On Wednesday 24 September, international residents were invited to Edith Stein College to learn more about how the Hague City Council works and how they can engage and participate.
This fully-booked event, called Meet Your City Council, was conducted in English and tailored specifically for The Hague’s international community. After welcome remarks by organisers Andrew van Esch and Maarten De Vuyst stressing the importance of participation, attendees began with a knowledge quiz to test and expand their understanding of municipal government.
The main part of the evening was a “speed date” session, where council members rotated among small groups. In these rotations, people were invited to ask questions, express concerns, and exchange ideas about their neighbourhoods and the city as a whole.
The principal of Edith Stein College, Bram van Welie, addressed the gathering with a speech on diversity—an especially relevant contribution given the school’s highly multicultural character, where over 70 nationalities are represented. For more on the school, see: https://edithsteincollege.nl
The evening closed with a relaxed meet & mingle over drinks and snacks, giving everyone a chance to continue conversations in an informal setting.
Such events underscore The Hague’s commitment to engaging its international residents and ensuring their voices are part of local decision-making.The next municipal council elections are scheduled for 18 March 2026 – to be confirmed, more information here: https://english.kiesraad.nl/latest-news/events
To be eligible to vote in these elections, you must be 18 years or older, reside in the municipality, and not be excluded from the right to vote. Having Dutch nationality is not a requirement — EU citizens and non-EU citizens who have legally lived in the Netherlands for at least five years may also vote.
Each attendee received an English-language booklet titled How does The Hague Municipal Council work? that explained council structure, roles, and processes.
The evening was part of Raad in de Stad (Council in the City), a programme that brings council members directly into conversation with residents across the city. This edition was held in English as a special international version. Organiser Andrew van Esch noted: “It is fantastic to see so much enthusiasm within the international community to come into contact with local politics. That pleasantly surprised us.”
After the event, an email was sent out including a list of political parties in The Hague with links to their websites, as well as contact details and social media channels for the City Council to help internationals stay connected.
More information: https://www.denhaag.nl/nl/gemeenteraad/
Featured photo: Andrew van Esch, Raadslid D66. Photographer: Marijn Beekman
Other photos: The Hague Online
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