About the foundation
Every animal deserves a warm heart and a safe home.
The Haags Dierencentrum is dedicated to homeless dogs and cats in the Hague region. Every animal deserves care, attention, and a living environment that suits them. That is why we offer shelter, training, and guidance, and we ensure that future owners are honestly informed about the animal’s character and needs.
With us, animal welfare and human welfare go hand in hand. Together with our volunteers and staff, we provide care, expertise, and a loving approach, so that both animal and human feel happy and connected.
Expert and caring guidance
All animals receive tailored attention, including behavioral guidance by trained caregivers and behavioral therapists. This also applies to animals with behavioral problems, medical challenges, or older animals.
Strong volunteer involvement
With over 150 volunteers and close cooperation with the Hague community, sponsors, and partners, the Haags Dierencentrum can provide high-quality care, shelter, and rehoming for stray animals in the region.
Own internal medical clinic
The Haags Dierencentrum has a modern veterinary clinic with veterinarians, assistants, and volunteers, allowing almost all medical care, surgeries, and emergencies to be carried out directly on-site.
More about Haags Dierencentrum
Meet our shelter animals
Board
As of April 1, 2025, the board of the Haags Dierencentrum consists of:
- Drs. S.G. (Sophia) Schwarz, Chair
- Drs. J.R. (Jorn) van der Drift, Treasurer
- Mr. Ir. J.G.G.M. (Jan) van Knippenberg, Director of Housing and Sustainability
- P.H. (Pierre) van Beusekom, General Director (also chair of the industry association: Dutch Federation of Animal Welfare Organizations)
- D.H. (Djisri) Groise, HR Director
History
The Haags Dierencentrum was founded in 1877 by Mrs. van Manen-Thesing and five other ladies as the first shelter for stray dogs and cats in the Netherlands, located on Bagijnestraat. Due to a lack of space, the shelter moved to Ammunitiehaven. Later it moved to Nieuwe Haven and eventually to its current location on Lozerlaan.
From the end of the 19th century, the shelter offered paid care for ‘boarding cats’ and ‘boarding dogs’ in addition to rescue services. In 1910, an internal veterinary clinic was established. This was a unique initiative at the time, and the center even got its own van for transporting sick and injured animals.
During the Second World War, food and warmth were scarce and even the shelter van was requisitioned, while dogs from the royal household stayed temporarily in the boarding facility.
In 1965, a law came into effect stating that stray animals must remain in a shelter for at least 14 days. In 1970, the name ‘Stichting Haags Dierencentrum’ was born through a collaboration with the Dierenbescherming, which ended permanently in 2014. New buildings on Schenkkade (1980) and Lozerlaan (1992) followed, with festive openings, including one by Queen Beatrix.
What we do now
In 2020, the team consisted of 23 permanent staff members and approximately 150 volunteers, who care for an average of 1,700 dogs and cats per year, 7 days a week. The center has an internal clinic with modern equipment, staffed by veterinarians and assistants, and a boarding facility with separate rooms for cats and outdoor runs for dogs.
Animal welfare comes first: care, rehoming, and behavioral guidance are carried out with knowledge and patience, without the use of corrective tools. All caregivers have a degree in behavioral therapy or are in training. For extra support, we work together with the Quiebus Cynological Center.
Support and future
Thanks to donors, sponsors, inheritances, and legacies, the Haags Dierencentrum can continue its work, even after difficult periods such as around 2012. Staff and volunteers together form the backbone of the center.
We are proud of what has been built since 1877 and remain committed to improving the welfare of stray animals. Thank you for all the support through the years; together we make a difference.
HDC team
The HDC team consists of several disciplines;
- The dog caregivers and cat caregivers
- The veterinarians and assistants in the clinic
- The reception staff
The teams are managed by Mirjam (operations manager).
Want to meet the whole team? Go to: The HDC team
Volunteers
The Haags Dierencentrum cannot function without its large group of enthusiastic volunteers. They are active in various departments, such as caring for dogs and cats, the internal clinic, behavior and training, events, marketing and communication, HR, and fundraising.
Want to know how you can become a volunteer yourself and what the possibilities are? Check out our volunteer page.
Clinic
Our internal clinic is a vital link in the care of our animals. Here, our veterinarians, assistants, and regular volunteers provide medical care, from vaccinations and routine checks to surgeries and emergencies. Thanks to modern equipment and the expert team, we can intervene quickly and professionally, ensuring our dogs and cats receive the best care while they stay with us. Read more about our clinic here and browse various medical articles.
Mission & Vision
Mission
The Haags Dierencentrum believes that every dog or cat deserves the care and living environment that suits the animal.
That is why we join forces to provide shelter for homeless dogs and cats—those surrendered or found wandering in the Hague region. The needs of each individual animal are our guide for care, (potential) training, and finding a suitable new owner.
We provide the future owner with honest information about the character and needs of the animal. This ensures that even after placement, it receives the care and living environment it needs.
We work toward this based on the following values:
Accessible
Dogs and cats with behavioral problems, a medical background, or senior animals are also welcome with us.
Solidarity
Professional staff and volunteers work together with great passion on our mission. Together with our customers, supporters, and the Hague community, we are able to guarantee the continuity of the Haags Dierencentrum.
For many future owners, our animals bring happiness, joy, a solution to loneliness, more exercise, social contacts, and the feeling of caring for someone. Alongside animal welfare, human welfare is a priority. The Haags Dierencentrum; for humans and animals!
Caring
We strive for the best care and nursing for both shelter and boarding animals.
Expert
We inform customers based on our years of expertise in the field of animal welfare and the medical and psychological health of dogs or cats. We maintain and expand our knowledge by collaborating with renowned parties in this field.
Vision
Pet owners are not always aware of the obligations and the ongoing guidance and care that a pet entails. As a result, many dogs and cats enter the Haags Dierencentrum as strays or surrendered animals, often with behavioral problems.
Through information, the Haags Dierencentrum provides insight into all aspects involved in the purchase and care of a dog and/or cat. Through education and guidance in upbringing, the Haags Dierencentrum prevents premature behavioral problems and surrenders.
The Haags Dierencentrum believes in an upbringing based on trust and positive reinforcement. To fulfill this role optimally, the Haags Dierencentrum invests in training paid and unpaid staff.
The Haags Dierencentrum believes that pets have a positive effect on the emotional and social state of mind of people.
The Haags Dierencentrum sees it as its task to connect humans and animals, and to also play an important role in human welfare.
Beatrix opens the Haags Dierencentrum
