As The Hague prepares for heavy traffic disruption during the NATO summit, IWG keeps professionals productive with free access to its full network of workspaces.
The NATO summit on 24-25 June will seriously affect mobility within The Hague city centre, with road closures and safety measures in place from 22 June. As working life continues as usual, IWG – the parent company of Spaces and Regus – is making its flexible workspaces in and around the city available for free all week. This allows professionals to work close to home, without detours and without the stress of traffic. As hybrid working becomes the norm, this initiative shows how flexible workspaces can keep professionals moving – even when the city grinds to a halt.
In the week of 23 June 2025, Rijkswaterstaat expects serious traffic disruptions in and around The Hague. The A4, A5, A44 and N44 in particular will be affected by traffic jams and diversions. During the period around the peak of 24 and 25 June, traffic jams could reach a length of 450 kilometres. The government advises avoiding the Randstad and using public transport or a bicycle.
Working without the stress of traffic in The Hague The NATO summit does not mean that you are stuck with endless commutes or condemned to working from home with limited facilities. That is why IWG offers free flexible workspaces to workers in and around The Hague during the week of the summit, from 23 to 27 June, with everything professionals need: quiet workspaces, fast internet connections and representative meeting rooms. With other professionals around you, it also offers valuable networking opportunities.
Openprofessional workplaces in The Hague: Work locally, stress-free, and within cycling or walking distance of home.
Spaces Rode Olifant – Work professionally in the iconic building of The Hague: the Rode Olifant. This characteristic monument is an ideal meeting place, and is located near the Haagse Bos – ideal for a refreshing lunch walk in nature. Perfect for workers who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the A4 and A5, with a quiet location outside the city center to avoid highways.
Regus Parkstraat 83 – An ideal place to work locally, in the heart of The Hague, near the Binnenhof. This modern office offers professional facilities and the opportunity to enjoy the lively city center after work. Perfect for those who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of the A44 and N44 and want to combine productivity with networking in the city center.
Regus De Haagsche Zwaan – A modern workplace in the heart of The Hague’s international business district, within walking distance of The Hague Central Station. The bright, open spaces and flexible work and meeting options make for the ideal base during the NATO summit.
Regus Beatrixkwartier – Located in the financial heart of The Hague, this location combines modern workspaces with inspiring views and stylish breakout areas. With Laan van NOI station around the corner and shops, restaurants and hotels within walking distance, this is an ideal place to work and relax.
Open professional workplaces in the area of The Hague: For those coming from the region outside The Hague, there are plenty of opportunities for professional workspaces.
Regus Rijswijk – For those working outside The Hague, Regus Rijswijk offers an excellent workplace, easily accessible by public transport and bicycle, with a bicycle shed on site. Ideal for those who want to avoid the traffic on the A4 and A13, and with a stylish lobby and modern workspaces for a pleasant working environment.
Regus Whitepark– Regus Whitepark in Delft offers a modern workplace within walking distance of the city centre. Perfect for those who want to avoid the traffic in The Hague or the surrounding highways, with a beautiful view of greenery and an inspiring work environment.
Regus Louis Braillelaan 80 – Close to Zoetermeer, offers an ideal workplace for those who want to avoid the traffic on the A12 or A13. Easily accessible via the train station and equipped with modern meeting rooms and video calling options for a flexible working day.
Regus Science Park – Work in the heart of Science Park Leiden, at Regus Science Park, surrounded by start-ups and multinationals. With excellent parking facilities, a bicycle shed and the historic city centre around the corner, this location is ideal for commuting.
Free access to IWG location in and around The Hague: this is how it works Professionals are welcome to walk in without an appointment and register at the reception. They will then have access to all facilities all day long, including free coffee.
This promotion is valid from 22 to 26 June at selected locations in and around The Hague: Spaces Rode Olifant, Regus Parkstraat 83, Regus De Haagsche Zwaan, Regus Beatrixkwartier, Regus Rijswijk, Regus Whitepark (Delft), Regus Louis Braillelaan 80 (Zoetermeer) and Regus Science Park.
Luc van Opbergen, Country Manager of International Workplace Group emphasizes:“The NATO summit and the expected traffic congestion once again underline how valuable it is to be able to work locally in a professional environment. It shows how unnecessary that daily commute actually is, and how much peace and productivity you gain with a workplace close to home. By opening our locations in The Hague free of charge during this period, we want to let professionals experience how pleasant it is to have access to a network of workplaces, especially at times when flexibility makes the difference.”
About International Workplace Group PLC
International Workplace Group is the global leader in hybrid work solutions and workplace brands. We create personal, financial and strategic value for companies of all sizes. From some of the most exciting companies and well-known organizations on the planet, to individuals and the next generation of industry leaders. All leverage the power of International Workplace Group’s hybrid work platform to increase productivity, efficiency, flexibility and market proximity.
International Workplace Group’s unmatched network includes approximately 4,000 locations in more than 120 countries and counts 83% of the Fortune 500 among its growing customer base.
Through our brands including Regus, Spaces, HQ and Signature, we help millions of people and their businesses work more productively. We do this by providing the world’s leading hybrid work platform with professional, inspiring and collaborative workspaces, as well as digital services, all accessible through the International Workplace Group app.
Iconic Dutch musical opens up to international audiences with innovative ‘Language No Problem’ technology
Starting August 22, the musical Soldaat van Oranje will also be available in English, thanks to a pioneering application of audio description technology via the visitor’s smartphone. This innovation makes the production more accessible and now available to international audiences, including expats and tourists. Through a dedicated app, visitors receive real-time English-language context synced with the live performance.
Now accessible to non-Dutch speakers
Since its premiere in 2010, the show has captivated over 3.7 million visitors, and holds the record for the longest-running production in Dutch theatre history. The musical tells the gripping true story of Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, the famous Dutch resistance fighter during World War II. His story continues to resonate today with its powerful message of courage and freedom. The audience experiences the show in a unique theatrical performance solution specially developed for this production. The audience is seated in a 360-degree rotating auditorium that turns from set to set, accompanied by 180-degree projections. For the first time, non-Dutch speakers can fully experience this iconic show thanks to a newly recorded English-language audio description, voiced by acclaimed West End and Broadway actress Celinde Schoenmaker (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera).
Celinde Schoenmaker: “The story of Soldaat van Oranje continues to move me every time. It was an incredible honour to lend my voice to this powerful story. It’s truly special that we can now share this remarkable Dutch production with an international audience. Culture is for everyone. For me, recording the audio description was a way to contribute to more inclusive theatre. Even those who don’t speak the language can fully immerse themselves in this unique theatrical experience.”
Special collaboration: Julia Harriman performs English versions of musical numbers
As a teaser for the English-language experience, two of the show’s most iconic songs are now available in English. These include ‘No Way Back’ and ‘There’s No-One Here But Us’. These English tracks are sung by musical theatre star Julia Harriman, known from The Voice US and her role as Elizabeth in Hamilton on Broadway. She is the daughter of American composer Tom Harriman, who composed the entire score for Soldaat van Oranje. Tom previously composed music for well-known American films and TV series, including Baywatch. Together, Julia and Tom Harriman connect two generations, two worlds, and two continents to this distinctly Dutch story.
On Wednesday evening, June 11, Mayor Jan van Zanen (The Hague) opened the Just Peace Festival in cultural center Amare. This official kick-off marked the start of a series of public activities in the theme of peace and justice, as part of The Hague’s ‘Road to Summit’ program towards the NATO summit later this month. The opening included a dance performance and the opening of the exhibition Humanity in Times of Tension , with over 40 works of art by international creators, each reflecting on the theme of peace and justice. There was also a debate on the meaning of peace in the present day.
‘The Just Peace Festival offers perspectives from which peace arises, from the bottom up and from within. Only by continuing to talk to each other is it possible to achieve peace. With this we show what The Hague stands for as an international city of peace and justice.’ – Mayor Jan van Zanen
About the Just Peace Festival
The Just Peace Festival offers a broad cultural and social program around the theme of peace. Through art, debate, dialogue and encounter, different perspectives are made visible. The festival invites people to think about the question: what is peace, and how do we work on it together?
Everyone is welcome, from artists to students and from researchers to interested residents of The Hague. The festival will take place from 12 to 26 June and will coincide with the arrival of the NATO summit in The Hague. View the full programme at: Welcome to Just Peace Festival | Just Peace
Program: Dialogue, art and activism come together
From 12 to 26 June, The Hague will be the setting for over 60 public activities spread across the city. The programme includes debates, exhibitions, film screenings, music and dance performances and workshops. One of the highlights is the programme HagueTalks: What is Just Peace?, on 23 June in Amare. This evening, which can be followed live and online, combines conversations with music, spoken word and dance.
Joint initiative
This new, city-wide festival is a joint initiative of The Hague Humanity Hub, Leiden University and the Municipality of The Hague, in collaboration with more than 50 (inter)national organisations. With over 60 events and contributing partners from The Hague, more than 100 speakers and a broad social and cultural programme, the festival aims to involve as many residents of The Hague as possible in an urgent and hopeful question: How do we build a just and peaceful world together?
Road to Summit
The Just Peace Festival is part of the broader Hague programme Road to Summit , which looks ahead to the NATO summit on 24 and 25 June. During this period, The Hague will be the vibrant scene of a variety of activities focused on peace and justice. The programme includes debate, counter-narratives, lectures, exhibitions, music, film and dance performances, and creative competitions. The Just Peace Festival is one of the highlights. The programme is accessible to a wide audience.
This week, Kevin van Hese and Elias Wawoe from the Brunel Solar Team unveiled its latest solar car, Nuna 13, at the Louwman Museum in The Hague.
The car marks the team’s 25th anniversary and features innovations such as an extendable fin for extra speed, a lighter chassis and an ironless engine. In August, the team will participate in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia for the twelfth time.
Several technical innovations on Nuna 13 should make the difference on the 3,000-kilometre long course through the Australian outback. The most striking is the extendable and rotatable fin: an aerodynamic innovation that converts crosswind into extra propulsion. “Just like with an aircraft wing, a pressure difference is created on the fin during crosswind, which provides a pushing force forward,” explains Kevin van Hese, electrical engineer at the Brunel Solar Team. “As a result, we use less solar energy – and that is important, because new rules mean we are racing with a battery that is three times smaller than last year. And because the race is taking place two months earlier this year, we are racing in the Australian winter: the sun is lower, which means we have less solar income.”
Never before has a solar car been built with both an asymmetric catamaran design and a fin. To make the most of the fin, a wind tunnel test was needed. For the first time since 2011, the team tested with a full-scale car.
Combative
During the wind tunnel test on June 3 and 4 at the Volkswagen Group in Wolfsburg, the team gained valuable insights into the performance and stability of Nuna 13. The collaboration with the Volkswagen engineers was pleasant and professional. During the test, a remarkable discovery was made: with sufficient crosswind, the fin generates more thrust than there is air resistance, leaving a net propulsive force. This can be used to charge the battery.
At the end of one of the last sessions, however, things went wrong, Nuna 13 flipped over. The Brunel Solar Team had secured Nuna at several points and the solar car came loose at one of those points. Van Hese: “It was quite a shock, but we carry out these types of test trajectories to understand how the solar car behaves under different conditions. We have started repairing the damage and today we proudly present Nuna 13, which will soon participate in the solar race in Australia. Based on the test results, we have a lot of confidence in the car. And also confidence in the team, which has come through this ordeal well. We are better prepared than ever before.”
Lighter, faster, smarter
Progress has also been made at the material level: this year, the team applied the pre-preg method for the first time. Previously, carbon was manually coated with resin, which hardens quickly. Now, the resin is already in the carbon, so the material only hardens when heated. This allowed team members to repeatedly deform the carbon and work more precisely. The result: a lighter chassis, less chance of defects and a tighter finish. In addition, Nuna 13 features an efficient ironless motor, an improved steering system with less energy loss and silicon solar cells that are around 30 percent more efficient than standard solar panels.
25 years of solar innovation
Where solar energy was once a promise, it is now a proven engine for progress. This anniversary edition of Nuna reflects 25 years of courage, knowledge and innovation and the ambition to show the Netherlands as a leader in the energy transition. “We are not just building a car, we are building the future of mobility,” says Elias Wawoe, team leader at the Brunel Solar Team. “With this car we bring together 25 years of knowledge, ambition and innovation. Since 2001 we have participated in the world championship solar racing in Australia every other year and of the eleven times we have participated, we have won seven times. Without the knowledge of our predecessors, we would never have come this far. This year we are going all out for the eighth world title.”
Dutch pride, inside and out
The exterior of Nuna 13 is a mobile work of art full of references to the Netherlands and the four elements: sun, wind, water and earth. In a Van Gogh-like style, a lion, a mill, seven golden tulips and clouds are incorporated into the wrap, symbols of strength, innovation and craftsmanship. Wawoe: “The seven golden tulips represent the seven world titles that we have already brought back to Delft. The bodywork was built by a Frisian boat builder, the fin refers to our sailing tradition and the technology to 25 years of Delft innovation. The car is truly a tribute to where we come from.”
DutchBuzz is an English radio programme of news, views and interviews that tells you what’s happening in this buzzing city of ours. The international team of presenters and reporters are from many different continents, but view The Hague as their home!
In Dutchbuzz this week: Here are the headlines: • A counter NATO summit highlights peace initiatives • Hundreds of international law students travel to The Hague to learn about our courts • A new centre welcomes cancer patients and cancer survivors in the city, and • Volunteers add new luster to the Dutchbuzz Team !
The Hague’s Pearls – listen to previous recordings
The podcasts below are devoted to members of the international community who have made a special contribution to the City of The Hague.
The DutchBuzz team takes pleasure in inviting and interviewing the city’s many ‘pearls’. Many of them have been featured in our programmes over the years because they reflect our rich and diverse international community.
Newsmakers, writers, local politicians, entertainers, innovators, entrepreneurs, experts in their field, and colourful personalities, they all make The Hague a better place to live and work in.
All the interviews have been broadcast, but we enjoyed them so much that we are now sharing them with you as special, celebratory podcasts.
Internationals in The Netherlands may wonder about their rights when it comes to taking a holiday while on sick leave. This article clarifies the legal rules, the role of the company doctor, and what could happen if an employee goes on holiday without permission.
Following a Dutch Supreme Court ruling it was established that employees who are fully unfit for work do not need to use their holiday entitlement to take a break. However, do they still need to seek permission from their employer?
Permission
According to Article 7:638 of the Dutch Civil Code, employees must request permission for holiday leave, even when sick. If the employer does not respond in writing within two weeks, the holiday is automatically approved. Employers usually have limited grounds to refuse a sick employee’s request, especially if the employee is fully unfit for work.
Role of the company doctor
Employers can consult the company doctor to determine if a holiday could hinder recovery. If the doctor believes that a holiday could aid recovery, they may provide a recommendation to the employer.
What if the employer refuses?
If an employer denies a holiday request without a valid reason, the employee may need to consider legal action to enforce their right. It’s not advisable to take a holiday without permission, as it can lead to disciplinary action, such as a written warning or salary suspension. Dismissal is less likely unless other serious issues are present.
Communication is key
Open communication with your employer is essential. Document your requests in writing to avoid misunderstandings. If you choose to go on holiday (without permission), inform your employer of your plans and dates to avoid violating the Dutch Civil Code.
Conclusion
Even if fully unfit for work, employees must seek permission to go on holiday. In most cases, employers will not have a reasonable basis to refuse.
More information
Are you facing challenges with your employer or employee? Please do not hesitate to contact GMW Lawyers. We can work it out!
This is a sponsored post, text and image provided by GMW Laywers.
