Phénix Marcillaud built a heart with a missing piece of peace and Edo Gillissen created The Hague with the Peace Palace and bonfires. These two residents of The Hague both won first prize in the building competition of the Hague LEGO summit. The assignment was ‘Create a LEGO building on the theme of peace and justice’. The six winning buildings can be admired in the city hall until 20 June, next to the enormous LEGO model of the World Forum, where the NATO summit will take place on 24 and 25 June.
From the more than 300 entries, the jury, consisting of comedian Sjaak Bral and LEGO masters Ellen Pennings and Sander Schulp, selected the six best constructions (per category 3). Creativity, originality and technique were considered. Also very important: does it tie in with the theme of peace and justice and is it from The Hague? In the category of 4 to 12 years, the first prize goes to Phénix (7 years), the second prize to Basil (10 years) and the third to Jippe (7 years). In the category 13+, Edo (48 years) won with his construction ‘From Palace to Pallets’, the second prize goes to Robert (50 years) and the third to Raphaël (13 years).
Creative and truly The Hague
Alderman Saskia Bruines: “It’s great that we received so many entries and that children from all over the city participated in the LEGO participation afternoons. Making a LEGO construction on the theme of peace and justice is not easy and I am pleasantly surprised by the entries we received. So creative, unique and truly The Hague. Special to see how the theme of peace and justice really touches people. And of course, congratulations to the winners! Your constructions rightly deserve a place in the exhibition.”
Missing Peace
Phénix heard about the wars in the world on the Jeugdjournaal: “I asked my mother what peace is in English. ‘Pies’ she said, ‘a bit strange’, I thought. My mother immediately saw that I wrote it down wrong. It is not pies or piece, but peace. But in wars they do miss a piece of peace. That is why I made my LEGO construction ‘Missing peace’ and left out the P, as the missing piece. I hope that the world will soon find the missing piece of peace,” says Phénix, who is very happy with the first prize.
Exhibition Road to Summit
The winning constructions and the model of the World Forum can be seen in the Atrium of the city hall until 20 June. There you can also admire the Hallo Wereld! portraits of residents of The Hague with a message for the world, and you can participate in the drawing competition Haagse Krabbels . On 17, 18 and 19 June, visitors can also record a message for the world at the ‘Hallo Wereld! chat box’.
LEGO fundraiser: are you participating?
Even after the LEGO summit, we hope that there will be continued enthusiastic building. To make this possible for families who cannot purchase LEGO due to financial circumstances, we will be collecting LEGO until 7 September. The municipality of The Hague and BeHague are doing this in collaboration with Toys Up , Byewaste and Quiet Den Haag . Residents of The Hague who have LEGO at home that they would like to donate can schedule a collection time via the Byewaste website.
Text: Gemeente Den Haag, translation The Hague Online.
Photographer: Phil Nijhuis.