1.7 million euros for innovation, business park and connection between education and the labor market
A city broker helps companies find suitable locations in the Delft Innovation District or elsewhere in the region. An immersive experience lab where port employees can practice safely loading and unloading hazardous materials in a simulated VR environment. These are two examples of seven projects to which the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region (MRDH) awarded grants this month. The investment totals €1.7 million.
The goal is to create jobs and strengthen the region’s appeal. This requires economic and technological innovation. The 21 municipalities, as the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region, are collaborating intensively with knowledge institutions and businesses. This will create a sustainable, prosperous, and attractive region for residents and businesses.
Saskia Bruines, chair of the MRDH Economic Business Climate Executive Committee: “We can only strengthen the regional economy through intensive collaboration. Together, we can increase job opportunities, provide entrepreneurs with more space, and make optimal use of scarce physical space. That’s why we’re joining forces with 21 municipalities and making this investment as a Metropolitan Region. This will support a vibrant economy for the benefit of everyone who lives, works, and enjoys recreation here.”
Project contributions
Improving the connection between education and the labor market
Regional Innovation Hub for Immersive Technology in Rotterdam (450,195 euros)
This innovation hub in Katoenhuis, in Rotterdam’s Merwe-Vierhavens area (M4H), forms the heart of the regional Immersive Tech ecosystem. It serves as a central meeting place for educational institutions, businesses, knowledge partners, and government agencies active in the field of Immersive Tech. With this, the MRDH is taking an important step towards a better qualified and educated workforce in the region and improving the connection between education and the labor market.
Innovation and SMEs
Innovation hub Visafslag Scheveningen in The Hague (90,000 euros)
In the port of Scheveningen (formerly the Visafslag), a 2,000 m² development space will become available in early 2026 for educational institutions and businesses in the blue economy. With this contribution, the involved parties will begin exploring the possibilities of creating a practical space, a living lab, for water-related applications.
Quantum Ecosystem South Holland (225,000 euros)
The quantum ecosystem in South Holland, with Quantum Delft as an international hotspot, will continue in 2026-2028. After a successful initial phase, hubs in Leiden and Delft have intensified their collaboration and two quantum communication networks have been established. The new phase focuses on supporting startups, connecting with end users, attracting talent, and strengthening connections with national initiatives like Quantum NL.
Delft Innovation District (398,955 euros)
The Delft Innovation District combines the TU Delft Campus, Schieoevers, and Delftechpark into a dynamic area with knowledge institutions, field labs, startups, and scale-ups. Delft serves as an incubator for companies contributing to transitions in energy, mobility, digitalization, and sustainability. With the Delft Innovation District project – more broadly connected to the region – Delft is working on three pillars: connecting growing companies with locations in the metropolitan region through the deployment of a city broker; redeveloping business parks into future-proof work locations for innovative manufacturing; and strengthening communities through networking activities and a digital platform.
Space for work
The MRDH is investing in three projects that contribute to a smarter and more sustainable use of existing industrial estates.
Better Utilization of Industrial Estates in East Barendrecht (200,000 euros)
The municipality of Barendrecht is working to create a future-proof business park in Barendrecht-Oost. The project focuses on improved spatial utilization, sustainability, and stronger connections with the surrounding area, including the development of the Stationstuinen and Nieuw-Reijerwaard areas. The MRDH grant will enable the development of a program and action plan to strengthen the site within the Dutch Fresh Port cluster.
Space for Direction – Vlaardingen (186,074 euros)
In Vlaardingen, the municipality is using leasehold as a means to better utilize industrial estates and improve spatial quality. A three-year pilot program at three industrial estates in Vlaardingen is investigating how leasehold conditions, data, and enforcement contribute to improved spatial utilization. The MRDH supports this initiative because it contributes to more efficient use of industrial estates and a more attractive business climate.
Exploration of the Working Landscape – Nissewaard (155,634 euros)
In Nissewaard, the municipality is exploring how it can provide space for businesses seeking to grow or establish themselves in the region. This project addresses the growing demand for commercial space on the Left Bank of the Meuse.
Photo: SenseGlove production in Katoenhuis – credit Boudewijn Bollmann.
Dutch singer and musical actor Shay Lachman, born and raised in The Hague, will star in the lead role of Universal Music’s new stage production Once Upon a Time in Dubai.
The production opens in November 2025 in Dubai and runs through February 2026. They’re currently planning a tour in America from February 2026.
Lachman is known for performing in Disney’s Aladdin musical in The Hague and for appearances on luxury cruise stages and major musical productions. He now steps onto an international platform to connect with a global audience. The show blends contemporary pop with cinematic staging and brings Dubai’s energy to the theatre.
“I’m proud to carry a bit of The Hague onto an international stage,” says Lachman. “This role is a milestone and a chance to speak to audiences from many cultures through music and story.”
Highlights
Lead role in Once Upon a Time in Dubai
Engagement: November 2025 to February 2026
Hometown: The Hague, Netherlands; now performing internationally
Prior credits include Disney’s Aladdin
About Shay Lachman Shay Lachman is a Dutch singer and musical actor based in Amsterdam. He has performed worldwide and focuses on projects that connect diverse audiences.
On Sunday, Little Dutch Farm marked its first anniversary with a relaxed outdoor gathering in the Dutch countryside in Wijdenes, just over an hour’s drive from The Hague.
Guests enjoyed a delicious lunch and conversation – a fitting way to celebrate a year of growth and connection.
Founded by Kim Taylor, Little Dutch Farm has a peaceful setting where visitors focus on wellbeing, nature, and community. This first birthday event brought together friends and supporters who have helped the farm develop over the past year.
Over the past twelve months, the farm has hosted a range of nature retreats for individuals and companies, offering visitors the chance to slow down and reconnect with the land.
As previously featured on The Hague Online, these retreats invite participants to explore mindfulness, creativity, and local food experiences in a relaxed rural environment.
For more information, visit the Little Dutch Farm website:
De Grote Schijn audiovisual walk returns to Rotterdam this fall. For the sixth time, Kralingse Bos will provide a captivating backdrop for a unique autumn walk. Whispering trees, fascinating light projections, and enchanting sounds bring the forest to life! Immerse yourself in a magical world where technology, music, and nature converge during a new two-kilometer walk.
“During De Grote Schijn, the boundaries between technology and nature, between reality and fantasy, blur. We strive to create a world where you can escape the everyday. Where you can wander for a moment in a reality that feels as if it has always been there.” – Christophe Van Hostauijen, director
De Grote Schijn takes place every evening after sunset, from October 16th to November 2nd.
De Grote Schijn October 16 – November 2 – takes place every evening after sunset, from Kralingse Bos, Rotterdam
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
THE TONY AND GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSICAL PLAYING AT ROYAL THEATRE CARRÉ – MUST END 6 SEPTEMBER
The internationally acclaimed Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin is currently playing in the Netherlands until 6 September – don’t miss it!
This Broadway original is produced in the Netherlands in its original language (English), with a UK and Dutch mixed cast, and with direct involvement from the original creative team.
Hadestown premiered in June 2025 at Royal Theatre Carré for a strictly limited season. This unique production is initiated and led by Royal Theatre Carré under the banner of Broadway in Carré, which brings the highest quality West End and Broadway productions to the Netherlands.
Meet the cast of Hadestown
The role of Hermes, the charismatic and quick-witted narrator who guides the audience through the highs and lows of this mythic journey, is shared by Claudia de Breij and Maarten Heijmans. Claudia is a comedian, author, radio host, singer, and theatre creator and makes her musical debut in Hadestown. Maarten is an acclaimed actor and singer, best known for his portrayal of Ramses Shaffy in the television series Ramses, among other notable roles and work as a singer and musician.
Jeangu Macrooy (Jesus Christ Superstar, Eurovision 2021) brings his rich vocals and emotional depth to Orpheus, an idealistic musician whose belief in the power of song drives him to defy fate. Sara Afiba (De Hospita) plays Eurydice, a fiercely independent young woman struggling to survive in a world that offers her little mercy.
Edwin Jonker (Goede Tijden Slechte Tijden, Jesus Christ Superstar) as Hades embodies the powerful yet conflicted King of the Underworld, ruling over a world of industry and order. Joy Wielkens, a Dutch actress, singer and theatermaker brings fire and longing to the role of the goddess Persephone, who is torn between two worlds—only she can make spring come again.
They are joined by a stellar company of some of the greatest artists from across the Netherlands and London’s West End, featuring a strong mix of Dutch and UK talent. The mysterious Fates, played by Jony Ayton-Kent, April Darby, and Aïcha Gill, weave destiny with haunting harmonies, foreshadowing the story’s twists. The roles of the workers and swings include Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Winny Herbert, Maxime Karsten, Willemijn Maandag, Simon Oskarsson, Melissa Otten, Lucas Schilperoort, Christopher Short, and Micky Vermeer.
A unique, international casting process
Casting for Hadestown was an intensive, months-long process, with auditions running simultaneously in London and Amsterdam. The casting team, including directors, musical supervisors, and producers, deliberately looked beyond the traditional musical theatre world.
Madeleine van der Zwaan, director at Royal Theatre Carré:
“In Hadestown, it’s all about authenticity and individuality—being who you are and staying true to yourself. Each character has a clear identity, but every actor brings their own intent and personal essence to the role. This was a key focus in the audition process, beyond just vocal and acting ability.”
Rather than following expected industry routes, the selection process focused on authenticity and individual artistry. The result is a strong ensemble, with a mix of established musical stars, actors, musicians, and vocal talents, forming a dynamic and diverse company. The final cast reflects the remarkable depth of talent in the Netherlands, with a majority of Dutch artists—an outcome that was not predetermined but emerged naturally through the audition process. They are joined on stage by several original UK cast members that starred in Hadestown’s West End premiere.
The sound of Hadestown
The sound of Hadestown blends modern folk with New Orleans-inspired jazz, creating a musical experience unlike any other. The Original Broadway Cast Recording remains one of the most streamed cast albums ever, with over 350 million streams to date.
Beyond its captivating sound, Hadestown stands out for its socially relevant themes, particularly through its lyrics. Songs like “Why We Build the Wall” explore issues of economic disparity, fear-driven politics, and social division. Anaïs Mitchell’s lyrics throughout the musical tackle themes of hope, resilience, and systemic injustice, making Hadestown not just an artistic masterpiece but also a powerful commentary on contemporary society.
A Broadway phenomenon
Hadestown intertwines two love stories: the journey of Orpheus and Eurydice, and the complex relationship between Hades and Persephone. Through the voice of Hermes, the audience is taken on an emotional ride to the underworld and back, exploring themes of faith, doubt, love, and fear.
The New York production of Hadestown is the longest-running show in the 100-year history of the Walter Kerr Theater and continues to be one of Broadway’s top-grossing musicals. The London production opened in February 2024 to huge critical acclaim at the Lyric Theatre, following a sold-out run at the Royal National Theatre. This Dutch premiere marks a rare moment in musical theatre—a Broadway original produced in the Netherlands.
Tickets and additional information are available via Hadestown.nl.
Royal Theatre Carré Amsterdam
Royal Theatre Carré is the most iconic theatre in the Netherlands. Renowned for its exclusive programming of national and international theatre productions of the highest caliber, Carré offers an unparalleled theatrical experience across all genres—from circus and cabaret to pop concerts and opera. For over 137 years, more than 400,000 visitors annually have flocked to the famous theatre on the Amstel River to experience the magic of Carré.
Scenphotography/Images: Danny Kaan
Tickets and additional information are available via Hadestown.nl.
