Evening Violence in The Hague: One Stabbed Outside Convenience Store, Rushed to Hospital, Investigation Launched

The Hague, Netherlands— One person was hospitalized after a violent stabbing outside a convenience store in The Hague on October 22, 2026.

The attack happened at 7:55 p.m. on a residential shopping street in the Laak district. Police said two men argued inside the store near the till. The dispute moved outside. One pulled a knife and stabbed the other in the torso and arm, then ran.

The victim collapsed on the pavement in front of the door. Shop staff called 112 and pressed towels to the wounds. Bystanders described blood on the sidewalk and a lot of shouting. The store owner locked the doors and kept customers inside.

Ambulance and police arrived within six minutes. Paramedics found a man in his late 20s with stab wounds, conscious but losing blood. He was stabilized on site and taken to Haga Hospital. Doctors listed him as serious but stable after surgery.

Police cordoned off 50 meters of street with tape. Forensics photographed blood trails, a dropped cap, and a broken bottle. A dog unit tracked the suspect through side streets but lost the scent near a tram stop. No weapon has been recovered.

“We are speaking to witnesses who saw the argument start over a small amount of money,” a Hague police spokesman said. “This was not a random attack. The victim and suspect knew each other by sight.”

Residents said the store has had trouble with shoplifting and loitering for months. One neighbor said, “It’s usually quiet, but at night there are fights. Tonight it went too far.” The store owner declined to comment on camera.

Detectives have seized CCTV from inside the shop and from two neighboring businesses. They are looking for a man in a dark hooded jacket who fled on foot toward Vaillantlaan. Police asked anyone with footage to come forward.

The investigation continues. The street reopened near midnight. No arrest has been made.