Join our Special Edition Handshake, organised as part of the programme “Ready 2 Engage: pathways to Climate Justice”.
Join us for a special edition of The Handshake, our interactive event series connecting aspiring changemakers with experienced professionals in the peace & justice and “for good” sectors. This edition is presented as part of the programme “Ready 2 Engage: Pathways to Climate Justice”. A limited number of seats have been opened up for the public—register soon to secure your spot!
We are thrilled to welcome Max Koffi, the founder of Equal Trade Alliance, to share his personal and professional journey.
Whether you’re a student, a young professional, or considering a career shift, this is your opportunity to:
Hear Max’s inspiring story of transforming global trade through justice, equality, and shared prosperity.
Explore how to start a project in advancing global equity, sustainable trade, and economic justice by empowering African communities through fair compensation, advocacy, and innovative trade solutions.
Ask your burning questions in an open Q&A
Connect with like-minded peers and professionals
Meet Max
Max Koffi is the founder of the Equal Trade Alliance and Director of Africa In Motion, where he works on developing new economic models aimed at creating more equitable global value chains between Africa and Europe.
His work focuses on revenue-sharing, co-ownership, diaspora entrepreneurship, and sustainable value creation through initiatives such as Producer–Diaspora-Owned Ventures. With a background in intercultural communication and international collaboration, Max connects students, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and producers to explore practical alternatives to extractive trade systems.
He regularly gives lectures and workshops at universities and international platforms on topics including global trade reform, entrepreneurship, intercultural cooperation, and economic justice.
Practical information:
When: Monday, May 18th | 17:15-18:00, walk-in at 17:00
Where: The Hague Humanity Hub
Costs: Free of charge
What is The Handshake?
A series of inspirational sessions about careers that shine a spotlight on leading voices in the peace and justice ecosystem. Through honest conversations and personal stories, The Handshake offers a glimpse behind the scenes of real careers, beyond titles and job descriptions.
Participants can join in directly and ask their pressing questions about careers, developments in the field, and the key skills future professionals will need. For those who find the peace and justice sector daunting or don’t know where to start, these conversations offer practical insights and help set realistic expectations for the future.
Join us for our regular monthly meeting at ROOM in The Hague.
Share your business experiences and network with our members and other guests. Be sure to bring along your business cards!
Date:Thursday 28 May 2026 Location:IN-PERSON at ROOM Next Door 19:00:Doors open for networking 19:30:Meeting, speaker, questions, followed by networking (till 22:00)
2 drinks and snacks included!
Our topic this month: Bounce Forward: Building resilience and more after adversity
Have you faced unexpected challenges like job loss, divorce, harsh feedback, health issues or a burn-out? While bouncing back is common, what if you could bounce forward? Join this interactive workshop to learn how to build resilience and move beyond recovery to a place of renewed empowerment, strength and insight.
This is what you will get out of this workshop:
The coping mechanisms people adopt when reacting to adversity
4 steps to Bounce Forward
The 5 ways to be kind to yourself
About our speaker:
After having lost her best friend in 2020 to breast cancer,Marjolein van der Krukhas bounced forward and pivoted her innovation business. She now devotes her work to empower seasoned women who are stuck and are longing for more to become their own best friend, and take courageous steps toward a life on their own terms.
She brings together a blend of expertise from 18 years of corporate experience in leadership positions, her training and practice as an ICF-certified Coach, her Certificates in Applied Positive Psychology and Emotional Intelligence and her role as a senior leadership trainer for the School of Leadership.
Please note that this is a women-only event that intends an inclusive definition of women. We are welcoming and respectful of women, including trans women and any others who identify as a woman in a way that is significant to them.
In accordance with GDPR legislation, we are informing you that it is customary for photographs and videos to be taken during our events. If you do not wish to be in any photographs or video footage, or you do not want your name included on our guest list, please indicate this in the comments when registering and/or notify a member of our Events Team (see above).
Please understand that opinions expressed during this event are those of the speaker/presenter, and not of the WBII.
Starting a business is often associated with freedom, flexibility and the opportunity to build something of your own. While all of that can be true, the reality is more complex. Becoming a business owner is not just about having a good idea. It requires commitment, structure and a willingness to learn quickly.
In the Netherlands, the process of setting up a business is clear and well supported. However, a well-defined system does not remove the need for strong foundations or the day-to-day realities of running a business.
The mindset shift: from idea to responsibility
One of the biggest shifts for new business owners is mindset. You are no longer just doing the work; you are responsible for everything around it.
That includes:
Decision-making without a safety net
Managing uncertainty
Taking ownership of both success and failure
Whether you are a freelancer working with international clients or setting up a local service, the responsibility sits with you. It is less about “being your own boss” and more about being accountable for how the business operates.
I know when I first set up my business in the UK, I was still acting like an employee. I would sit at my desk at 9am, check emails, follow up, lunch from 12-1pm, then more emails, project work then finish at 5pm. It took a while to realise that the routine and daily grind was up to me.
Owning a business does give you control over your direction. But it also means:
You create your own structure
You manage your own workload
You build your own momentum
There is no fixed path. That is both the opportunity and the challenge.
A structured system, but not a simple journey
One of the advantages of starting a business in the Netherlands is the structure. The process is clearly defined, and once you understand it, it is relatively straightforward to follow.
Choose a legal structure, such as a sole proprietorship or a BV
This structure provides a strong starting point. But it does not replace the need to understand how your business actually works.
In cities like The Hague, where international professionals, local communities, and small businesses all interact, this becomes even more important. You are often operating in a mixed environment, which requires clarity in who you serve and how you position your business.
Although I am based in Leiden, I quickly realised that my client base did not need to be limited by geography. Looking beyond my immediate area opened up opportunities to work with international clients and organisations across the region.
Foundations matter more than speed
It can be tempting to launch quickly, especially when the setup process feels efficient. But strong businesses are not built on speed, they are built on clarity.
Before focusing on growth, you need to understand:
What your business actually does
Who it serves
How it delivers value
How money flows in and out
Without this foundation, even a business with strong demand can become difficult to manage. Opportunities are constantly emerging, but not all of them contribute to long-term progress. Some can take time and energy without delivering meaningful results.
In my own experience, building a network early on made a significant difference. Attending local events, connecting with other business owners and simply being open to conversation led to some of the strongest working relationships I have today.
Being clear about what you offer is equally important. People cannot recommend you if they do not fully understand what you do.
Learning through experience
I have set up two businesses in The Netherlands. The first was an Eenmanszaak, or sole trader and the other was a VOF, or general partnership. The process in The Hague was fairly straightforward, particularly for a non-Dutch speaker where I had initial concerns about my ability to follow the requirements. The staff were helpful and the process was around 15-20 minutes.
At the time I still had the UK business so I closed that down and focussed on growing in The Netherlands but knowing I could still do business in the UK and abroad with the right set up.
Banking was one of the biggest challenges I had, as I needed flexibility to be able to support multi-currency transactions. Yes, there are Dutch banks, but I looked for an online bank that gave me flexibility and decent rates.
I also knew that visibility consistency is key. I looked at my SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to evaluate what weaknesses I needed to work on and strengthen. I engaged with other businesses and started to meet people. Some of my best working relationships have come from being open to a conversation.
Resilience and adaptability
No business journey is entirely predictable. Markets shift, client needs evolve and initial ideas often change over time.
In an international city like The Hague, these changes can happen quickly. What resonates with one audience may not connect with another.
Successful business owners are those who continue to learn, adapt and remain consistent. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about navigating them with clarity and perspective.
Building something sustainable
Ultimately, being a business owner is about building something sustainable. It involves balancing ambition with structure, being open to opportunities while staying grounded in clear foundations.
For me, that has meant being intentional about where I invest time and energy, and recognising that not every opportunity is the right one. A business is not only defined by what it offers, but also by how it is built and maintained over time.
For those starting out in the Netherlands, the systems are in place to support you. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in how you use them.
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About the Author
Louisa Stewart is one of the founders of Setting Up Shop, Foundational Business Mastery for New Entrepreneurs. With Mindset Coach Tony Gordon, Storyteller extraordinaire Mags Thomson and Louisa as the data wizard, we provide clear, honest advice about getting your business off the ground in the first 12 months.
Becoming a Business Owner
Visit https://settingupshop.online and download our free guide ten recipes about running a business; the kind of things we wish someone had told us when we first started. Each one comes with some ingredients and a question to help you reflect, refocus, and move forward with confidence. Because who doesn’t love cake!
Are you between 15 and 30 and ready to move beyond awareness into real impact?
Ready to Engage is a two-month youth programme in The Hague that helps young people transform their concern about climate change into practical initiatives for a more just and sustainable future.
Through workshops, coaching, and collaboration with experts and peers, you will develop your ideas into a concrete action plan – and take your first steps as a climate changemaker.
Are you interested? Keep reading for more information and how to apply!
The Webster Leiden Campus is offering a new Entrepreneurship Launchpad course which will run for 4 weeks in June. Taught in English, the course is designed for internationals and expats who want to start or expand a business in the Netherlands. Participants will learn how to build and grow a sustainable business in the Netherlands. At the same time, they will develop practical entrepreneurial skills, including industry engagement, networking and local business connections, leadership, peer interaction, and much more. The course is taught by experienced professionals.
Webster Leiden is an international campus of Webster University, which has over a century of experience providing accredited education worldwide. Established in 1983, the Leiden campus has been delivering a globally minded education in the Netherlands for four decades, bringing together a highly international student community in small, discussion-based classes with close faculty engagement.
Key Facts
• Part of Webster University’s global campus network
• Location: Leiden – 10- minute walk from Leiden Central Station
The nominations for the Haagse Parel entrepreneurship award have been announced. This award is presented annually to companies that make a special contribution to the Hague economy. In the Exceptional Contribution category, Apotheek Pillen & Praten, Eye Security, and Social Capital have been nominated. The nominees in the Sustainable Enterprise category are: Hubbel Stadslogistiek, Mammoet Oude Bouwmaterialen, and Seepje.
Exceptional contribution In the Exceptional Contribution category, Apotheek Pillen & Praten has been nominated, an innovative and committed pharmacy in The Hague that combines care with personal guidance and prevention. In addition to regular care, they offer support with quitting smoking, lifestyle programs, and initiatives against loneliness. The second contender is Eye Security, a fast-growing cybersecurity company. Using smart AI and the deployment of experts, threats are quickly detected and addressed so that systems continue to run securely. Finally, Social Capital is in the running for the The Hague Entrepreneur Award. Social Capital is a social staffing agency that helps people with a structural need for guidance find sustainable paid work in the hospitality industry. Through work-study placements, such as at Happy Tosti, employees develop their skills and transition to regular employers.
Sustainable enterprise In the Sustainable Enterprise category, three companies have also been nominated that stand a chance of winning a Haagse Parel. Hubbel Stadslogistiek makes transport in the city smart, green, and social. In their city hub on the outskirts of The Hague, they collect goods that they deliver by neighborhood. As a result, up to 80% fewer trips are needed in the city. The remaining trips are completely emission-free. The second nomination is for Mammoet Oude Bouwmaterialen, a family business specializing in authentic building materials. Original elements, primarily from 1930s homes, are given a second life with them. The final contender in this category is Seepje, a Hague-based soap maker with a clear mission: clean without mess. Instead of petroleum-based ingredients, they opt for natural, safer alternatives.
Public and jury votes The winner of the Haagse Parel 2026 will be determined by both the public and a professional jury. From Tuesday, April 7 to Thursday, May 7 at 12:00 PM, the public can vote via http://www.haagseparel.nl/ . Public votes account for 40% of the final result.
The remaining 60% is determined by the expert jury: Harry Wientjens (Economic Board The Hague), Karima el Bouchtaoui (VNO-NCW The Hague region), Pieter Scholten (MKB The Hague), Stefan Baecke (Yespers, winner Sustainable Enterprise 2025) and Daan Krijger (Nelis Company, winner Exceptional Contribution 2025).
Alderman for SMEs, Employment and Participation, Nur Icar: “This year, six wonderful companies have once again been nominated for the Haagse Parel. Entrepreneurs who are socially engaged or committed to a sustainable The Hague. And I think it is incredibly wonderful that they offer our residents opportunities in the labour market and thereby contribute to employment. I invite everyone to vote and help decide who wins the Haagse Parel!”
The Hague Inspires! The presentation of the Haagse Parel will take place during the entrepreneur event Den Haag Inspireert! on Friday, May 29, at the World Forum The Hague. Entrepreneurs who wish to attend can register for a free ticket.
