Venue provided complimentary drinks during Sherika’s visit for this feature. The Hague Online retained editorial control, and the views expressed are the writer’s own
From the outside, the name gives nothing away. Café Marlo has no direct meaning, but it carries a sound close to the Japanese word maroyaka – meaning soft, warm, or mild. Walking in, I can confirm: the name fits perfectly.
This is The Hague’s newest Japanese café, and it is not what you might expect. There is no sushi here, no elaborate omakase, no long tasting menus. What Café Marlo offers instead is something far more personal: the food that Japanese people actually eat every day. The kind of food a mother makes. Nourishing, light, honest food that is good for your body.
Start with the matcha. Café Marlo uses two types – ceremonial grade for hot drinks and Shizuoka which pairs better with milk for everyday drinks. If you know your matcha, you will taste the difference immediately. If you don’t, this is a very good place to start learning.
The must-order, is the fruit sando. A Japanese fruit sandwich sounds like something that should not work – and then you take one bite and understand immediately why it has become a cult item across Japan and, slowly, across the world. Soft milk bread, lightly sweetened cream, seasonal fruit. It is simple in the best possible way.
For something more substantial, the onigiri is your answer. Café Marlo focuses on fresh, handmade onigiri served warm – which is how it should be eaten. If you have been reaching for sushi as your go-to Japanese option, consider this your gentle nudge to try something closer to what actually fills Japanese tables at lunchtime. Rice, filling, nori. Healthy, satisfying, completely unpretentious.
Café Marlo sits on Hooikade, and the location alone is reason enough to visit. The canal-side setting, the cobalt blue door, the sense that you have stepped somewhere slightly removed from the rest of the city – it makes the whole experience feel like a small escape. The kind of place you find yourself wanting to return to on a slow Tuesday when you need something that feels good.
The owners are genuinely lovely. You feel that from the moment you walk in – there is a care here that goes beyond the food, a sense that this café was opened because these two people truly love what they do and want to share it.
Café Marlo is located at Hooikade 1, The Hague. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. Find them on Instagram
Go for the matcha. Stay for the fruit sando. Leave feeling, as the name promises, warm.
Images: Sherika Rooplal-Clappers
Do you have a story about your own café, restaurant or bar in the city? Reach out to sherika@thehagueonline.com to possibly be featured.
Sherika Rooplal-Clappers is a contributing writer for The Hague Online, covering culture, lifestyle, and local events. With a passion for storytelling and international perspectives, she highlights the people, places, and experiences that make The Hague a dynamic city.
The Alliance Française of The Hague and the Entente des Associations Francophones are delighted to invite you to a festive seaside celebration at De Waterreus on Scheveningen Beach, bringing together the spirit of France’s National Day in a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
📅 Saturday, 11 July 2026 🕓 From 4:00 PM 📍 De Waterreus, Scheveningen
Whether you are French, French-speaking, a Francophile, or simply looking to enjoy a convivial evening in a unique setting, this event is for you!
Programme highlights :
🎤 Live concert by Isa Bornau, winner of the 2026 Francophone Song Contest in the Netherlands
🍽️ Grand Surf & Turf Barbecue
🪩 Dance party with a live DJ
🎟️ Raffle featuring a wide range of prizes generously offered by our French and international partners – tickets available via this link : Événement – Alliance Française
The celebration will be attended by institutional representatives, including Consul General Catherine Feuillet, underscoring the symbolic importance of this event for the French community in the Netherlands.
Practical information :
• Free admission for children under 3 • Children’s menu to be paid directly on site (€15.50) • Vegetarian option available upon request
• Easily accessible by public transport, just a short walk from tram line 11, with parking available 200 metres away and bicycle parking directly opposite the venue.
Reserve your tickets today and join The Hague’s French-speaking and Francophile community for a memorable celebration of France’s National Day by the sea !
In ACCESS Stories this month, Nataliya Volosovych shares how she moved from Florida to Rotterdam in 2010 with her husband, hoping to build a life closer to Ukraine. Over time, she rebuilt her photography career, found community, raised her children in the Netherlands, and grew a business that now has a studio in The Hague. Her sense of belonging became clear when the idea of moving again made her realise that the Netherlands had become home.
ACCESS is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation that has supported the international community in the Netherlands since 1986. English-speaking volunteers provide free, independent information and guidance on living, working and settling in the Netherlands, via a helpdesk, email support and partnerships across the country.
Venue provided complimentary food and drinks during Sherika’s visit for this feature. The Hague Online retained editorial control, and the views expressed are the writer’s own
No summer is complete without good ice cream, or better yet, gelato. But the latest spot to open in our city is no ordinary place. Don’t expect the usual flavours like plain vanilla or strawberry. Instead, tap into how you’re feeling and let that guide you. Perhaps you’re new to the city and need a fresh start, or you’re going through a challenging period in life right now and need a reminder that there is still light to be discovered even in the darkest moments. Well, Soul Be It has a flavour and a space for you.
This spot – and the woman behind it – has a special story. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Karen SL Huang moved to The Hague about nine years ago, after spending her whole career in the high-pressure world of advertising and later, marketing. She always had a dream to open her own gelateria since she was a child, and this feeling persisted until, around two years ago, she made the decision to really go after it. Now, Soul Be It is open for everyone to enjoy – a meeting place for friends to catch up, with a record player playing softly in the background and books on mindfulness scattered about.
I was really touched by the passion Karen has. She’s not trying to churn customers in and out of her store quickly; instead, she wants to bring three things to the city that work together: emotions + flavours + connection. The sleek interior feels like an extension of Karen’s own home – and an extension of yours, too. When she saw her customers sitting down, enjoying the gelato and reading some books, this was when she knew her dream had been realised.
It was hard to pick a favourite from the flavours, so instead, I’ll share the story behind a few of them. Fresh Start – to signify that every day is a chance to start over: a sorbet made up of pear and mint. The burst of freshness was undeniable, with an almost savoury feel, and the flavour could even work as part of a palate cleanser between courses.
A Light Unto the Darkness – a reminder that even during the hardest moments in life, there is often a silver lining if we remember to look for it. The taste of dark chocolate comes together in a gorgeous richness without being too bitter, with a hint of orange zest that cuts through.
Rosemary, Greek yoghurt, pink peppercorn — Gezellig is built on a taste you never knew you needed. The flavour takes its name from the Dutch expression for cosiness and warmth, and kumquat compote pieces round it out with a surprising sweetness.
Beyond the storytelling, there’s substance too – most of the ingredients are organic, and Karen is looking to increase that even more. Everything is freshly made every day. You’ll want to come back often, not only to try the new flavour of the week, but also to chat with Karen and have a moment to yourself, with a friend or family member.
Soul Be It is located on Heulstraat 25, walking distance from the Binnenhof
Images: Sherika Rooplal-Clappers
Do you have a story about your own café, restaurant or bar in the city? Reach out to sherika@thehagueonline.com to possibly be featured.
Sherika Rooplal-Clappers is a contributing writer for The Hague Online, covering culture, lifestyle, and local events. With a passion for storytelling and international perspectives, she highlights the people, places, and experiences that make The Hague a dynamic city.
What if I told you that one of Portugal’s greatest cultural experiences isn’t found in a museum, but around a dining table?
The tasca is more than a restaurant — it’s a place where locals come together to gather, share, and connect as a community. It is a celebration of authentic flavours, local traditions, and the relationships built over a meal. Because sometimes, food tells the best stories.
If you’re traveling to Portugal this summer, chances are you already have a list of must-see attractions. But there’s one experience that may not be on your radar: the tasca. These beloved local establishments have long been at the heart of Portuguese communities, and now Portugal is inviting the world to discover their charm.
Click here to view the extensive list of tascas around the country. From duck rice, to bacalhau (cod fish) – your taste buds are in for a treat.
In ACCESS Stories this month, Ana Denis shares her story of rebuilding her life, career and sense of belonging after moving from Russia to the Netherlands.
Ana had built a career in cybersecurity, travelled widely and started her own sustainable fashion project before moving to the Netherlands during the COVID period. At first, the move felt exciting. But when the war between Russia and Ukraine began, her situation changed dramatically. Her income was affected, her husband lost his job, and she found herself trying to build a new life in a new country without the usual support of a familiar home market.
Her story reflects a question many internationals face after moving abroad: who am I now?
For Ana, the answer began to emerge through conversations. She interviewed women from around the world who had reinvented themselves after moving countries or changing careers. Those conversations eventually led to her book, Reinvento: Expat’s Guide to Reinventing Your Career and Identity.
The Hague also became part of her own reinvention. After joining TEDxTheHague, Ana rediscovered her love of speaking and presenting. Hosting events, sharing stories and helping others feel welcome gave her a renewed sense of purpose.
Her story is a reminder that starting over abroad can be painful, uncertain and lonely, but it can also open the door to new communities, new work and a new understanding of where we belong.
ACCESS is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit organisation that has supported the international community in the Netherlands since 1986. English-speaking volunteers provide free, independent information and guidance on living, working and settling in the Netherlands, via a helpdesk, email support and partnerships across the country.
