From Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2026, Festival TREK returns to the beautiful Westbroekpark, transforming the park into a large open-air restaurant for a weekend of food, drinks, music and entertainment.
Visitors can explore a wide range of food trucks and street food, with everything from sushi and Surinamese dishes to vegetarian options and burgers. There are also several bars, including a cocktail bar, wine bar, Biergarten and Sangria & Bubbels Bar.
Festival TREK is about more than food. Throughout the weekend there will be live music, theatre and performances by emerging artists, alongside nostalgic fairground attractions. As evening falls, the programme continues with funk, soul and dance music.
The festival is free to enter and suitable for all ages.
This community story is from The Hague Online editor, Renée Tentori.
I am not a morning person.
When CreativeMornings launched in The Hague last year, I was very happy to promote its events through The Hague Online. A free breakfast, an interesting speaker and the chance to meet creative people from across the city all sounded wonderful.
There was just one problem as far as I was concerned: the morning part.
The events begin at 8.30am. That is hardly dawn, but it was early enough for me to appreciate CreativeMornings from a safe distance. I could share the announcements, support the initiative and tell any “morning people” who may be interested, without actually setting my own alarm to fit this in before my workday started.
Eventually, however, curiosity won…and I’m now a CreativeMornings morning person. Are you?
My first CreativeMornings, at THUAS (12 June 2026)
My first CreativeMornings event featured Bente Bak speaking on the theme of “Curate”.
It was held at THUAS (The Hague University of Applied Sciences), where I work. I found out after I registered that it was actually taking place within my own Faculty of IT & Design, though connected via another programme (I’m in ACS, this was via UxD). A nice coincidence.
Bente’s talk explored curation as an active creative process. It is not simply about collecting things, but about choosing, shaping and bringing ideas together in a way that creates meaning. She complemented this with her own creative artwork and personal stories.
Much of what she said resonated with me, particularly in a world where we are surrounded by more information, tools and content than we could ever fully absorb.
I like how these personal talks also help us self-reflect. I have contributed to this overload myself as well, via a lot of content creation over the years! However, I am glad I had already started seeing myself as a “curator”, rather than always being a “creator”. I believe it’s about discernment: deciding what deserves our attention, how different elements connect and what we want to share with others. More than a decade ago, I wrote an article that I’ve been thinking more about lately: Frenzy, Fatigue, Focus.
It was really great to hear Bente’s take on this topic. She gave us some great tips and I bought her book to take home. A good read! I was particularly inspired by her courage to find her own path – and share that with others.
The CreativeMornings event locations change each month, and this location also added something unexpected to the morning. I met colleagues from my own faculty whom I recognised but did not yet know well. We work within the same organisation, but it took an external community event in our own building to give us the opportunity to (re)connect.
That is one of the valuable things about community events. They not only introduce us to entirely new people. They can also help us connect more meaningfully with people who were already nearby.
And, importantly, I discovered that 8.30am was not quite as frightening as I had imagined. Especially when it came with a great breakfast spread, a fantastically diverse group of people and a lot of inspiration.
Returning to The Social Hub (10 July 2026)
My second CreativeMornings event featured the amazing animator and visual artist Vera van Wolferen, speaking on the theme of “Competition”. Vera used her own creative work and experiences to explore competition, comparison and ambition. The theme opened up questions not only about competing with other people, but also about creative identity, expectations and the pressure we place on ourselves. You can watch her talk and see her impressive work here:
The event took place at one of my favourite venues in The Hague – The Social Hub regularly brings together internationals, local residents, entrepreneurs, students, creatives and organisations through talks, workshops, networking events and cultural activities. As always, it was good to catch up with community connector Pawl.
The Social Hub is also where the first CreativeMornings The Hague gathering had been held a year earlier. I had heard about the initiative there when the local chapter first launched, but had not persuaded myself to attend that original morning event, sadly. But at least I didn’t wait any longer!
One year of CreativeMornings The Hague
At the July event, CreativeMornings The Hague celebrated its first anniversary. Ana Moreno reflected on the journey and gave credit to the team of volunteers and community members who have helped grow this community. Then we shared cake! I mean of all the things I was missing out on by not getting up earlier, I didn’t realise cake could be one of them.
During its first year, the chapter has organised free monthly events at different locations around the city, with speakers interpreting a shared global theme through their own work, experiences and perspectives.
The changing venues are part of the appeal. Each event provides an opportunity not only to hear from a new speaker, but also to discover various organisations, workplaces and creative spaces in The Hague. The August event will be held at the Make In Space on 14 August 2026.
The local chapter is organised by volunteers and is part of a much larger international network. CreativeMornings began in New York in 2008, when designer Tina Roth Eisenberg created a simple format for the city’s creative community: a free breakfast and a short talk, held on a Friday morning.
The idea has since developed into a global movement, with chapters in cities around the world. Each month, participating chapters explore the same theme while selecting local speakers who can bring their own interpretation to it. Community members also have an opportunity to book a short slot to share their initiatives as well.
Although the word “creative” is in the name, the events are not only for artists or designers. Creativity can be found in education, technology, business, community building, communication and many other fields.
The CreativeMornings manifesto begins with the belief that everyone is creative and everyone is welcome. That open approach is reflected in the variety of people, professions and perspectives brought together at the events.
More than a monthly breakfast
The live events are only one part of CreativeMornings.
Presentations are recorded and made available online afterwards, which means people can watch talks from The Hague as well as thousands of talks from chapters around the world.
That also means missing an event does not necessarily mean missing the speaker, although watching afterwards cannot fully reproduce the conversations and connections that happen in the room.
CreativeMornings also organises online FieldTrips. These are interactive virtual sessions that can include workshops, practical activities, conversations and opportunities to learn from people based in different parts of the world.
The combination of local gatherings and international online resources makes CreativeMornings more than a monthly event series. It is also a large and accessible archive of ideas, stories and creative practices.
Worth setting the alarm for
After attending two events, I still would not describe myself as a natural morning person. But I may now be a CreativeMornings morning person.
The start time is not actually as early as I had convinced myself it was. It is a little easier in the summer than the winter…but most importantly, the events offer something that is increasingly difficult to reproduce online: a reason to enter a room, meet people outside your usual circle and begin the day with a new idea.
At THUAS, that meant getting to know colleagues better at a fun and friendly event before our work day “really” began – thanks Wendy and Thijs!
At The Social Hub, it meant returning to the place where I had first heard about CreativeMornings The Hague and again experiencing the community I had been promoting for the past year.
Apparently, all it takes to get me out of bed earlier in the morning – and actually enjoy it – is coffee, creativity and community. And sometimes cake. See you there?
AI Use disclosure: ChatGPT Plus assisted with some editing and research for this article. The final article was written and reviewed by a human editor (Renée Tentori)
Hi, Renée here. I’m the editor, owner and community manager here at The Hague Online (THOL). I’m also a university lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. It’s been quite an intense academic year! But from 17 July until 24 August I have a lovely, long and much-needed holiday.
This summer is the first in several years that I plan to stay here in The Hague. For the last 2 years, I’ve gone to visit my family in Australia and hope to do that again in the next year or two. However for the summer of 2026, I’ll explore my own city, get some things done at home, catch up with family and friends and just…RELAX!
I’m going to take a few weeks offline and won’t be updating this site as regularly. However I am still “around”. Are you also staying in The Hague this summer? There is plenty to do. Check out our calendar or browse our highlighted events. As there is always so much happening in our great city, I can’t always get everything online. So you can also explore more yourself. Find something great? Share it with us!
Revisit some of Sherika’s great Behind The Menu series over in our feature articles. You may like to grab some gelato if it’s hot, and do a world tour of flavours right here in The Hague with the fabulous range of restaurants and cafes: from Japanese to Palestinian and so much more.
Especially if you have kids to entertain, you can also take a look at this article from The Hague International Centre for ideas:
“More Than Just Surfing: Why The Hague is Learning to Slow Down, Connect and Smile
Moving to a new country is a big adventure, but navigating life abroad can also bring quiet waves of loneliness and burnout. On Saturday, July 11 two foundations, The Happiness Tour and Soul Surfers are teaming up in Scheveningen to help you hit pause and ride out those challenges together.
Waves of Happiness is a unique workshop that blends evidence-based happiness science with the therapeutic flow of surfing. Whether you’re a total beginner or just looking to find a new flow, we’re inviting locals and internationals to swap screen time for sea air, get out of your head, and connect with people looking for the same thing: a little more balance and genuine community.
Ocean Therapy Meets the Science of Happiness
While the Netherlands is celebrated for happiness, a mental health crisis is gripping its political capital: 56.4% of adults in The Hague suffer from loneliness, while 20.7% of the national workforce faces severe burnout – burdens that multiply for expats navigating isolated, transient lives without a local safety net.
To break this cycle, our upcoming event brings the international community together to swap stress of the city with the ebb and flow of the waves. Join us to learn practical ways to handle stress, build real friendships, have fun and remember that no one has to navigate the ups and downs of living in a new country alone.
“Our mission is to get doctors prescribing places, people, and play to prevent and manage burnout and loneliness. Instead of waiting months on healthcare backlogs, we can start healing together right now. And that is social prescribing! ” Nuthan explains. “This tour isn’t just about learning to stand up on a surfboard; it’s a gentle invitation to pause, listen beneath the noise of our busy lives, and rediscover our collective resilience.”
Partnering for the water session is Stichting Soul Surfers, a Hague-based non-profit that has been using surf culture as a catalyst for physical and mental wellbeing since 2008. Their professional coaches will lead the “Free The Funk” surf session, which welcomes everyone regardless of background or athletic ability. Learning resilience and connection – with the waves!
Together we hope to launch this new initiative to help expats and internationals find happiness, kinder connection in the Netherlands.
What to Expect on the Beach
The morning is structured into a step-by-step journey of mindfulness and movement:
Kinder Connections: The day begins on the sand with a mindful beach walk and guided meditation to help participants ground themselves and connect with nature.
Free The Funk Surf Session: Participants will suit up (wetsuits and boards are fully provided) and head into the waves for a beginner-friendly surf lesson focused on joy and confidence rather than competition.
Science of Happiness Circle: The event concludes with an interactive sharing circle exploring the data-backed science of resilience, allowing attendees to share stories and walk away with a practical toolkit for daily life.
An Inclusive Space for Expats
Recognizing that the international community often seeks meaningful ways to meet like-minded people outside of traditional bar settings, the entire event will be conducted in English. No prior surfing experience is necessary, though basic swimming skills are required for safety.
Event Calendar Listing Details
Event Title: Waves of Happiness | Surfing Mindfulness & Connection
Date: Saturday, 11 July 2026
Time: 10:00 – 13:00 (Arrival by 09:45)
Location: The Shore, Strand Noord, Scheveningen, Den Haag
Language: English
Suitability: Beginner-friendly. No surf experience required. Basic swimming literacy is mandatory. Wetsuits and surfboards are included.
Enter a living and contemporary cultural field with the joint exhibition by Tibetan artist Ngoshi Choedon and Dutch artist Peter George. Opening Friday 26 June from 18:00 to 20:30, the exhibition takes place across two neighbouring spaces, NGO DEI Gallery and Atelier Peter George d’Angelino Tap, in a shared cross-cultural dialogue.
We are very pleased to welcome Ngoshi, who will be travelling from Dharamsala, India, especially for the occasion, to present her intricate paper collages. In her works: A Quiet Negotiation, she engages with traditional Tibetan garments, reflecting on Tibetan identity, memory and cultural heritage through the lived experience of exile and Tibetan diaspora in India. Meanwhile, Peter George presents a new series of sartorial statues: Filamentary Residues, five body-based soft sculptures inspired by the five elements in the Tibetan conceptual framework: earth, water, fire, air and space.
Bringing together the two practices, the exhibition constructs a dynamic field of dialogue between cultural continuance and systemic transformation, where clothing is considered as a constantly evolving cultural language, comprising craft traditions, clothing systems, and everyday practices. Here, garments are approached as worn structures of knowledge, carrying historical persistence while remaining open to ongoing reinterpretation across cultural, material, and temporal contexts.
This exhibition was also made possible by Stroom Den Haag and realised in cooperation with the International Campaign for Tibet, in celebration of the 91st birthday of the Dalai Lama on 6 July 2026.
OPENING EVENT 26 June 2026 | 18:00-20:30 | Free Entrance
VENUE 我地 NGO DEI & Atelier Peter George d’Angelino Tap | Westeinde 25 & 29, The Hague, Netherlands.
EXHIBITION PERIOD 26 June – 12 July 2026 | €3,00 Entrance
