The Hague Police Headquarters handed over from BAM to the Dutch Police

The Hague Police Headquarters at the Binckhorst has officially been handed over from BAM to the Dutch Police. Covering 48,000 square metres, the building accommodates more than 2,000 employees. From forensic laboratories, holding cells and vehicle parking facilities to roof gardens, a restaurant and a playful four-storey spiral staircase, welcome to the new Police Headquarters.

canyon as the organising element

The headquarters occupies a triangular site between three streets on the edge of the Binckhorst district. The building comprises a ground floor and six upper levels. Its most prominent corner is rounded and cantilevered, marking the main public entrance. Running through the entire building volume is the canyon: the organising element that brings together all vehicle entrances and exits. From here, ramps lead to the parking levels for police vehicles. The resulting voids and sightlines create a layered internal landscape, improving spatial orientation while encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration.

diverse programme, clear organisation

The headquarters brings together a wide range of functions without compromising clarity or ease of use. The programme is organised into three stacked zones: an open plinth containing the ground-related functions, topped by a flexible office volume with workspaces, meeting rooms and collaborative areas. The upper section is arranged around a five-bay structural grid. Together with the canyon, atria and courtyards draw daylight deep into the building while also serving as informal meeting spaces. This encourages interaction between different police departments and external partners, making the diversity of activities within the organisation visible.

entrance hall & spiral staircase

The six-storey entrance hall forms the spatial heart of the building. Partially open balconies overlook the space, while a black steel spiral staircase playfully winds its way up to the fourth floor. Here, the restaurant and a collaborative workspace connect directly to the roof garden designed by Buro Sant en Co. Rooflights and glazed internal partitions bring natural daylight deep into the building. Solid walls are finished with acoustic timber panels, often featuring subtle patterns. Adjacent to the restaurant, this acoustic wall transitions into a timber seating staircase with terraced platforms. Opposite, a ten-metre-high wall will be home to a woven felt artwork by Petra Vonk.

sustainability and future adaptability 

The architecture responds to the industrial character of the Binckhorst. The structure has been conceived as a material-efficient kit of parts using prefabricated components that largely remain exposed. Large structural spans keep the floorplates free of load-bearing elements, allowing layouts to be adapted relatively easily over time, including on the floors currently used for parking. Energy generation and landscape have been carefully integrated into the design. The two different building heights allow the photovoltaic panels to be positioned on the higher roof, leaving the roof garden unobstructed. The building is entirely gas-free, designed to achieve a BREEAM Excellent certification and prepared for future change. Biodiversity has also been given significant attention through green roofs, water retention systems, insect hotels, and nesting provisions for birds and bats.