Following a successful opening at The Social Hub in The Hague and a showcase at Savannah Bay bookstore in Utrecht, the exhibition Stepping Away from Stereotypes: The Person Behind the Label will be on display at the Dutch Language Café in The Hague on October 11 and 12. Timed to coincide with Coming Out Day, the exhibition presents a series of portraits that challenge stereotypes and highlight the personal stories of the individuals behind them.
An accompanying book, featuring the portraits and extended narratives, will also be available for visitors to explore. The project aims to encourage reflection on labels and assumptions, offering audiences an opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives in an intimate setting. For further information, please visit: https://www.pwitphotos.com/steppingawayfromstereotypes
The exhibition is free to visit. Patricia herself is there from 13:00 until 16:00 on Saturday and from 13:00 tot 15:00 on Sunday.
About the Exhibit: This project was born from the desire to challenge the boxes queer people are so often placed in. Too often, labels and categories fall short of capturing the richness of who we are. At its heart, this project isn’t only about queer identities. It’s about people—unique individuals whose lives, passions, and talents can’t be reduced to stereotypes or assumptions. The goal is simple: to show that we are more than labels. We are complex, vibrant, and beautifully human—people who happen to be queer.
About the Artist
Patricia Wit is a visual storyteller who uses her lens to reveal the beauty of detail, contrast, and the raw emotion woven into everyday life. Drawn to the timeless quality of black-and-white photography, she embraces simplicity while welcoming the unplanned moments that spark curiosity. Born in Lima, Peru, to a Chilean mother and Dutch father, Patricia has called seven countries home and travelled widely, experiences that have shaped her distinctive global outlook, with each place, culture, and encounter influencing not only how she sees the world but also how she frames it through her photography. For two and a half years, she developed a portrait series spotlighting members of the LGBTQ+ community; more than a collection of images, this project challenges stereotypes by presenting an intimate and genuine glimpse into the lives of everyday people, celebrating identity, diversity, and the shared humanity that connects us all.
The nine nominees for the Piket Art Prizes, the award for young, talented artists in painting, dance, and theater, were announced recently. “The jury, composed of professionals from The Hague arts scene, has once again made a surprising and diverse selection for this year’s awards, with a superb selection of promising talents, many of whom are already well on their way to successful careers in the arts. Piket Art Prizes is therefore pleased to give all nine nominees an extra financial and publicity boost to help them reach their full potential,” says director Marie Jeanne de Rooij.
The awards will be presented on Monday evening, November 10th, at the Theater aan het Spui in The Hague.
Livia Claesson, Jemima de Jonge, and Carmen Roca Igual have been nominated in the Painting category; Chandenie Gobardhan, Giulo Hoxhallari, and Annabel Koele have been nominated in the Dance and Kollektief op Kracht categories; and Hélène Vrijdag and Mike Zanting have been selected by the professional jury in the Theater category. “It feels special that my work is being noticed and appreciated,” says Jemima de Jonge. “The nomination also gives me peace of mind, because it comes with a generous amount of money that I can invest in my development.”
Actor Mike Zanting is “surprised and touched” by the nomination. “It’s truly special to be seen and recognized so soon after graduating. It’s a tremendous honor,” says Mike. “This nomination feels like encouragement. That you shouldn’t give up, that you’re on the right track, and that your work matters.” Dancer and choreographer Chandenie Gobardhan sees the nomination as an incentive. “It motivates me to continue creating, exploring, and sharing with even more confidence and curiosity. I feel grateful that my work, which often moves between worlds and is sometimes difficult to categorize, is being noticed within this field.”
From left to right: Annabel Koele, Carmen Roca Igual, Chandenie Gobardhan, Giulio Hoxhallari, Hélène Vrijdag, Jemima de Jonge, Kollektief op Kracht, Livia Claesson and Mike Zanting. Photo: Eliza-Sophie Sekrève/juv
The jury A professional jury, chaired once again this year by Majel Blonden, director of pop venue Paard, annually seeks out talented young artists with ties to The Hague. This year’s jury consists of visual artist Pietertje van Splunter, Johan Gustavsson (Experimental Art Space 1646), Erik Kaiel (dance collective Arch8/Theater Rotterdam), Mitchell-lee van Rooij (Korzo), and the new Toneel jury members Joep Hendrikx (Poezieboys) and Nadine van Pinxteren (Het Nationale Theater, de Parade).
The Piket Art Prizes jury members lined up. From left to right: Jury chair Majel Blonden, Mitchell-lee van Rooij (Dance), Johan Gustavsson (Painting), Pietertje van Splunter (Painting), Nadine van Pinxteren (Theater), Joep Hendrikx (Theater), and Erik Kaiel (Dance) in the foreground. Photo: Dana LaMonda
Award Ceremony The jury will select three main winners per discipline (Painting, Dance, and Theater). They will receive a cash prize of €6,000. The other nominees will receive a cash prize of €3,000. In addition, all nominees will receive an award, the Hammer, designed specifically for the Piket Art Prizes by renowned artist Joep van Lieshout.
About the Piket Art Prizes The Piket Art Prizes have been awarded since 2014 to young artists who have a connection to The Hague, either because they have flourished there or because their work makes a stimulating contribution to The Hague’s cultural scene. Their namesake, Frederik Hendrik Piket (1927-2011), a lawyer and member of the Senate for the CHU (later CDA), was a great lover of art and culture. After his death, a foundation was established to annually reward promising professional artists under the age of 30 with a prize.
September is packed with new films at Pathé. Discover thrilling new titles such as The Conjuring: Last Rites and the Dutch crime thriller Wraak, or let yourself be carried away by costume dramas and grand stories in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale and A Big Bold Beautiful Journey.
Those looking for something mysterious or dark will find what they’re looking for in Honey Don’t or Him. If you’re in the mood for a moving drama, Familiar Touch is the right choice.
Anime fans can look forward to the spectacular film Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which can be seen in IMAX, 4DX and Dolby Cinema.
But there’s more: September at Pathé is all about Christopher Nolan. Five of his greatest masterpieces are returning to the big screen in IMAX this month. In addition to the latest blockbusters, there are also special features on the programme, including the long-awaited documentary Goldband: Tot we breken, INFARCT and a complete Hunger Games marathon.
For the youngest film fans, the Disney Jr. Cinema Club is opening its doors: an interactive cinema experience full of games, songs and their favourite heroes such as Mickey, Bluey and Winnie the Pooh.
You can also enjoy it at home, because at Pathé Thuis you can already watch Superman and later this month the hard-hitting action blockbuster Ballerina.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba Infinity Castle – 11 September (IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX)
After his sister Nezuko turned into a demon, Tanjiro Kamado joined the Demon Slayer Corps and fought countless demons alongside his friends and the Hashira. As they prepare for battle against the demons, Muzan Kibutsuji appears and throws Tanjiro and the Hashira into Infinity Castle. This leads to the final battle between the Demon Slayer Corps and the demons.
New movies at Pathé
The Conjuring: Last Rites – 4 September (IMAX Dolby Cinema, Dolby Atmos, 4DX)
Based on a true story, The Conjuring: Last Rites adds another blood-curdling chapter to the iconic Conjuring universe. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson reunite as renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren for one last case in a compelling and terrifying new instalment of the globally successful franchise.
The Conjuring The Last Rights – 2025. Warner Bros. Pictures International Holland. All rights reserved.
Honey Don’t – 4 September
Honey Don’t is a black comedy by Ethan Coen about Honey O’Donahue, a private detective from a small town who investigates a series of mysterious deaths linked to a mysterious church.
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale – 11 September (Dolby Atmos, Dolby Cinema)
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930s. As the beloved characters figure out how to navigate Downton Abbey into the future, they must embrace change and welcome a new chapter.
Him – 18 September (Dolby Cinema, Dolby Atmos)
Cameron Cade is a young, promising quarterback whose dream of an NFL career is rudely interrupted after a violent attack leaves him with a traumatic brain injury. When his future seems bleak, he meets the charismatic Isaiah White. The encounter quickly turns into a labyrinth of psychological manipulation and occult practices.
A Big Bold Beautiful Journey – 25 September
Imagine being able to open a door and walk through it to relive a defining moment from your past. Sarah (Margot Robbie) and David (Colin Farrell) are singles who meet at a mutual friend’s wedding and, not long after, through a surprising twist of fate, find themselves on a funny, fantastic, compelling adventure.
Familiar Touch – 25 September
A coming-of-(old)age film about an 80-year-old woman who has to adjust to life in a nursing home and the complex personal quests that accompany these major changes later in life, especially when memory begins to fade.
Kids movies at Pathé
Disney Jr. Cinema Club – 18 September
Join Mickey Mouse and your favourite Disney Junior heroes such as Ariel, Bluey, Spidey and Winnie the Pooh on an adventure. This unique cinema experience is designed for young children and is packed with singing, dancing, games and puzzles. No sitting quietly, but a lively experience in which children are completely immersed in the magic of Disney!
New films at Pathé Thuis
Superman – Now available on Premium
Superman struggles to reconcile his Kryptonian origins with his ordinary, human upbringing.
Superman – 2025 Warner Bros. Pictures International Holland. All Rights Reserved.
Ballerina – Premium from 8 September, regular rental from 22 September
Trained in the merciless traditions of the Ruska Roma, assassin Eve has only one goal: to take revenge on the brutal murderers of her family.
About Pathé
Pathé is the first and largest cinema brand in the Netherlands, founded in Paris in 1896 by true pioneers of film: the Pathé brothers. Their aim was to share the wonderful world of film with as many people as possible. Throughout the Netherlands, Pathé has 30 locations, 253 screens and 1,900 employees. Through its wide range of films, livestreams of opera, sports and gaming, among others, the latest techniques such as IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema and ScreenX, and business events, Pathé creates special and unforgettable cinema stories for all.
Disclaimer& Copyright notice
Pathé is a partner of The Hague Online, and we receive cinema tickets in exchange for sharing monthly updates and links on our website and in our enewsletter. Text is provided by Pathé in Dutch and translated into English by The Hague Online and Deep L. Images are provided by Pathé. Text and images may not be copied and shared without permission.
Featured image: Downtown Abbey The Grand Finale – 2025 Universal Pictures International. All Rights Reserved
History is never neutral. It is written, rewritten, and sometimes erased entirely. At a time when the very foundations of American democracy are under pressure and the past is being recast to serve political ends, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of The 1619 ProjectNikole Hannah-Jones returns to the John Adams Institute for an urgent conversation on the role of art and historical memory in the fight for freedom and justice.
This event draws inspiration from the bold and evocative work of painter Jacob Lawrence (1917-2000), whose vibrant visual storytelling chronicled Black life, struggle, and movement in America. His legacy, revived in a major new upcoming exhibition at Kunsthal KAdE in Amersfoort, reminds us that artists have long been historians of the people, countering silence with color, and absence with action. Read More
When & Where: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 2.30-4.30 PM at Dominicuskerk, Korte Korsjespoortsteeg. Moderator: Jennifer Tosch
No Limits Festival is a groundbreaking theatre festival taking place in The Hague this September, dedicated to accessibility and inclusion in the performing arts. Featuring performances created by artists with disabilities, the festival is an immersive and sensory exploration of our senses, identities, and societal boundaries. More info and tickets: www.hnt.nl/nl/no-limits-festival-5cl9
Huidhonger (Skin Hunger)
Date & Time: Thursday, 25 September 2025, 16:45–17:15 Location: Theater aan het Spui, Hall 2
A sensory performance merging dance, poetry, and sound to explore touch and its absence. Designed with blind and visually impaired audiences in mind, the piece prioritizes non-visual perception—sound becomes movement, scent becomes costume, warmth becomes distance. More info and tickets: www.hnt.nl/en/voorstellingen/huidhonger-jxbb
VALLICHT
Date & Time: Thursday, 25 September 2025, 17:45–19:05 Location: Theater aan het Spui, Hall 2
A heartfelt monologue by Romijn Conen, partly autobiographical. A man in his fifties, expelled from his home by his wife who urges him to step out from behind his limitations, sets off across the country on his three-wheeled bicycle to rediscover his value and identity in the face of aphasia. More info and tickets: https://www.hnt.nl/en/voorstellingen/vallicht-7wvx
Mark of a Woman
Date & Time: Thursday, 25 September 2025, 20:30–21:30 Location: Theater aan het Spui, Hall 1
A powerful multimedia performance by Chisato Minamimura that delves into women’s relationships with body marking and tattoo cultures. Features British Sign Language, visual vernacular, animation, and haptic (Woojer) technology for a more inclusive experience. Supports limited mobility, relaxed entry, and includes Dutch subtitles. More info and tickets: www.hnt.nl/en/voorstellingen/mark-of-a-woman-y6d9
Knowledge Session – Accessibility in Performing Arts
Date & Time: Thursday, 25 September 2025, 14:00–16:00 Location: Theater aan het Spui, Foyer
A collaborative session for arts professionals, focusing on reimagining accessibility within theatre. Includes lunch, a Dutch Sign Language interpreter, and reflections on who counts as a ‘professional’ in an evolving cultural landscape. The session closes with an optional viewing of Huidhonger at 15:45 for attendees. More info and tickets: https://www.hnt.nl/nl/voorstellingen/wie-is-een-professional-7w6d
Inclusive Ticketing Structure For each performance, you can choose among three ticket tiers: regular price, a reduced rate for those with fewer means, or a “support” rate if you’d like to contribute extra and help support accessibility. More info and tickets: www.hnt.nl/nl/no-limits-festival-5cl9
