Life. The musicians use familiar melodies and harmonies as the starting point for their own jazz arrangements and improvisations.
Saxophonist Jasper Blom is joined by Sean Fasciani on double bass and Felix Schlarmann on drums.
The concert takes place at Het Deijlerhuis, Hofcampweg 3, from 4.00 to 6.00 pm.
Ethiopian coffee ceremony brings cultures together
Wassenaar residents are invited to experience a traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean coffee ceremony at community centre De Oosthof on Thursday 29 October.
The event is organised by Stichting Maatschappelijke Ondersteuning Wassenaar (SMOW) in cooperation with Stichting iDb, an organisation promoting inclusion and combating discrimination.
Mulu Gashaw, owner of the Blue Nile restaurant in The Hague, will demonstrate the traditional ceremony and share insights into Ethiopian culture.
Coffee will be prepared in a jebena, a traditional coffee pot, and served in three rounds. The ceremony reflects the importance of hospitality and social connection in Ethiopian and Eritrean communities.
The free event takes place from 10.00 am to noon at De Oosthof, Donker Curtiusstraat 69. Registration is required by Tuesday 27 October at 2.00 pm via www.smowassenaar.nl, by calling 070-511 22 26 or by emailing info@smowassenaar.nl.
Security flaw temporarily takes government websites offline
A serious security vulnerability in the widely used programming language PHP caused widespread disruption to government and other websites across the Netherlands this week.
On Wednesday, the municipalities of Wassenaar, Katwijk, Voorschoten, Leiden and The Hague temporarily took their websites offline as a precaution against possible cyberattacks.
Wassenaar residents were advised that municipal services remained available by telephone, email and at municipal service desks.
Local attraction Duinrell also temporarily disabled its website and booking system, while the Voorschoten–Wassenaar public library took its online events calendar offline.
The disruption also affected national services, including DigiD and MijnOverheid, as well as systems used by municipalities to publish council documents.
The websites were taken offline as a precaution. There is no indication in the source report that these organisations were successfully hacked.
The main government websites have since become accessible again.
Shooting suspect remains in custody
A 42-year-old man suspected of a shooting in Wassenaar’s Van der Duyn van Maasdamstraat on 12 July will remain in custody following a preliminary court hearing in The Hague on Friday 23 October.
The suspect is accused of shooting at his neighbour and another person who was visiting her home. Prosecutors suspect him of two counts of attempted manslaughter, threatening someone with a firearm and illegal possession of a weapon.
One of the victims suffered serious injuries, including permanent nerve damage, and faces further surgery.
The defence requested the suspect’s release, citing his family responsibilities and arguing that there was little risk of further offences. The victim’s lawyer and the prosecution opposed the request.
The court rejected the application, meaning the suspect will remain in custody while the investigation continues.
The next preliminary hearing is scheduled for 12 January 2027. The date of the full trial has yet to be announced.
Ukrainian youth choirs to perform benefit concert in Katwijk
Two youth choirs from Kyiv will perform a charity concert at the H. Joannes de Doper church in Katwijk aan den Rijn on Thursday 5 November.
The boys’ choir Dzvinochok and girls’ choir Vognyk bring together around 45 singers aged from ten to their early twenties.
Their programme combines Byzantine-Slavic choral music, Western compositions and Ukrainian folk traditions.
The choirs are touring Europe to raise money for people affected by the war in Ukraine, including injured soldiers and civilians who need medical treatment and prosthetics.
The concert starts at 7.30 pm at Kerkstraat 70, with doors opening at 7.00 pm. Admission is free, although voluntary donations are welcome.
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