Romanian women living in the The Hague-Leiden-Rotterdam area are warmly invited to join a new series of women’s circles, intimate gatherings designed for genuine connection, reflection, and presence.
In this facilitated space, participants come together in a simple and authentic way, free from pressure or expectations. Each session explores themes shaped by the group’s interests, with the first circle on April 22 focusing on belonging.
Over two hours, the circle offers a gentle mix of creative practices, somatic experiences, storytelling, and meaningful conversation, creating space to reconnect with yourself and others.
The Romanian Women Circle is not a networking event, but a space for genuine connection and shared experience.The gathering is part of a recurring series, with future sessions planned for May and June. Tea, coffee, and healthy snacks are included.
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
I believe there are very few things a good cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake can’t fix. I happened upon Adore Cake Atelier while scrolling through Instagram one day and knew I had to make my way there as soon as possible to satisfy a cake craving that had been building for a while.
The owners, Daria and Anastasia, are two young and enthusiastic Russians who came to The Hague around eight years ago and connected on having similar backgrounds — only to later discover they had both attended the same university in Finland several years prior (talk about fate!). The two clicked and a lovely friendship blossomed. Anastasia was working in corporate with baking as a hobby, while Daria was a home baker, and around two and a half years ago they decided to turn their shared passion into something real. The dream of opening a café was no longer just a dream.
The initial idea was to have a smaller takeaway-only space, but they decided to go big. If it scares you, then you know you should go for it — that was their philosophy, and the pair bravely took on the daunting process of setting up their business even though they were nervous. Finding the right size, neighbourhood, and space was no easy task, but just as luck would have it, they found their spot at Kepplerstraat 125. Daria recalls sitting in that very space years earlier — it was a lunchroom back then — and envisioning a café of her own. Well, the universe was clearly listening, because that same spot is now what she proudly calls her work home.
With a charming corner entrance and plenty of space inside, the café has a welcoming, calm atmosphere. The best sellers are the blueberry and poppy seed cake — tart, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweet — the honey cake, a beloved Slavic recipe and a labour of love, made up of several thin, caramelised pecan layers sandwiched with a tangy, rich frosting (my personal favourite), and the raspberry red velvet. I also tried the mango and passion fruit cheesecake, which was smooth and creamy with the perfect jiggle.
They have recently introduced weekend breakfasts with both Danish and Nordic-style options, ideal if you’re in the mood for something savoury. The drinks menu features seasonal creations, with current offerings including a pistachio latte, raspberry mint tea, and a coconut vanilla iced latte. They also love dreaming up creative limited-edition cakes — a Bridgerton-inspired creation was on the menu when Season 4 of the hit series launched recently. Keep an eye on their Instagram for the next special treat.
The duo also take custom orders for birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions, as well as last-minute cakes for those forgotten anniversaries. And if you’ve ever wanted to learn the craft yourself, they offer cake decorating workshops too. With a terrace also on the way this spring, there’s never been a better reason to pay Adore Cake Atelier a visit. Open everyday except Tuesdays, add this spot to your upcoming weekend plans to satisfy your sweet tooth craving.
Images: Sherika Rooplal-Clappers and Adore Cake Atelier
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 following story and photos were shared by a member of our community and are published as submitted. We welcome community voices and experiences from across The Hague. To share your story, please read our submission guidelines.
Uprooting one’s life in search of new beginnings comes with expected challenges. Language barriers and differing social customs are usually at the top of the list for most—this has certainly been the case for me. What I didn’t expect to grapple with quite as much, however, was how deeply I would miss the local cuisine from my home country.
A few months after my big move, a colleague and I bonded over our shared South African roots. Whenever we spoke about the motherland, our conversations more often than not revolved around the dishes we missed or wished were available on menus here. After several of these mouthwatering exchanges, my colleague had the brilliant idea of inviting me over for dinner. On the menu? Boerewors rolls and milk tart. It doesn’t get more South African than that, does it?
I looked forward to our little gathering with giddy anticipation. My boyfriend—who just so happens to be a chef—couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. “Broodjes and wors? You two are having a dinner party with broodjes and wors?” he asked after I showed him a picture of a delicious boerewors roll smothered in caramelised onions. His chef’s brain simply couldn’t justify my excitement over such a simple dish.
He offered to whip up something more elaborate to bring along to dinner, but more wasn’t needed.
How could I explain to my very Dutch boyfriend the role of the boerie in South African society? The alluring smell of braised onions from street vendors lining the sidewalks. Its omnipresence throughout life—from childhood to old age—at school events, sports days, church bazaars, fundraisers, braais, and more. I realised then that it wasn’t so much about the food on the plate, but the nostalgia it evoked.
I began to notice how I missed certain foods at certain times. It’s no coincidence that my mind drifts toward roasted chicken and potatoes on Sundays more than any other day. It’s the quality time with family during Sunday lunch that I truly long for—the noisy chatter as I stuff a second helping of potato bake into my mouth, trying not to make eye contact with my dog who’s hoping to score a treat from the table. Even just a “taste” of that feeling is enough to make me bypass a chef boyfriend’s home-cooked meal and head straight for a boerewors roll or even a simple chicken mayonnaise sandwich.
Curious, I started asking other expats about their experiences and realised I wasn’t alone. Everyone had stories to share about the foods they missed and the lengths they went to keep those culinary traditions alive—painstakingly sourcing ingredients to recreate the flavours and aromas that once filled their childhood homes. Some spoke about substituting hard-to-find ingredients with local alternatives. I thought of how I had smuggled a few jars of butter chicken spice into my luggage on my last trip home. It became clear that my culinary catch-ups with my colleague were far from unique.
One expat told me she travels from Scheveningen to Arnhem every other week just to cook up a storm with friends. The commute, she said, was a small price to pay for a taste of home.
Hearing these stories brought me a sense of comfort. Even with the best support systems, emigrating to a foreign country is hard. And on the days when things feel heavy—or when you simply miss home—it helps to know that something as simple as a familiar dish can soothe the soul.
Summer Jacobs holds an Honours degree in English and has a rich background in journalism, where she spent years interviewing fascinating individuals and sharing their stories. An avid traveler, she recently relocated from South Africa to Den Haag, bringing her passion for storytelling and global experiences to a new chapter in life.
In ACCESS Stories this month, Hee Baek shares a thoughtful reflection on the challenge of finding mental health support while living abroad, especially as an international trying to navigate unfamiliar systems while also carrying the pressure of work, identity shifts and constant adaptation.
Her story highlights the importance of finding support early rather than waiting for things to reach crisis point, and shines a light on often overlooked options such as Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), which can offer confidential, guided mental health support before burnout takes hold.
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
In the Zeeheldenkwartier, you’ll find the charming café, Petit by Sam. Originally from Geneva, Switzerland, owner Samita Raheja moved to Amsterdam when her Dutch partner wanted to return to his home country eight years ago, she seized the opportunity to expand on her love for baking and opened Petit, initially as a takeaway-only concept. When the couple later relocated to The Hague, Sam decided it was time for a fully operating café.
At the time, vegan and gluten-free options were hard to come by in the city, and the few places that did offer them often relegated a dry, uninspiring banana bread to the back of the counter as an afterthought. Sam knew she could do better. She wanted to give the community baked goods that anyone could enjoy — and so Petit by Sam opened its doors in October 2023.
Walk in and you’re greeted with a warm smile and a display of gorgeous handmade cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats at the counter. An added delight is the open kitchen at the back, where you can watch bakers Jessica and Michelle in action. Jessica has been by Sam’s side since the very beginning, with Michelle joining the team more recently.
What does Sam love about the city? The slower pace compared to Amsterdam, the sense of community, and the way people here are looking to connect more deeply with one another. In a time when the world feels so divided, Sam spotted an opportunity to make her space a place of genuine connection. On the first Tuesday of every month, she hosts a parent meet-up, for moms and dads to connect over raising kids and every Thursday evening is reading night, where people can curl up with a book and enjoy the company of fellow bookworms. Latte art classes, cookie decorating workshops, and more are also on offer.
Opening a new café comes with its challenges, and in the early days some customers were unsure of the higher prices of the baked goods. But Sam was committed to the quality and standards she had grown up with in Switzerland — and now everyone is glad she stayed true to it. I tried the carrot cake, which looked almost too good to eat: a light, fluffy sponge with frosting so creamy and soft you’d never guess it was gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free. The chocolate chip cookie is another favourite, somehow achieving that essential chewy texture every great cookie needs.
Parents can relax while kids enjoy the play corner, and the café is dog-friendly — making it the perfect stop on a daily walk. The terrace has just reopened and new seasonal drinks are coming soon, right on cue as the weather warms up.
Petit by Sam is located on Prins Hendrikstraat 106 and open seven days a week, and also takes orders for celebration cakes for birthdays, weddings, and other special events.
Images: Petit by Sam
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.
