Boat tours on the Hofvijver

Stichting De Ooievaart has applied for a permit to arrange boat tours on the Hofvijver starting in the summer of 2012.

The boat tours would only be organised during the parliamentary recess. The museums located near the Hofvijver, such as the Historical Museum of The Hague are supporting the initiative. Most of them are calling the plan an 'enrichment for the city' and 'a creative idea'.

It is not clear whether the Ooievaart will be granted the permit. According to the Government Buildings Service (Rijksgebouwendienst), no organisation has been able to get a permit to be allowed to constantly cruise on the Hofvijver. The question is whether the safety of the Binnenhof would be at issue.

De Ooievaart would like to organise a 30-minute boat ride on the Hofvijver ten to 15 times a day. The company would like to begin next year during the parliamentary recess and has submitted an official application with the Municipality of The Hague. Director Peter Duivesteijn says he sees no obstacles to a permit because the pond is regularly used as a podium for events.