The Municipality of The Hague has presented its new Creative Workspaces Policy Memorandum 2025–2030. With this plan, the city is focusing on creating affordable workspaces for artists and creative entrepreneurs — so-called broedplaatsen (creative incubators). The policy also highlights the important role these spaces play in neighbourhood development, giving artists, makers, and creative professionals the opportunity to grow.
Alderman Saskia Bruines (Culture and Economic Development) explains:
“A city without space for makers is a city without imagination. In creative incubators, innovative minds meet, collaborate, and bring new projects to life. This not only strengthens the city’s cultural vitality but also its social cohesion and economy. Such places are therefore indispensable for a vibrant and thriving city. This policy underlines their importance and ensures the continued availability of affordable workspaces.”
Creative incubators as the face of the neighbourhood
The Hague has a rich tradition of broedplaatsen, resulting in a broad and diverse network of initiatives spread throughout the city. At present, around 47,000 m² is available for studios and creative workspaces. However, this space is increasingly under pressure. Temporary locations are disappearing due to redevelopment, while the need for spaces for experimentation, collaboration, and cultural production continues to grow.
The core aim of the new policy memorandum is to maintain at least the current number of square metres dedicated to creative workspaces, with a strong ambition to grow alongside the city. Creative incubators give neighbourhoods a distinctive character and identity. The municipality also aims to develop creative hotspots where makers, entrepreneurs, and artists can collaborate. The cross-pollination between art and business leads to innovation, new enterprises, and social value for the city.
More room for creativity across the city
To realise these ambitions, several approaches are being taken. First, the existing offering will be improved — for example, by expanding Makelpunt, a platform that connects supply and demand for workspaces, now also including creative spaces. Cooperation between the municipality, housing corporations, and market partners will also be strengthened to ensure sufficient and affordable creative workspaces. Artists and creative entrepreneurs will soon find it easier to locate suitable spaces — temporary or permanent, large or small.
Attention is also being given to providing affordable workspaces in developing areas of The Hague, such as Binckhorst and Zuidwest. New housing and area developments will be required to contribute to the presence of creative spaces. In this way, the entire city can benefit from the energy and sense of community that creative incubators bring.
Examples such as Subterra, Gr8, and Pollux Studios show what is possible — places where connection, creativity, and new ideas come together to create a lively and inspiring city.
The full Creative Workspaces Policy Memorandum 2025–2030 can be found here (in Dutch)
Photo caption:
Opening of music incubator Subterra in September. Photos: Martijn Beekman.
