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.
In ACCESS Stories this month, Deborah Valentine shares insights and experiences around navigating death while living abroad…
Suddenly a friend dies, a colleague who is a central part of your working environment. Now many of us are learning at a different speed in a different register. Grief has a way of stripping the tourist layer from everything. What you encounter during those first days and weeks is the country at its most unguarded, and yourself at your most vulnerable.
Before you move abroad, no one tells you about the bureaucracy of dying. Death in a foreign country — or the death of someone at home while you live abroad — generates a huge stack of paperwork that ignores the fact that you’re in a state of grief. However, within that state we had a wonderful sense of surprise that even in bureaucracy and rules, there is also care and respect.
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
It was while living in Australia, in a tiny mining town, that Clo Darras met her Dutch partner Ziggy Douw. It was there that they heard locals share the story of the Green Birdflower plant — small and unassuming, you most likely wouldn’t even notice it, and that would be a shame, as its leaves are uniquely shaped like a bird. A wonderful reminder to stop and take a moment to look around you, as beauty surrounds us all the time. Ziggy gifted the plant to Clo on a date, so it holds a special place for the couple, and it felt only natural that it would become the name of their now beloved café, Birdflower, located at Professor Kaiserstraat 55.
After travelling the world for 10 years, cooking in different restaurants and learning as much as they could about food and flavour, the couple decided to make The Hague home — where Ziggy is originally from. Clo, being French, made the city her own and felt at home here from day one. With the large expat community, it was easy to make connections, and Clo loved that nature was always around the corner — from the beach to the dunes, greenery can easily be found here.
The couple experimented with a pop-up during Covid, which was a success, and then decided to turn it into a café. This July, they will celebrate the café’s 4th birthday. The menu changes every three months — everything homemade — and they only cook and bake with ingredients that are in season, staying true to nature. This means everything on the menu is fresh and the produce is at its most delicious. Clo is extremely passionate about locally sourced ingredients and supporting the suppliers who care for them, including miso sourced from a Japanese supplier in the city, made from buckwheat rather than soy. She lights up talking about it, and that passion also comes through in the food itself — the pastries are beautifully crafted works of art that tell a story when you eat them.
The menu is made up mainly of pastries and a handful of other items, including some Asian-inspired dishes such as kimchi toast. The kimchi is punchy and bursting with complex, savoury flavour, paired with nutty Comté cheese and sandwiched between soft sourdough toasted to golden perfection, served with a dollop of rich, tangy mayo — all proudly made by Clo and Ziggy. They also offer seasonal drinks like juices and iced teas, and rotate their coffee beans throughout the year — fruitier blends for spring and summer, shifting to deeper, warmer roasts in the colder months.
I tried the vegan pistachio and raspberry cookies — indulgent and chewy, and more than satisfying for any vegan. The chocolate torte, made with hazelnut mascarpone, olive oil and sea salt, was rich, moreish, and my personal favourite. The vanilla cheesecake — gluten-free, with chocolate crémeux and fresh berries — is a decadent, artisanal dessert that combines a velvety, dense texture with rich contrasting layers and vibrant toppings. And Clo’s personal pick? The pain au chocolat, one of the best in the city — it will transport you straight to Paris.
An honourable mention goes to the iced chai latte. As someone of South Asian descent, chai is often botched in Western cafés, so I was thoroughly satisfied with this one and would happily return for it.
Clo is clearly passionate about the hard work that goes into the café, and supporting the local community is what drives her — she wins when they win, a shared joy all round.
Earlier this year, the couple opened a second location — a takeaway spot at Azaleaplein 1K — and for their sit down café, they have plans for some small renovations and a more streamlined menu in the coming months, allowing them to focus on what is truly working: the coffee, pastries and sandwiches.
No visit to The Hague is complete without stopping into Birdflower. And as a reminder — I hope you take a moment to pause during your busy day and look out for the beauty that surrounds you. It’s probably closer than you think.
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.
Images: Sherika Rooplal-Clappers and Sheryl Holliday
The tradition of celebrating the Dutch monarch’s birthday dates back to 1885, when Princess Wilhelmina’s fifth birthday was marked with national festivities. It was originally called Prinsessedag, then became Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) as the Netherlands was ruled by queens for much of the 20th century — first Wilhelmina, then Juliana, then Beatrix. Queen’s Day was famously celebrated on 30 April. When King Willem-Alexander took the throne in 2013, the holiday was renamed Koningsdag and the date shifted to his actual birthday: 27 April. The House of Orange-Nassau connection also explains the sea of orange — the colour has long been a symbol of the Dutch royal family.
King’s Day in The Hague
The Hague has a particularly special relationship with the day, given its status as the royal city.
The vrijmarkt (free market) is the heart of it all — markets scatter across the city, with everyone from kids to grandparents selling old treasures, performing, or just soaking up the atmosphere.
Find bargains at the free market
Some of the best spots:
Belgisch Park
Belgisch Plein & Stevinstraat — neighbourhood charm, good mix of sellers
Frederik Hendriklaan
Statenkwartier — lively, popular with families and young crowds
Noordeinde
Near the palace — a bit of royal atmosphere alongside the stalls
Keizerstraat, Scheveningen
Beach vibes, more relaxed pace — good if you want sea air with your bargain hunting
The Life I Live Festival
King’s Night takes place the night before, on 26 April. The centre will once again be transformed into one huge festival site. This free city festival brings together local pride and top national acts for a night full of energy and musical discovery. This year, Lange Voorhout will feature two stages with energetic and moving performances, with a Silent Disco (in collaboration with PAARD) at the centre, whilst Kerkplein (in collaboration with PIP) is the place for electronic beats. At the Hofvijver and at Popdistrict on the Grote Markt (Sniesterstage), the party kicks off with live music in all styles — from hypnotic soundscapes to raw guitars.
King’s Fair
Currently on until 27 April, Malieveld will once again be transformed into a grand Royal Fair with attractions for young and old — something for everyone at an affordable price.
Hollands Live Festival
Billed as the largest Dutch-language festival in South Holland, Hollands Live is held at Zuiderpark. The vibe is distinctly Dutch — think sing-along pop and schlager music with a very orange, very gezellig crowd. The line-up features artists like Gerard Joling, Mart Hoogkamer, Monique Smit, and Django Wagner — all big names in mainstream Dutch pop and Nederlandstalige (Dutch-language) music.
Fancy a unique King’s Night? Come aboard the Willemsvaart and celebrate on The Hague’s canals. You can book a boat trip for up to 23 people — for more information or to book, email info@willemsvaart.nl.
So what do you need to make the most of the celebrations?
Dress in orange. Stores like Hema will have everything you need to get kitted out — including accessories for your furry friend too.
Bring cash to the vrijmarkt if you plan on shopping, and get there early to find the good stuff.
King’s Night is one of the rare occasions when you are allowed to walk the streets with your own drinks, so grab a cooler or backpack if you’re looking for a more affordable option. Food and drinks will also be available for purchase throughout the night.
Eat a tompouce. Several bakeries make them orange to mark the occasion, and no King’s Day is complete without one.
There’s your King’s Day survival guide — enjoy it. Living in The Hague for this one is genuinely special. 🧡
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
As a wine lover, the first countries that come to mind when thinking about wine are the classics: France, Italy, South Africa, Chile. But after sitting with Ofran Badakhshani, the owner of De Filosoof wine bar, I learned about the true history of wine.
Wine is a story. Nowhere is that truer than in Persia, the civilisation we now know as Iran, where wine was not simply consumed but revered. Long before it reached Europe, it was woven into the very fabric of Persian life — into its religion, its rituals, and most enduringly, its poetry. The great Sufi poet Rumi used wine as a metaphor for the soul’s journey toward God, describing spiritual ecstasy as being drunk on something far beyond the earthly. Omar Khayyam filled his celebrated Rubaiyat with it, using each glass as a quiet argument for living fully in the present. And Hafez, perhaps the most beloved poet in the Persian tradition, wrote about wine with a provocation that was as much political as it was spiritual — raising a cup, in many ways, against rigidity itself. It is one of history’s more poignant ironies that the country which gave the world its oldest confirmed traces of winemaking — clay jars from the Zagros Mountains dating back over seven thousand years — is today one where wine cannot be legally produced or consumed. Before the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Iran had close to 300 wineries. Now it has none. The culture remains, pressed into the pages of its literature.
This history is personal at De Filosoof. Ofran, who grew up in Amsterdam, originally studied philosophy and was later offered a role at Delft University — unpaid, as it turned out, which prompted him to think seriously about his next move. Beyond philosophy, what did he know deeply? Wine. And so he began to explore how the two might come together. In 2014, he started hosting art history and philosophy discussions shared over a glass, bringing together a small community of intellectuals that grew steadily over time. Of Persian descent himself, Ofran introduced this community not to French or Chilean pours, but to wines from Bulgaria, Moldova, and Greece. There was hesitation at first — these were unfamiliar regions, unfamiliar grapes — but over time, Ofran earned their trust, and the wines spoke for themselves. Restaurants in The Hague couldn’t fully tell the stories behind bottles like these; most owners know France and Italy and little else. And so what had begun as a gathering became a destination. De Filosoof wine bar opened in 2019.
Built from the ground up by Ofran, his girlfriend, and his mother — the three of them doing much of the work with their own hands — the bar had barely found its feet when Covid arrived. When the world eventually quietened down, they opened their doors fully, and something quietly remarkable happened: different cultures began to flock in. Brazilians, Turkish, Dutch — strangers sitting side by side over a shared glass, the noise of the outside world briefly held at bay. What Ofran has built is not simply a beautiful bar that serves delicious wine and food. It is a space where background becomes secondary, where the common ground is a well-chosen bottle and the willingness to be curious. At a time when many world leaders are pushing division, De Filosoof makes a gentle case for the opposite — that we can sit with our fellow humans, talk, and remember that at the end of the day, we all carry the same hopes for ourselves and the people we love.
With over 500 wines available by the glass — many sourced from conflict zones including Lebanon — there is something quietly radical about the place. It almost makes you wonder what could be resolved if more of the world’s decision-makers sat down together over a good bottle.
De Filosoof hosts regular events each month: new wine launches, performances by Persian musicians, tastings, and evenings centred on literature and art. I attended the launch of Château Heritage’s new Brut — the first sparkling wine from Lebanon from a house currently ranked 33rd best in the world. Bursting with crisp green apple, juicy pear, and zesty citrus, it is exactly the kind of wine you reach for when there is something worth celebrating.
Food is very much part of the experience too. Small bites are on offer, and I tried Ofran’s mother’s famous aubergine dish, Burani — fresh tomatoes served with yoghurt and coriander. It was fragrant, light, and completely at home here. The Kufta followed: spiced meatballs with ginger, paprika, and warm spices, slow-cooked in a fresh tomato sauce. With my eyes closed, I could have been somewhere else entirely — somewhere much warmer, and further away from the Dutch cold.
So, can world peace be achieved over a glass of wine? That may be a loaded question and one we cannot answer simply. But after seeing so many different people come together to enjoy brilliant food, wine and art, it does make you think.
Check out De Filosoof’s website and Instagram for information on future events. De Filosoof can be found on Molenstraat 16.
Images: Sherika Rooplal-Clappers and De Filosoof
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.
On March 30, an inspiring edition of BAZ Academy+ Art & Care took place, organized by the Beelden aan Zee museum.
The symposium brought together healthcare professionals, scientists, experts, and other interested parties around one central question: what role can art play in the well-being of people within the healthcare sector?
The occasion was prompted by a special collaboration with five Dutch healthcare institutions, which have received over 150 museum works on long-term loan from the Beelden aan Zee museum. In this way, art is made accessible to both residents and caregivers, leading to valuable moments of relaxation, recognition, and dialogue.
During the BAZ Academy+ Art & Care on March 30, a collaboration with the healthcare sector, unique to the Dutch museum sector, was explained. Since 2023, five Dutch healthcare institutions – Zorggroep De Laren, Cordaan, Amarosa, Rosa Spier Huis, and Bloezem – have received more than 150 museum works on long-term loan from the Beelden aan Zee museum.
Lot Fakkeldij, Project Manager Collections, selected sculptures for indoor and outdoor spaces in consultation with the healthcare institutions, by sculptors such as Arthur Spronken, Piet Esser, Nic Jonk, and Nicolas Alquin.Brigitte Bloksma, Director of the Beelden aan Zee museum: “I hope that this project inspires other museums to open up their depots and display that beautiful Collection of the Netherlands in places where it touches people directly and most: in their living room, next to the hospital bed, or during a short walk.”
Hester Branderhorst, Director of Amarosa, is pleased with the collaboration: “At all locations, there are sculptures that clients, employees, and visitors walk past in a natural way. The sculptures serve as silent witnesses to beauty and inspiration; they radiate a sense that they ‘are there’. In the everyday world, where elderly care often revolves around the end of life and the weight of daily work, the sculptures point to a different reality. That is inspiring.”
Esther van Dalen, General Director of Zorggroep De Laren: “The collaboration with the Beelden aan Zee museum aligns seamlessly with our vision of Positive Health. In this vision, the well-being and welfare of our residents are central. Art connects, imagines, and inspires wonder. It sometimes briefly takes the resident to another world or a memory of the past. Additionally, it encourages conversation between residents, family, and staff.”
Esther van Dalen, Director of Zorggroep De Laren, and Eliza Perez, Project Leader of the Art & Care Program at Cordaan / Francine van der Wansem.
Nelke Manders, Director of the Rosa Spier House, also highlights the positive effects: “For our residents – all with a background in art or science – the sculptures serve as a direct invitation to continue looking, reflecting, and creating. For staff, too, they contribute to a rich, cultural work environment where care and art naturally come together. This collaboration reinforces our conviction that art not only enriches but also connects and contributes to the quality of life. Together, we create space for meaningful encounters and new perspectives.”During the symposium, Prof. Dr. Tineke Abma of the Leyden Academy gave an inspiring lecture on the importance of art within healthcare practice. Using compelling examples from various healthcare domains, she demonstrated the positive health effects of art and creativity. For instance, it appears that ‘Museum on Prescription,’ a museum visit prescribed by a doctor, works well as a treatment for young people with mental health problems. “Bringing both worlds together is not always easy to achieve,” stated Professor Abma. “Despite a growing number of successful projects in the Netherlands, the field remains fragmented and its potential remains underutilized.” She therefore advocates for the development of a field of art and care.
Prof. Dr. Tineke Abma of the Leyden Academy / Francine van der Wansem.
Following this, healthcare professionals engaged in a discussion with Professor Abma about the impact of art on well-being, and the role of aesthetics and creativity in daily life within healthcare institutions. Eliza Perez, Project Leader of the Art and Care Program at Cordaan, spoke about the resistance sometimes encountered by healthcare workers due to high workloads. “The most rewarding part of my job is convincing someone like that of the added value and impact of utilizing art and culture. Colleagues who then experience it themselves often become our greatest ambassadors!”Afterwards, an impressive dance performance by Marc Vlemmix Dance took place, performed by five dancers living with Parkinson’s, rheumatism, or MS. Museum educators also provided an explanation of the inclusive art programs at Museum Beelden aan Zee: Blijft je bij , for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, and Binnen handbereik , for visitors with a visual impairment.
The dancers of Marc Vlemmix Dance / Francine van der Wansem
The symposium was made possible in part by support from the VriendenLoterij, the Jo Visser Fund, and Zorggroep De Laren. Museum Beelden aan Zee expresses great appreciation to all speakers and participants for their commitment and valuable contributions.Danielle Swarts, manager of the Jo Visser Fund: “As a catalyst, the Jo Visser Fund contributes to greater visibility of art for young and old! How wonderful it is to engage in conversation with one another and experience the emotion that art does to you. Museums provide a beautiful backdrop for this kind of knowledge exchange, but also a place to share and connect the world between art and care.”
Work by Per Abramsen (donation by Mrs. Berry Koedam, 2024) with the Rosa Spier House Sculpture Committee.Sensory Path at Cordaan, a special sensory garden route created at a residential care facility in Gaasperdam, Amsterdam Southeast.
Header image: From left to right: Esther van Dalen (Zorggroep De Laren), Hester Branderhorst (Amarosa), Brigitte Bloksma and Lot Fakkeldij (Museum Beelden aan Zee), Eliza Perez (Cordaan), Nelke Manders (Rosa Spier Huis) and Monique Dupon (Bloezem) / Francine van der Wansem. All works by Magali Reus.
