On Thursday 3 April, The Hague will celebrate the Dag van de Voorschool (Day of Pre-School). On this open day (in Dutch), parents and carers can get to know the pre-school and register their children. The pre-school prepares children aged 2.5 to 4 for primary school in a playful manner. More and more parents in The Hague are discovering how valuable pre-school is for their child’s development. In The Hague, there are over 140 preschools where toddlers can take this important step in their development.
Pre-school increasingly well known among parents
Recently, there has been a clear increase in parents’ interest in pre-school. The Hague toddler consultants play an important role in this by informing and guiding them well. Parents who previously had doubts, now increasingly see the added value: a safe environment in which their toddler develops playfully, becomes more language-savvy and learns to play with other children. Toddler consultant Hafsa: ‘Some parents think that pre-school is only for children who do not yet speak Dutch well, but that is not true. All toddlers from 2.5 years old can learn and play here. This way, every child starts primary school with more self-confidence.’
Alderman Hilbert Bredemeijer: ‘At the pre-school, children get a good start at primary school. They learn to play together, are introduced to language. That is why we have made pre-school free of charge for children who really need it. To all parents who are interested or have questions, come along during the Day of Pre-school. Then you can see how valuable pre-school is for your child.”
3 April: come to the Day of Preschool
During the Day of Preschool, preschools all over The Hague open their doors. Parents and carers can visit a pre-school in their neighbourhood, ask questions and register their child directly. For more information and an overview of preschools in The Hague, visit www.voorschooldenhaag.nl (in Dutch)
The preschool: an important step
For many young children, the transition to primary school is a big step. The preschool offers them the chance to playfully build language skills, social interaction and self-confidence. At preschool, children aged 2.5 to 4 years learn new words, social skills and what it is like to work in a group in a playful way. The preschool is free for a large proportion of Hague toddlers. They are welcome 16 hours a week.
Welcome to our series of community stories about international residents in The Hague and surrounds.
Nilo Rondelli is a Brazilian author and a storyteller who connected his business experience and his passion for education with a master’s degree in development studies.
A father of two, he believes in the power of stories to shape young minds and inspire kindness, empathy, and emotional growth.
Currently living in the Netherlands, Nilo finds joy in writing, especially for children, crafting stories that nurture curiosity and resilience while making learning an engaging and magical experience.
Nilo shares his story below of how he became an author of children’s books in multiple languages.
Would you like to share your story with The Hague Online community? Please see our submission guidelines.
For several years, I stayed in mine: commercial executive. I can’t complain, I started my career as a Sales Representative and became a CEO before turning 40.
But success is relative. I still felt I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose.
I decided to take a leap of faith: I resigned from the corporate world, moved to the Netherlands with my wife and daughters, and returned to academia to pursue a master’s degree in Development Studies. I knew that education is a powerful tool for transforming lives—it changed mine. And I believe it will give my kids a better chance to succeed in the future.
I always tell my daughters they can be whoever they want, follow their dreams, and do what they love. I also remind them that we don’t have to limit ourselves to just one thing in life. But what about other children? I know not everyone has the same opportunities. Still, all of us are driven by our beliefs—and beliefs are shaped by stories. So let me tell you one:
Since my daughters were born, bedtime stories have become a tradition in our home. Until one day… we ran out of books. So, I started making up my own.
To my surprise, they loved them even more! My daughters encouraged me to write a book, but my first thought was: “I’m not an author.” I had put myself back in the box.
But then I decided to take my own advice. I picked the story they loved the most, wrote it down… and published it.
It may sound simple in one sentence, but in reality, it took me six months to make it happen. From deciding to write the book to actually finishing it, I had to overcome Impostor Syndrome and remind myself: the only thing that separates an author from a non-author is one book.
They say “good is the enemy of great.” But instead of paralyzing myself chasing perfection, I just did the best I could—with a lot of love and effort. After all, delivering something good beats never delivering something great.
To my surprise, it was good enough. My first book became a top seller—without investing a single cent in advertising. That gave me the courage to write a second book… and then start a series.
There is life outside the box. Leave your message to the world! And in the meantime, share mine with the kids you love and want to empower: 👉 https://amzn.eu/d/0fgzq9O
Series The Virtuous Dragons
Book 1 – The Humble Dragon and The White Flower
Available paperback format in English, Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese. Also available as e-book at Kindle in English and Portuguese.
On Saturday 5 April, the Atrium Den Haag will be all about music! Come by this afternoon between 13:00 and 17:00 and get to know everything that has to do with Hague music for children.
Discover and try out various instruments during the music market in the instrument garden and during the workshops, enjoy various performances and get to know the many music schools, music teachers, youth orchestras and music associations from the region of The Hague.
This musical afternoon will be opened by alderman for Education & Youth Hilbert Bredemeijer. The Hague Children’s Music Day is free of charge and is part of the national Children’s Music Week.
MamaSocial offers a fresh twist on your mama meet-ups, with a rotation of baby-friendly venues, delicious food, and a team of nannies for extra help. Parenting is easier when your friends are in the same walk of life and just get it.
We’re so excited to bring a pop-up edition of MamaSocial to The Hague! Let’s show the city what we’re all about 🙂
Ted’s is the perfect spot to enjoy a cozy, delicious brunch. It’s welcoming, super accessible, and has plenty of space for strollers and little ones to join in on the fun.
As always, we’ll have nannies on hand and a dedicated playmat close to the brunch table, giving your little ones a chance to stretch and play while we enjoy the morning. A photographer will be capturing the beautiful moments throughout the event. If you’d prefer not to be in any photos, just let us know on the day!
Keep an eye on our socials and email list to stay updated on who’s joining us and who our guest speaker will be.
Your ticket includes:
Juice or Mimosa on arrival
1 Hot Drink of your choice
Sourdough Toast with Avocado Guac and a Poached Egg, dressed with Rocket, Pickled Red Onion & Chili Mayo
Fries on the table
Exclusive gifts and discounts supported by local services and brands.
And, best of all… a table full of like-minded mamas with the opportunity to make lifelong connections!
This event is open to all mamas. Whether you’re on your journey with a newborn, toddler, baby, bump, or flying solo, everyone is welcome to join!
Please let us know via email if you have any dietary requirements.
See you there!
Please note:
Tickets are non-refundable, but I’m happy to transfer the name if you let me know via email in advance. I’d love to be more flexible, but since brunch is pre-ordered and guaranteed once the ticket is sold, I have to stick to this.
Your photo may be used for marketing purposes, so please let us know if you’d prefer not to have you or your little one photographed.
By purchasing a ticket, you agree to be signed up to the mailing list for information about future events.
Navigating the digital world is better together. Join this open forum and connect with other parents, caregivers, and teachers to share experiences, tips, and concerns!
In the week of International Women’s Day, join us for a 45-minute online open forum dedicated to navigating the challenges and opportunities of educating and raising children in the age of Generative AI and digital technology. This isn’t a lecture, it’s a conversation.
With technology rapidly evolving, we all have questions about how to guide the next generation safely and responsibly. Whether you are navigating AI tools, social media, digital learning platforms, or just curious about how others are handling these challenges, this forum is for you.
This event provides a supportive space for parents, caregivers, and teachers to come together and:
Share experiences: What has worked for you? What hasn’t? Let’s learn from each other’s journeys.
Exchange tips and tricks: From managing screen time to ensuring online safety, share practical advice that has helped you guide children through the digital landscape.
Voice concerns: Discuss the impact of Generative AI on childhood experiences, education, and social interactions.
Build community: Connect with others facing similar challenges and create a network of support and encouragement.
This event is inspired by the need to understand how Generative AI and digital technology influence the way we educate and raise children today. By sharing experiences and ideas, we can empower each other to make informed decisions that benefit our children’s growth and well-being.
This event will take place online, 12 March 2025, 9:30-10:15. It is free of charge. Language is English and Dutch. Register now to receive the event link and be part of this enriching conversation.
Are you parenting a child or adolescent with autism or ADHD?
This Parents Plus ‘Special Needs Programme’ in English is run online and gives you the opportunity to meet other parents in a supportive group to help your child to reach their full potential.
Support your child to:
Learn social skills and build friendships
Regulate themselves
Gain confidence and self-esteem
Be more independent
As a parent, learn how to:
Personally cope and manage stress
Deal with the challenges of autism/ADHD
Support the needs of your other children
Manage challenging behaviour
For more information, final dates and to reserve your place, see the flyers below and email Kelly Redden, kelly@logikevolution.com
ParentsPlus: Empowering Professionals to Support Families
Parents Plus is an Irish charity that develops practical, evidence-based parenting and mental health programmes. We train professionals working with children and families to deliver the programmes in communities and clinical settings. Our programmes support families to communicate effectively, build satisfying relationships and overcome emotional and behavioural problems.
