Based on a community story contributed by Sara, founder of SaraGlow Art. Edited by The Hague Online.
For Sara, starting a creative business began with something she enjoyed doing in her spare time. While working in childcare, she discovered diamond painting and found that concentrating on a picture, one small piece at a time, brought her a sense of calm.
The hobby involves placing tiny coloured pieces onto a prepared canvas. Sara enjoyed watching a design gradually come together and began to wonder whether the activity could become something more.
That question became the starting point for SaraGlow Art, the business she is now building from The Hague.
Creating a style of her own
Sara’s visual inspiration comes from Middle Eastern decorative styles, rich colours and detailed patterns. Deep blues, emerald green and gold feature in the designs she is developing.
Artificial intelligence is one of the tools she uses in that process. Sara says she develops the concepts and chooses the colours, shapes, details and overall appearance, using AI to help explore and visualise her ideas.
The first collection, the Royal Gem Collection, takes gemstones as its starting point. Midnight Sapphire was the first design introduced. Sara is preparing a sample and photographs for Emerald Majesty, with two further designs in development.
Building from the city she calls home
The Hague is more than a business address for Sara. She was born and raised here, went to school in the city and has studied, worked, completed internships and volunteered in the local area.
She describes herself as a true Hagenees, complete with a recognisable Hague accent. Starting a business in the place she has always called home gives the project a personal connection.
As well as developing designs, Sara has been learning about packaging, branding, product preparation and running an online shop. Her ambition is to grow beyond the Netherlands, but the work is happening step by step.
From personal enjoyment to a business
Sara’s experience of diamond painting is personal: she found it relaxing and enjoyable, and hopes other people will enjoy the process too. She hopes to share that enjoyment through the designs she is developing.
The business is still at an early stage, as Sara moves from a familiar job and a spare-time interest towards learning how to build something independently.
The English-language radio programme, broadcast from the DutchBuzz studio in the Central Library on Spui, welcomed four guests to discuss culture, inclusion and international justice in the city.
Laaktheater: Theatre for the Community
Christine Defontaine welcomed Sigrid de Zwart, who is closely involved with Laaktheater, to talk about a venue that is far more than a place for performances. The conversation explored how Laaktheater brings local communities together, works with guest programmers to shape its programme, and reflects The Hague’s international and multicultural character, including its “Language no problem” initiative.
Guest Programming and Volunteering
Robert John Henderson, who has been a guest programmer at Laaktheater for several years and won the Volunteer of the Year prize in 2025, shared his journey with the theatre and his connection to The Hague. He spoke about his past programme Bubbles and Bonbons, why dedicated opportunities for local queer artists matter, and offered a sneak peek at something big planned for 2027. He also explained how new volunteers can get involved.
The Hague Justice Week
Andrew van Esch spoke with Sham Ahmed of the Municipality of The Hague’s International Affairs department, part of the team organising The Hague Justice Week. They discussed why the week exists, who it is for and what makes it special. The programme runs across multiple venues in The Hague, at partner locations throughout the Netherlands and internationally, and online, so people can take part whether they attend in person or remotely.
Pink Saturday, the Pink Petition and a Festive Queer Programme
Barbara van Gelder, Queer Community Builder and Head of Operations at Laaktheater, joined the programme to discuss the queer community in The Hague, Roze Zaterdag (Pink Saturday) and the Pink Petition. She reflected on how attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community have changed over the years, what progress is still needed, and why visibility and inclusion remain so important. She also previewed Laaktheater’s special Queer Programme on 4 December 2026, which includes local and international acts.
Listen to DutchBuzz
DutchBuzz brings English-language news, interviews and community stories to listeners in The Hague and beyond.
Broadcast: Thursday 12 November 2026 @ 1900 Station: Den Haag FM
To listen to the recording of this show, navigate to Den Haag FM Uitzending Gemist
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.
Buying a home involves more than agreeing on a price. In an article on GMW’s website, lawyer Zoë Ris outlines points buyers should consider before signing a purchase agreement in the Netherlands.
The article covers investigating the property, conditions attached to an offer, the allocation of risks and restrictions connected to an owners’ association. It also explains why the accompanying documents deserve attention.
For international residents buying a Dutch home, the piece offers a starting point for questions to raise before committing. Individual circumstances and current terms should be discussed with the relevant professional.
By Abby Bookholt, founder of Trove. Edited for length and clarity.
If you’d told me two years ago that I’d be spending my forties recovering from skin cancer, having my nose reconstructed and launching my own app, I probably would have laughed and asked what on earth you’d been drinking.
Yet here we are.
I’m Abby, a 42-year-old Australian, mum of two boys aged nine and six, and I’ve been living in the Netherlands for 18 years. That is long enough to complain about Dutch weather like a local, but apparently not long enough to stop missing Australian sunshine.
For most of my working life I was firmly in the corporate world, most recently in crisis management. I was used to dealing with complicated situations and keeping things moving. What I wasn’t prepared for was becoming the crisis myself.
The tiny spot that changed everything
In 2025, I was diagnosed with skin cancer on my nose. Something so small became a series of operations to remove the cancer and reconstruct part of my nose using skin from my forehead.
I underwent four surgeries, followed by a fifth operation in September 2026 to improve the reconstruction and scarring. The physical recovery was difficult, but the emotional side was something I hadn’t anticipated.
Your face is a huge part of your identity. Suddenly I was dealing with stitches, scars, swelling and a reflection that didn’t always feel like mine. There were days when I felt positive, and others when I was exhausted and thoroughly over the experience.
I started sharing my recovery on Instagram because I wanted people to see the reality, including everything between the before-and-after photographs.
An idea that would not go away
During recovery, I began thinking more seriously about the next chapter of my working life. I also had an idea that had been floating around in my head.
People were always recommending books, television programmes, films, podcasts and music. I would save a screenshot, bookmark something or tell myself I would remember. Spoiler alert: I usually didn’t.
I wanted one place to save those recommendations, organise them and find them again when I needed them. That idea became Trove.
There was one small problem: I knew nothing about building an app. I had no coding experience, no technology background and no previous start-up. But I did have an idea I believed in and a willingness to learn.
I registered my business in the Netherlands, invested my savings and worked with developers. There were delays, unexpected costs, technical problems and moments when I wondered whether I had completely lost my mind.
In August 2026, Trove launched on iOS and Android. Something that had existed only in my imagination was available for other people to download.
The reality of starting again
I would love to say I launched the app and immediately found thousands of subscribers. The reality is less glamorous. I am still learning how to market it, attract users and improve the experience, while trying to make every euro count.
Some weeks are encouraging. Other weeks make me wonder whether I should have taken up knitting instead. But I am proud that I actually did it.
I never wanted skin cancer to become my entire identity. It is something that happened to me and changed me, but it is not the whole story.
Progress can mean getting through another operation, finding the confidence to show your face again or trying something new without knowing how it will turn out.
I’m still recovering, still learning and still figuring out what I want the next chapter of my life to look like. You do not need to have your whole life figured out before you start building something new.
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
Ask most people about their favourite part of a meal and the answer comes quickly: dessert. Yet at most restaurants, it’s the last thing on the table and the first thing we skip when we’re full. The Dessert Room turns that around.
The idea behind The Dessert Room belongs to Richard Morris, an American who grew up in Chicago and has spent nearly thirty years living abroad. It began on a quiet late-autumn evening, when his then ten-year-old daughter wanted ice cream from their neighbourhood ice-cream parlour, and couldn’t understand why it was closed until spring.
Her question brought back a childhood ritual. In Chicago, families like Richard’s would head out after weekend dinners to enjoy dessert. Something sweet was reason enough for a night out, and it was a tradition he had missed for decades. It reminded me of my own childhood, when we would go to Milky Lane for ice cream and waffles. My fellow South Africans will know exactly what I mean.
The more he thought about it, the more he noticed a gap. The Netherlands has extraordinary restaurants, pastry chefs, and chocolatiers, but remarkably few places where dessert itself takes centre stage, where the final course becomes the main event.
The Dessert Room is an evening tasting experience devoted entirely to dessert: three courses, each paired with a drink, created by exceptional local chefs and restaurants. The line-up changes with every edition, which makes each one an intimate occasion and a chance to discover pastry talent and new flavours. New for those who want to make a full night of it, guests can now enjoy a light dinner beforehand and drinks afterwards.
My first course was a bright, citrusy orange roulade with orange curd and chocolate cream. It came paired with a tequila sunrise, a playful and clever match that echoed the orange in the dessert and set a fun tone for the night.
The second course was a beautifully constructed dessert cube of trifle, layered with almond chiffon, raspberry compote, and jasmine cream and paired with a raspberry and almond cordial. The jasmine gave it a delicate floral note, and the cordial tied the flavours together without overwhelming them. Both courses created by new Patissier-in-Residence, Murit Sonneveld Mak.
The final course was a rich chestnut mousse with dark chocolate and cognac caramel, by guest chef Justin Koopman of Aan de Zweth. It was served with a brut Selección cava, whose crisp bubbles cut through the richness and made it the perfect way to end the night.
What I loved most is how The Dessert Room gives dessert the attention it rarely gets. There is no pressure to save room and no rushing to the finish line. You can linger over something sweet, talk about it, and discover something new from the chefs behind it. The food was fantastic, and the evening felt warm and celebratory, as though sweetness really is reason enough to go out.
From one simple request for ice cream has grown a different kind of night out, one where the final course becomes the first reason to go.
*I was kindly invited to experience this meal, and as always, my thoughts are honest and entirely my own
The Dessert Room takes place once a month, upstairs at Cafe Paloma ( Anna Paulownaplein 1), with the autumn edition scheduled for 18 November. Find out more here
Photos: 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 latest edition of DutchBuzz on Den Haag FM brought together international affairs, local community initiatives and a look ahead to the festive season in The Hague.
The English-language radio programme welcomed four guests to discuss developments affecting the city and its international community.
US Midterm Elections and International Relations
Andrew van Esch welcomed Diederik Brink, lecturer at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and expert on North American affairs, to discuss the US midterm election results and their potential implications.
Their conversation explored the changing political landscape in the United States, President Donald Trump’s administration, international relations and what developments in Washington could mean for Europe and The Hague as the International City of Peace and Justice.
Hands Off the ICC: A Local Campaign
Marko Fehres, a well-known Hague community organiser and Stadmaker, joined the programme to introduce his Hands Off the ICC sticker campaign.
The initiative responds to US sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court and its personnel, encouraging local support for the court and the principles of international justice.
The conversation also touched on the Stadmakers Festival at Amare and the importance of community involvement in shaping the city.
What’s Coming Up in The Hague?
Myriam Dijck, press officer at The Hague & Partners, joined DutchBuzz to look ahead to the festive season.
With Christmas markets, seasonal activities and cultural events on the horizon, the conversation explored what’s coming up for residents and visitors, including the growing Christmas market in Lange Voorhout and the atmosphere in the city.
Behind the Menu: Festive Dining in The Hague
Sherika Rooplal-Clappers, restaurant writer for The Hague Online, returned to DutchBuzz to talk about the city’s diverse food scene.
From Indonesian culinary influences and Diwali celebrations to festive dining and restaurant discoveries, Sherika shared her perspective on the people and places behind The Hague’s restaurant scene.
Her regular Behind the Menu column on The Hague Online introduces readers to local restaurants, their stories and the people behind them.
Listen to DutchBuzz
DutchBuzz brings English-language news, interviews and community stories to listeners in The Hague and beyond.
Broadcast: Thursday 5 November 2026 @ 1900 Station: Den Haag FM
To listen to the recording of this show, navigate to Den Haag FM Uitzending Gemist
