Community Contribution by Lorenzo Maddalena, student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences
From 13 to 22 August 2027, the Beach Volleyball World Championships will take place in the Netherlands, bringing international sport to The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Apeldoorn.
The Hague will host the opening match and final weekend, with beach volleyball returning to the Hofvijver following the success of the 2015 Championships.
For a city with such a large and diverse international community, the event raises an interesting question: could the Championships also provide an opportunity to involve international residents more directly?
That question is at the centre of my graduation research.
My name is Lorenzo Maddalena, and I am an International Sport Management student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. In collaboration with Nevobo, the Dutch Volleyball Federation, I am exploring the feasibility of a possible International Day during the 2027 Beach Volleyball World Championships.
Having worked at major international sporting events, including the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games and the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games, I have become particularly interested in spectator experience and how sport can engage international communities. That interest led me to this research.
Why focus on international residents?
The Hague is home to people from many different countries and backgrounds. International professionals, students, families, entrepreneurs, diplomats, researchers and employees of international organisations all contribute to the character of the city.
However, living in an international city does not automatically mean feeling connected to its sporting events. The purpose of this research is therefore to hear directly from international residents.
Would the opportunity to support a particular country or team make attendance more attractive? Would people be more likely to attend with friends, family or colleagues? Could ticket prices, work schedules, transport or childcare become barriers? Would a social or networking element add value—and where would international residents expect to find information about the event?
These practical questions can help determine whether an International Day would be worthwhile and, if so, what could make it successful.
You do not need to be a volleyball fan
You do not need to play volleyball, follow beach volleyball or regularly attend live sporting events to participate in the research.
Responses from people who would not normally attend a volleyball event are especially valuable. If an International Day is intended to reach a wider audience, understanding what could attract new visitors is just as important as hearing from existing sports fans.
The survey is open to international residents living in the Netherlands, with particular interest in people who live, work, study or regularly spend time in The Hague and nearby cities.
From assumptions to evidence
The survey has been developed with input from Nevobo, The Hague International Centre and ACCESS NL.
The results will form part of my graduation research and will be used to make recommendations to Nevobo about the feasibility of an International Day and the factors that could support its successful implementation.
The aim is to base those recommendations on what international residents actually say—not on assumptions about what they might want.
How to take part
The short survey takes approximately three to four minutes to complete and will remain open until 20 October 2026.
You are also welcome to share it with other international residents in your network. Every additional response helps build a clearer picture of what people would value from an event like this.
If an International Day is eventually developed during the Championships, this research aims to ensure that international residents have a voice in shaping what it could look like.
About the author
Lorenzo Maddalena is an International Sport Management student at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. His interests include event management, spectator experience and engaging international communities through sport.
On June 24, The Hague University Toastmasters is hosting a Special Open House Event at the Speaker’s Corner — an evening for anyone curious about public speaking, communication, and confidence. You’re all invited!
What’s on the program?
Best of Speeches
Enjoy some of our members’ most engaging speeches and see how powerful communication can inspire and entertain. Three speakers will take the stage, Laszlo Walburg, Nicole Epp, Shuyan Zhang, and together we’ll select the “best speaker” of the night.
Leadership Workshop
Join leadership coach and public speaker Rachel Setrokarijo for an interactive workshop that will help you identify your goals, uncover what truly matters to you, and define practical steps toward achieving your vision.
Table Topics Contest
Watch (or join!) a fun challenge where speakers deliver spontaneous 2-minute speeches. During our special edition Bonfire storytelling game hosted by Mike Eekhof, guests and members can practice thinking on their feet in a fun, supportive environment. Friendly competition: the most entertaining speaker takes home a “best table topics” mug.
Whether you want to improve your presentation skills, speak more confidently in English, meet new people, or simply experience Toastmasters for the first time, this Open House is a great place to start. Register now or just drop-in: https://forms.gle/1Gt5F2nxffUfPvPP6
Israel/Palestine: Pain and Hope is a free exhibition and dialogue programme taking place in The Hague from 17 to 30 June 2026. Organised by the Dutch civil society network of the Anna Lindh Foundation, the exhibition presents photography and artworks reflecting the pain experienced by both Jews and Palestinians, while also looking for signs of hope and possibilities for a just and peaceful future.
The exhibition is open daily from 13:00 to 18:00 at Believe Together / Inn of Humanity, Weimarstraat 300, The Hague. Alongside the exhibition, a series of evening dialogue sessions will explore themes including compassion across differences, dialogue initiatives in Israel, the future of the two-state solution, peace initiatives, photojournalism from Gaza and Dutch political perspectives on Israel and Palestine. Some sessions are in English and others in Dutch.
Admission is free, but registration is required for the opening and dialogue evenings. Visitors are advised to come by public transport, as there is no parking near the venue. Please note that the exhibition and dialogue evenings take place on the first and second floors, and there is no lift in the building.
Students and professionals gathered at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) this week for the Talent for Good Forum, an event focussed on careers for social impact under the theme “Shaping Trust in The Future”.
Organised by The Hague Humanity Hub in partnership with THUAS, the event transformed the university’s Atrium into one of the Netherlands’ largest impact-driven career fairs. Students, young professionals and career changers had the opportunity to connect directly with organisations working in areas including peace and justice, human rights, sustainability, governance, humanitarian action and technology for good.
At the career fair, attendees could meet representatives from more than 60 organisations. NGOs, government bodies, educational institutions and mission-driven businesses were on hand to discuss internships, volunteering opportunities and future careers. Workshops throughout the day covered topics such as networking, negotiation skills, leadership, entrepreneurship and careers in emerging fields.
The keynote session explored the forum’s theme, “Shaping Trust in the Future”. Emma Wedner, Chairperson of the Council of Europe Advisory Council on Youth, shared a youth perspective on rebuilding trust in communities, institutions and international systems during a period of rapid technological and social change.
HRH Princess Laurentien van Oranje shared some of her extensive experience and challenged attendees to consider how they can contribute to a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The afternoon programme featured breakout sessions on topics including climate action, international law, artificial intelligence, governance, international trade and disinformation. Participants were encouraged to explore how trust can be strengthened within organisations, communities and society more broadly.
The event concluded with a networking reception, allowing attendees to continue conversations with employers, speakers and fellow participants.
The Talent for Good Forum reflects The Hague’s unique position as an international city of peace, justice and innovation. By bringing together students, professionals and organisations committed to positive change, the event offered both inspiration and practical opportunities for those looking to build careers with impact.
Photos and LinkedIn profile photography were provided by Holland Park Media, one of the event’s supporting partners, giving participants the opportunity to refresh their professional profiles while networking with potential employers.
This is an annual event and planning will be underway soon for a 2027 edition. For more information, visit:
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept. It is already transforming the way we work, the skills we need, and the opportunities available to us. Automation, generative AI, decision support systems and robotics are making an impact across nearly every industry.
But what does this actually mean for your career?
In this meetup, we’ll move beyond the headlines and explore the real implications of AI for the job market. Rather than focusing on fear or hype, we’ll take a grounded, practical look at how roles are evolving, which new opportunities are emerging, and how you can position yourself to benefit from these changes.
We’ll discuss questions like:
Which jobs are most likely to change and how?
What new roles are being created because of AI?
What skills are becoming more valuable in an AI-driven world?
How can non-technical professionals stay relevant?
What does “working with AI” actually look like in practice?
This event is open to students, working professionals, and anyone who is curious or interested in how AI is transforming the job market. This session will give you a clearer picture of where things are heading and where you might fit in.
Where: The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75, 2521 EN Den Haag
When: ⏱️ 17:30 – 20:00
Agenda
17:30: Doors open. Pie, dinner & refreshments served in the restaurant area.
18:30: Participants move to the “Speakers Corner”. Opening presentation by Vikram.
Renée Tentori: is a lecturer in Professional Skills and Internship Coordinator for Applied Computer Science at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, where she supports students in navigating the impact of AI on work and careers. She is also the Community Manager of the university’s AI Hub Community of Practice. She focuses on AI literacy, with a particular interest in the connection and collaboration between humans and technology. Renée brings a strong emphasis on inclusion into her work, such as though her volunteer role as Education Ambassador for the Neurodiversity Foundation. With decades of experience in communication, entrepreneurship, and community building, she helps people learn more about and engage with AI in practical, human-centred ways.
Rick Vink: is a Machine Learning Engineer currently working at Metriek and an AI Trainer, and founder of AI-Codex; an education and consulting platform for hands-on ML. With 8+ years of experience building end-to-end AI systems and teaching over 1,000 students across 8+ courses, he specializes in NLP, LLMs, and agentic AI engineering.
Alison Mooney : is a Senior Data Scientist based in Amsterdam with 6 years of experience building AI and ML products across e-commerce, pharma, and telecoms. Currently at ASICS, she leads end-to-end AI initiatives from discovery to deployment while mentoring data scientists and working cross-functionally with product, engineering, and design teams. She’s passionate about bridging the gap between technical complexity and business impact, and is currently focused on growing into people leadership.
A student from The Hague has received international recognition for raising awareness about one of the world’s most overlooked environmental ecosystems: wetlands and peatlands.
Anay Pradhan, a student at The International School of The Hague (ISH), recently won 2nd Place globally in the High School category of the international “World of 8 Billion” student video contest, organised by Population Education in Washington DC, USA. His winning project, “Breathing Under Pressure: Earth and 8 Billion,” was selected from student submissions around the world and received a $600 cash prize.
The annual competition encourages students to explore global sustainability challenges connected to population growth, climate change, environmental protection, and resource management through short educational videos.
For his project, Anay chose to focus on wetlands and peatlands after discovering how significant they are for climate regulation despite receiving relatively little public attention.
“You often think of forests as the major carbon sink,” he explained, “but one fact that really surprised me was that peatlands cover only 3% of the Earth’s land surface while storing nearly 30% of all soil carbon.”
The topic also carries particular relevance for the Netherlands, where water management, environmental protection, and climate resilience remain central national concerns.
Rather than relying entirely on online research, Anay incorporated fieldwork into the project. He visited peatland areas, collected and tested samples himself, and combined scientific investigation with storytelling and video production. One of the biggest challenges, he said, was fitting complex environmental concepts into a one-minute format while keeping the film engaging and understandable for viewers.
The final result blended climate science, visual storytelling, and practical sustainability ideas, including awareness around paludiculture – a method of farming on wet and rewetted peatlands without damaging the ecosystem.
The project has already been recognised within the school community. The International School of The Hague shared the achievement through its newsletter and social media platforms, highlighting the combination of research, creativity, and environmental awareness demonstrated in the film.
Beyond this award, Anay has also participated in multiple Model United Nations conferences, sustainability initiatives, and mathematics competitions, reflecting a broader interest in global issues and problem-solving.
As conversations around climate change increasingly involve younger generations, projects like this demonstrate how students are finding creative ways to make complex environmental topics more accessible and engaging.
Anay Pradhan is a student at The International School of The Hague with interests in sustainability, global affairs, science communication, and environmental awareness.Text & images provided by Ankit Pradhan.
