Mooie Boules opens a branch in The Hague and establishes the Mooie Buurt Foundation, which opens the branches free of charge during the day to local residents and social initiatives.
As the political debate intensifies and the “us vs. them” mentality grows, Mooie Boules is choosing a radically different approach: truly bringing people together again. This month, the successful hospitality company is opening three new locations, including one in The Hague (Haagsche Bluf 40), and establishing the Mooie Buurt Foundation. This will open all nine play areas, including the one in the city center, free of charge during the day to local residents who are often marginalized, such as lonely seniors, newcomers, young people with limited social networks, and people living in poverty.
Connection through play
Mooie Buurt, a foundation, offers a platform that allows residents to connect people who might not otherwise meet, and allows community organizations to increase their impact. Everyone is given the opportunity to organize events without having to allocate a budget. Because the spaces, games, and drinks are available free of charge to every organizer, this also facilitates local meetings and initiatives in The Hague, allowing residents to get to know each other better. From a shuffleboard tournament for young people and newcomers to a games afternoon for seniors and their neighbors: anything is possible, as long as it contributes to meeting and connecting.“Loneliness, poverty, and the shifting of blame onto refugees are unfortunately commonplace. The Hague isn’t going to solve that,” says founder Rogier van Genugten. “So we do what we can. If outings can no longer be paid for refugees because they’re ‘having too much fun,’ we’ll arrange it. Fun and socializing aren’t luxuries. They’re basic needs.”
For and by the neighborhood
In a pilot program last year, Mooie Boules facilitated 50 community activities that resulted in 5,500 new encounters, after which 45% of participants felt more connected to their neighborhood. This not only allows residents to meet new people but also empowers them to develop new skills and actively participate in society. With 500,000 visitors annually, nine locations, and a social need that the pilot program revealed, Mooie Boules has the scale and ambition to increase this impact.Rogier van Genugten: “We have something most charities don’t: full bars. Now we’re using our revenue, locations, and visitors to make cities more social. We’re tackling major global problems on a small scale. Not with debates, but with dice, balls, and a drink. Because playing together is the shortest route to living together.”
Connecting residents of The Hague through play in the heart of The Hague
The foundation’s launch coincides with an expansion: three new Mooie Boules and Mooie Buurt locations will open in The Hague, Amsterdam-West, and Utrecht in September and October. The Hague location will be located in the Haagsche Bluf, formerly the site of the Foodhallen. This will not only revitalize the space but also give it new meaning: where political debate often intensifies, Mooie Boules invites politicians, local residents, and businesses to connect and step outside their own bubble. In this way, play is used as a countermovement against polarization. The commercial success of Mooie Boules and the social impact of Mooie Buurt reinforce each other. Business clients and regular visitors contribute through donations, as volunteers, or simply by generating revenue, while the foundation attracts new partners and connects them with target groups.
More information: https://mooieboules.nl
