Starting a business is often associated with freedom, flexibility and the opportunity to build something of your own. While all of that can be true, the reality is more complex. Becoming a business owner is not just about having a good idea. It requires commitment, structure and a willingness to learn quickly.
In the Netherlands, the process of setting up a business is clear and well supported. However, a well-defined system does not remove the need for strong foundations or the day-to-day realities of running a business.
The mindset shift: from idea to responsibility
One of the biggest shifts for new business owners is mindset. You are no longer just doing the work; you are responsible for everything around it.
That includes:
Decision-making without a safety net
Managing uncertainty
Taking ownership of both success and failure
Whether you are a freelancer working with international clients or setting up a local service, the responsibility sits with you. It is less about “being your own boss” and more about being accountable for how the business operates.
I know when I first set up my business in the UK, I was still acting like an employee. I would sit at my desk at 9am, check emails, follow up, lunch from 12-1pm, then more emails, project work then finish at 5pm. It took a while to realise that the routine and daily grind was up to me.
Owning a business does give you control over your direction. But it also means:
You create your own structure
You manage your own workload
You build your own momentum
There is no fixed path. That is both the opportunity and the challenge.
A structured system, but not a simple journey
One of the advantages of starting a business in the Netherlands is the structure. The process is clearly defined, and once you understand it, it is relatively straightforward to follow.
Choose a legal structure, such as a sole proprietorship or a BV
This structure provides a strong starting point. But it does not replace the need to understand how your business actually works.
In cities like The Hague, where international professionals, local communities, and small businesses all interact, this becomes even more important. You are often operating in a mixed environment, which requires clarity in who you serve and how you position your business.
Although I am based in Leiden, I quickly realised that my client base did not need to be limited by geography. Looking beyond my immediate area opened up opportunities to work with international clients and organisations across the region.
Foundations matter more than speed
It can be tempting to launch quickly, especially when the setup process feels efficient. But strong businesses are not built on speed, they are built on clarity.
Before focusing on growth, you need to understand:
What your business actually does
Who it serves
How it delivers value
How money flows in and out
Without this foundation, even a business with strong demand can become difficult to manage. Opportunities are constantly emerging, but not all of them contribute to long-term progress. Some can take time and energy without delivering meaningful results.
In my own experience, building a network early on made a significant difference. Attending local events, connecting with other business owners and simply being open to conversation led to some of the strongest working relationships I have today.
Being clear about what you offer is equally important. People cannot recommend you if they do not fully understand what you do.
Learning through experience
I have set up two businesses in The Netherlands. The first was an Eenmanszaak, or sole trader and the other was a VOF, or general partnership. The process in The Hague was fairly straightforward, particularly for a non-Dutch speaker where I had initial concerns about my ability to follow the requirements. The staff were helpful and the process was around 15-20 minutes.
At the time I still had the UK business so I closed that down and focussed on growing in The Netherlands but knowing I could still do business in the UK and abroad with the right set up.
Banking was one of the biggest challenges I had, as I needed flexibility to be able to support multi-currency transactions. Yes, there are Dutch banks, but I looked for an online bank that gave me flexibility and decent rates.
I also knew that visibility consistency is key. I looked at my SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) to evaluate what weaknesses I needed to work on and strengthen. I engaged with other businesses and started to meet people. Some of my best working relationships have come from being open to a conversation.
Resilience and adaptability
No business journey is entirely predictable. Markets shift, client needs evolve and initial ideas often change over time.
In an international city like The Hague, these changes can happen quickly. What resonates with one audience may not connect with another.
Successful business owners are those who continue to learn, adapt and remain consistent. Resilience is not about avoiding challenges, but about navigating them with clarity and perspective.
Building something sustainable
Ultimately, being a business owner is about building something sustainable. It involves balancing ambition with structure, being open to opportunities while staying grounded in clear foundations.
For me, that has meant being intentional about where I invest time and energy, and recognising that not every opportunity is the right one. A business is not only defined by what it offers, but also by how it is built and maintained over time.
For those starting out in the Netherlands, the systems are in place to support you. The challenge, and the opportunity, lies in how you use them.
_____
About the Author
Louisa Stewart is one of the founders of Setting Up Shop, Foundational Business Mastery for New Entrepreneurs. With Mindset Coach Tony Gordon, Storyteller extraordinaire Mags Thomson and Louisa as the data wizard, we provide clear, honest advice about getting your business off the ground in the first 12 months.
Becoming a Business Owner
Visit https://settingupshop.online and download our free guide ten recipes about running a business; the kind of things we wish someone had told us when we first started. Each one comes with some ingredients and a question to help you reflect, refocus, and move forward with confidence. Because who doesn’t love cake!
Spend this May on the edge of your seat with movies full of suspense and action at Pathé.
At Pathé, May is all about pure adrenaline and grand entertainment. From intergalactic adventures to ruthless action and gripping horror: this month, you can experience it all on the big screen. Step into a new chapter of the universe withStar Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, feel the impact of brutal fights inMortal Kombat II, and let yourself be swept away in the thrilling cat-and-mouse game ofIn the Grey. For lovers of the unknown,Backrooms offers a chilling and surreal horror experience. There is also plenty to experience outside of the regular films: experience the music ofBillie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tourin impressive IMAX format, or climb back into the cockpit with the spectacular IMAX re-release ofTop Gun (40th Anniversary). One thing is certain: May will be a month to spend on the edge of your seat.
In addition to the spectacle on the big screen, May is also an absolute top month for those staying at home. Major titles such as Jumpers , Project Hail Mary , and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are appearing on Pathé Thuis, allowing you to enjoy relaxation, family fun, or the latest blockbusters from the comfort of your couch.
Pathé News
Pathé celebrates 40 years of Top Gun with a spectacular re-release in IMAX, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema Aviator jacket on, sunglasses on: Top Gun is back. In honor of Top Gun’s 40th anniversary, both Top Gun (1986)and Top Gun: Maverick are returning to the big screen in IMAX, 4DX, and Dolby Cinema. On Wednesday, May 13, also known as Top Gun Day, visitors can experience both blockbuster titles back-to-back at Pathé. Extra special: the original Top Gun will be shown for the first time ever in these premium formats the following day—starting Thursday, May 14.
Billie Eilish brings spectacular 3D concert film Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour to Pathé Attention all Billie Eilish fans: a unique concert experience is coming to Pathé. The spectacular concert recording Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour will be shown at Pathé starting Thursday, May 7, and will be screened in all Pathé cities throughout the Netherlands. The shows of Billie Eilish’s world tour sold out incredibly fast worldwide. With this theatrical release, fans still get the chance to experience the tour on the big screen.
Billie Eilish – Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour @2026 UPI/Paramount (NL). All rights reserved.
New Top Movies this month at Pathé
Mortal Kombat II From New Line Cinema comes Mortal Kombat II , the latest, ruthless installment in the successful video game franchise, in which the stakes are high once again. The fan-favorite champions – joined by the one and only Johnny Cage – must face off against each other in an ultimate, bloody battle to defeat the dark ruler Shao Khan, who poses a threat to the survival of the Earthrealm and its defenders.
In the Grey When a ruthless businessman steals a billion-dollar fortune, a secret team of elite agents is deployed to recover it. But what begins as a tightly planned heist soon derails into a dangerous game full of deception and hidden agendas.
Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu Mandalorian and Grogu embark on their most exciting mission ever in “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu ”, a brand new Star Wars adventure that will be exclusively in theaters starting May 20, 2026.
Backrooms Based on the viral internet phenomenon, the director of the YouTube series – ‘prodigy’ Kane Parsons – now presents a nerve-wracking psychological horror film. A haunting new kind of horror in which the line between reality and a terrifying other world slowly blurs.
EB As the sea recedes, secrets come to light… In the gripping crime thriller EB, Vajèn van den Bosch steps into the shoes of ambitious ecologist Lynn. She returns to Ameland—the island where she grew up—for research and stumbles upon mysterious events. When victims fall and someone close to her appears to be involved, Lynn faces a life-changing choice: reveal the truth and perhaps lose everything she holds dear, or remain silent and betray her conscience.
Treat Her Like A Lady A heatwave in Amsterdam. A single mother who fights for her children with bravado, creativity, and humor. Treat Her Like A Lady is an energetic and colorful film by Dutch director and screenwriter Paloma Aguilera Valdebenito, starring Nienke Plas.
Pathé is the first and largest cinema brand in the Netherlands, founded in Paris in 1896 by true pioneers of film: the Pathé brothers. Their aim was to share the wonderful world of film with as many people as possible. Throughout the Netherlands, Pathé has 30 locations, 253 screens and 1,900 employees. Through its wide range of films, livestreams of opera, sports and gaming, among others, the latest techniques such as IMAX, 4DX, Dolby Cinema and ScreenX, and business events, Pathé creates special and unforgettable cinema stories for all.
Disclaimer& Copyright notice
Pathé is a partner of The Hague Online, and we receive cinema tickets in exchange for sharing monthly updates and links on our website and in our enewsletter. Text is provided by Pathé in Dutch and translated into English by The Hague Online. Images are provided by Pathé. Text and images may not be copied and shared without permission.
My name is Sid Ramnathsing, and I have written an article on behalf of my robotics team at the American School of The Hague. It is about our ongoing project that we have been working on, which turns plastic into 3d printing filament for our school…
Nestled in the STEM center at the American School of The Hague lies Trojan Robotics, one of ASH’s 3 FIRST Tech Challenge teams, of which I am a part of. We are a team of 13 international high school students with 15 nationalities, participating in the FIRST Tech Challenge: an international high school robotics league with more than 8000 teams. Over the past 3 months, we have been working on something special that could benefit our entire community: A bike powered plastic shredding machine that converts plastic waste into usable 3d filament. This project has been months in the making, and is almost completed.
This idea for this project came at the beginning of the school year, when our robotics program started back up again for the season. We observed the sheer amount of 3d printed filament that our team and the other 2 teams at ASH were using, as we used them both as prototypes and final components. Not only was this expensive for the teams, but it was also incredibly unsustainable, because it forced us to wastefully dispose of filament from used for things like supports or failed 3d prints. Therefore, we decided to create a solution. Our minds immediately sprung the idea of finding some way to recycle the filament, and turn it back into usable 3d printing filament. Fortunately, this has already been extensively researched, meaning that developing this project would not take much time. However, a traditional plastic shredding machine and filament extruder wouldn’t work for our goals, because they use a lot of energy, which would potentially make this project more unsustainable instead of more sustainable. That would transgress our goal of increasing the sustainability at our school, which would make the project worthless. Therefore, when brainstorming alternative solutions, we were inspired by the Dutch cycling culture and decided to use a bike to power our shredding machine. This would keep the project as sustainable as possible while also adding a cultural touch to it.
To make this all possible, we partnered up with a local Dutch school, Praktijkcollege Het Metrum, who gave us an old, recycled bike that we could use to power the shredder in exchange for donating the first kilogram of filament produced to them. The shredder and extruder itself we purchased normally. Now, as of April 2026, we are assembling the shredding machine, and it should be done by the end of the season. We are incredibly excited to showcase this project to others and proud of the work that we put into it over the season, as we believe that it could make a serious impact on waste at our school and in our community. We are planning to open the project up to anyone who might want to shred their plastic, so feel free to reach out to us if you would like to at ftcteam24090@gmail.com.
Belgian Stephan Vanfleteren (1969), one of the most acclaimed photographers of the moment, has been commissioned by the Mauritshuis to create new work. This will be on display from April 23 in the exhibition Pentimenti – Stephan Vanfleteren among the Masters. Sixteen photographs, fifteen of which are new, are inspired by 17th-century paintings from the museum collection and are shown among the masterpieces. Vanfleteren was previously involved with the Mauritshuis during the anniversary exhibition FLASH | BACK (2022). The impressive photograph he took at the time, inspired by Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632), is now also on display again.
Pentimenti is an Italian word which literally translated means “repentance” or ‘’mistakes’’. Vanfleteren observes that nowadays there is little room for regret or revisiting one’s decisions. Coincidentally, the word is used in the world of art to describe when a painting has been altered, reworked or over-painted. Vanfleteren places pentimenti in a broader perspective, highlighting regrettable periods or incidents in human history. He says, “It is a pity that pentimenti is so rarely seen on the political or military stage,” perhaps demonstrating that history is always written by the victors. He continues, “Whether it’s a cold-hearted Tsar pushing young Russians into the trenches, or a Zionist keeping a war grinding on just to save his own skin . . . no one regrets their misdeeds.” So how does this manifest itself at Mauritshuis?
Martine Gosselink, Director of the Mauritshuis, asked Vanfleteren to re-examine the museum collection with the aim of establishing a visual dialogue between the present and the past. Together, they walked through the museum’s 16 galleries, searching for the hidden meanings, lessons, and messages that paintings from four centuries ago can convey to us. What intentions lay behind these masterpieces at the time? What remains of the ideas and visions the artists wished to capture back then? And what significance do these paintings hold for the world today? Vanfleteren’s photographs engage in a conversation with the paintings, offering a 21st-century interpretation of 17th-century icons. This creates a fascinating contrast for visitors.
Vanfleteren has taken a unique photograph for each room of the museum that captures the essence of one specific painting or theme. This gives the visitor the opportunity to view the old paintings through the eyes of the photographer and gain new insights. Within the context of painting, he refers to corrections that artists made to their paintings during the painting process. Vanfleteren takes the word pentimenti literally as well: what mistakes have become visible throughout the history of humanity, on both the micro and macro levels? In this way, he challenges the classic works and captures them anew in a way that brings them back to life. In his photographs, he plays with reflection, contrast, and symbolism, which deepens the meaning of the original artwork.
The exhibition is accompanied by a remarkable book: Vanfleteren and Gosselink corresponded with each other during the creative process. This exchange of letters has been compiled into a book of letters. They wrote to each other about the Mauritshuis collection, art in general, and the value and significance of artworks – but also about the world around them. The book is an intimate account of their exchange of thoughts on the artworks, their significance in the contemporary world, and the hidden stories concealed within the paintings. The letters reveal their views on art and their views on life, differing as man and woman, as Fleming and Dutchman, and as creator versus administrator. And so, a book of letters has been created that serves not only as an account of the Mauritshuis collection and history, but also as a personal exchange between two people operating in very different fields within the art world.
Stephan Vanfleteren, known for his raw and honest photography, has always captured the vulnerability and beauty of humanity and life. His work touches upon themes such as life, death, the power of nature, and the reciprocity of our existence. Vanfleteren is internationally recognized, and with this exhibition, he adds a new layer to the rich history of the Mauritshuis through his own deeply personal vision of 17th-century painting.
The exhibition is not for the sensitive – there are pictures of a severed hand, a dead dog and horse so some may find this difficult to view.
Pentimenti – Stephan Vanfleteren among the masters 23 April 2026 – 23 August 2026
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.
From 130 meters above the city, The Hague unfolds like a living map—orderly, elegant, and quietly full of surprises. Standing by the window, you don’t just look at the city; you hover above it, as if time itself slows down to let you take everything in. To the north, the skyline gently gives way to the soft blue-grey line of the North Sea. On clear days, you can see the coastline stretching from Scheveningen far beyond, the waves forming delicate white lines that seem almost painted onto the horizon. Closer by, the Kurhaus stands proudly, a reminder of the city’s seaside charm.
Turning east, the city becomes denser. Roads intersect like veins, trams glide silently through the streets, and tiny cars move with ant-like precision. From this height, even the busiest intersections seem calm, almost choreographed. You notice patterns you would never see from the ground—the rhythm of traffic lights, the symmetry of rooftops, the geometry of urban life.
To the south, modern buildings rise, but none quite match this height. You are above them, looking down onto terraces, balconies, and offices where people go about their day, unaware of being part of this grand tableau. And to the west, as evening approaches, the sun slowly dips into the sea, casting long golden reflections across glass and water, turning the city into a canvas of warm light.
What is most remarkable is the contrast with life at street level. Down there, everything feels immediate and sometimes overwhelming—noise, movement, people passing by. Up here, there is distance. The sounds fade into a soft murmur, like the city breathing rather than shouting. Problems seem smaller, perspectives wider. You begin to notice things you’d normally miss: how clouds cast moving shadows across entire neighborhoods, how light changes the color of buildings throughout the day, how the city never truly stands still, yet feels peaceful from afar. Living at ground level, you are part of the city. But from 130 meters above, you witness it. You see connections, patterns, and beauty that remain hidden below. It’s not just a different view—it’s a different way of experiencing The Hague entirely.
Tourists enjoy these views from The Penthouse, because that’s where we are. But also expats stay here when first discovering The Hague, or when family from abroad visits. What a treat!
Elwin Giel is an entrepreneur from The Hague, who created The Penthouse. Up to 2022 there was a restaurant and sky bar on the top floors on The Hague Tower. Nowadays 20 short stay apartments offer the same great views. More information can be found on www.thepenthouse.nl
A few years after ABC first opened its doors in Amsterdam in 1972, founders Mitch Crossfield and Sam Boltansky decided to expand operations to The Hague. They got their hands on a cheap place to rent in the city center, and in 1976 ABC The Hague opened in the Spuistraat, in a basement below the building that currently houses Burger King. Those first few years in The Hague were totally different from the present-day situation: stock consisted of whatever was sent over from the US, customer orders were not a thing, and everything happened on paper. No computer in sight!
Time passed, progress progressed, and eventually the store moved to its current location: Lange Poten 23. The building used to house a clothing store, which explains the many mirrors still dotted throughout the sales floor. The building is a bit of a time capsule anyway: there’s a mysterious, Mondriaan-esque mosaic on the first floor ceiling that none of us know the origin of, there’s lots of little doors and wall panels dating back to when the building was heated by big gas tanks (not as long ago as you might think!), and there are now-defunct cables and light switches everywhere.
Of course, we have built our own history over the past 50 years as well. Our bookshelves were sourced more or less by chance from a bookstore in the States that was getting rid of them, different iterations of our logo have graced the storefront (the original one, as seen in our cash desk, was hand-designed by ABC founder Mitch!), and the little door next to the Crime Fiction section is now home to our friendly store gnome, who likes to get involved whenever new store displays are made.
We also can’t talk about our store’s origins without talking about Joe. He’d worked for Sam before, setting up bookstores and running them for a few months until they were sold off, so it made sense to send him to the Netherlands to hold down the fort when Mitch had to go back to the States for a few months. Joe was the first official ABC The Hague staff member – the only one, for a while – and in many ways set the tone of our operations over the next five decades.
These days, we have a team of about 15 staff members in The Hague, who also keep our Leidschendam store (which just turned 5!) running. We cleaned up our act quite a bit over the years, going from a place that sells “whatever books we can get our hands on” to a proper bookstore, well-established in The Hague. Well, almost proper. We still do a lot of things differently from most other bookstores, and we doubt that’ll ever change. There’s a reason we like to call ourselves “stubbornly independent!”
Speaking of – for obvious reasons, ABC is a big proponent of brick-and-mortar stores. That’s why we’re participating in the “Week van de Stenen Winkel” on May 4-10. We’d love to invite everyone to visit us; in general, but specifially in that week. The first few customers of the day throughout that week will receive a special little present!
