Extended opening hours for outdoor dining areas
Pilot Program to Extend Opening Hours for Outdoor Dining Areas
This summer, a pilot program will begin in Wassenaar to extend the operating hours of outdoor dining areas during hot weather. The pilot will run from July 17 through October 15, 2026.
When the temperature reaches 25 degrees Celsius or higher, outdoor dining areas in downtown Wassenaar may remain open one hour longer than usual. The latest closing time is midnight. See the section titled “What data is used to determine the temperature” to learn how we measure the data.
Objective
On such warm days, visitors can enjoy the beautiful weather on the patio for longer. With this pilot program, we aim to support restaurant and café owners, allow visitors to enjoy their time in Wassenaar longer, and determine whether the so-called “summer schedule” makes Wassenaar more attractive and vibrant, without causing any nuisance or problems for the surrounding area. After the pilot concludes, the results will be evaluated. We will then determine whether extended opening hours for outdoor seating areas during warm weather will be implemented permanently and on a structural basis.
Regular opening hours for outdoor seating areas
The closing times for outdoor dining areas are governed by the Wassenaar General Local Ordinance 2024 (APV) and the accompanying Wassenaar Center Outdoor Dining Rules 2025 (outdoor dining rules), and range from 10:00 p.m. on the Plein to 11:00 p.m. in the city center.
What data is used to determine the temperature?
To determine whether the regulation applies on a given day, we refer to the weather chart from the Buienradar weather station in Voorschoten titled “Temperature at 1.5 m in °C.” We use the maximum temperature for that day as our basis. This makes it clear whether the temperature reached 25 degrees Celsius or higher. If so, the regulation applies.
Only the data on the website below is authoritative; data from other weather apps is not. If a follow-up check is needed, historical measurement data can be accessed on the same page via the calendar. Because there is no monitoring station in Wassenaar, the municipality uses data from the monitoring station in Voorschoten to determine whether the extended opening hours apply.
