On 21 November 2025, the Haagse Stadmakers Festival brought together residents, entrepreneurs, cultural makers, social organisations and policymakers in The Hague for a day dedicated to shaping the future of the city. This annual event focused on how people from different backgrounds and sectors can work together to make neighbourhoods stronger, more inclusive and more sustainable.
The festival provided a platform for people who are actively involved in improving their surroundings, referred to as “stadmakers” – people who take initiative in their streets, districts and communities.
A Programme Focused on Practical City Making
Throughout the day, visitors could take part in a wide range of activities, including workshops, talks, interactive sessions and city-focused conversations. The programme explored topics such as community building, social innovation, housing, green public spaces, inclusion, mobility and citizen participation.
Rather than focusing only on theory, many sessions centred around practical examples and real-life projects already taking place across The Hague. This allowed participants to learn from each other’s experiences and explore ways to collaborate further.
Space for Dialogue and Experimentation
A central element of the festival was dialogue. Participants were encouraged to share challenges as well as successes from their work in neighbourhoods and organisations. Informal meeting points, open discussions and creative installations helped lower the threshold for conversation between professionals, volunteers and residents.
The atmosphere was open and accessible, with a strong focus on cooperation rather than hierarchy. Many attendees described the festival as a place to meet like-minded people and to feel supported in their initiatives.
Youth and New Ideas
Young city makers played a visible role in the festival programme. Several sessions were dedicated to the ideas and perspectives of young people who are actively engaged in improving social cohesion, culture and sustainability in the city.
This focus on younger generations underlined the importance of long-term thinking and the need to support new voices in urban development.
Strengthening Networks Across The Hague
Beyond individual sessions, the festival functioned as a networking platform. Many visitors used the opportunity to strengthen existing collaborations and to start new partnerships. Organisations, informal citizen groups and independent makers shared knowledge, tools and contact details.
The event demonstrated how complex urban challenges require cooperation between residents, grassroots initiatives, institutions and local government.
An Ongoing Movement
The Haagse Stadmakers Festival is not presented as a one-off event, but as part of an ongoing movement within the city. The ideas shared and the relationships built are intended to continue beyond a single day.
By bringing these different groups together, the festival highlighted the growing role of citizens in shaping the social and physical future of The Hague.
More information:
https://haagsestadmakers.nl
