1975–2025: 50 Years of Independence of Suriname

From November 18 until November 28, the photo exhibition 1975–2025: 50 Years of Independence of Suriname can be seen at the Atrium City Hall.

On November 25, 2025, Suriname will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its independence. On this day in 1975, Suriname—then still a Dutch colony—became a sovereign state. The independence came after years of political and social unrest, but was ultimately achieved through diplomatic negotiations between the Dutch government and Surinamese political leaders, under the leadership of President Johan Ferrier.

The transition to independence was not without challenges. Suriname faced economic difficulties, the task of building a new national identity, and the integration of diverse ethnic groups. Political instability continued, including a military coup in 1980 that ushered in a turbulent period.

Reflection and a Look Ahead to Suriname’s Future
In the past decades, Suriname has slowly developed, but continues to face challenges in areas such as the economy, political stability, and social equality. Nevertheless, it has preserved its cultural richness and remains an important country in the Caribbean region. The 50th anniversary is a moment of reflection and forward-looking toward the future of Suriname.

With the upcoming 50 years of independence, the organizing body Stichting Atlas Cultureel Centrum aims to present a rich and multifaceted program. This includes a book, a traveling photo exhibition, educational programs, lectures, dialogue sessions, workshops, and more. Together, they seek to keep the heritage of the Surinamese community alive and to serve as a source of inspiration for future generations.

Initiator Sahin Yildirim of Stichting Atlas Cultureel Centrum:
“Those who do not honor the past lose the future. Those who destroy their roots cannot grow.”

The great cultural diversity of today’s Netherlands is historically rooted. The identities and urban cultures of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague are closely intertwined with a history of migration. This is reflected in how people live, family life, language use, and social-cultural diversity. The organizing body Atlas Cultureel Centrum wishes to organize various activities in The Hague as part of the 50 Years of Surinamese Independence and, through these, offer equal opportunities to residents, support the city’s development, and create a platform to bring different communities together, promote dialogue, and foster new encounters.

The project 50 Years of Independence of Suriname includes:

• Traveling Photo Exhibition 1975–2025: 50 Years of Independence of Suriname
• Book 50 Years of Independence of Suriname
• Educational programs (Primary, Secondary, and Vocational Education)
• Lectures and dialogue sessions
• Documentary in collaboration with broadcaster NTR
• The book 50 Years of Independence of Suriname

Book 50 Years of Independence of Suriname
To make this unique project a success, Atlas Cultureel Centrum will publish the book 50 Years of Independence of Suriname. Everyone can help. Each book order brings the organization one step closer to realizing the project. After the book launch on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 19, 2025 in the Atrium City Hall, signed copies will be sent to buyers. Interested parties can order the book via the website: 50jaaronafhankelijkheidvansuriname.nl.

Project Group 50 Years of Independence of Suriname
To ensure the success of the activities surrounding 50 years of independence and to connect various communities, an Advisory Board has been established. This board consists of Astrid Echteld MPC, Jane Kuldipsingh, Hans Zuiver (MSc), and Drs. Johanna S. Rambaran. In addition to the involved partners, this group provides full support to the organizing body Stichting Atlas Cultureel Centrum. Atlas Cultureel Centrum previously exhibited the photo exhibition 1964 – Turks in the Netherlands at the Atrium City Hall in November 2024.

For more information, please go to atlascultureelcentrum.nl.

 

Photo Exhibition Best News Photo and Sports Photo of the Year 2024

Have a look at the best Dutch news and sports photos of the year between January 14 until January 31, 2025 in the Atrium City Hall. 

Good news and sports photography define the image of daily news. In the wealth of moving images, text and sound, news photos are still distinctive. Dedicated photographers who know how to capture the right moment make an indispensable contribution to the impact and experience of the news. Stichting Nieuwsfoto values ​​their work and puts the best photos of the year in the spotlight with the election of the best News Photo of the Year, the Sports Photo of the Year and the Regional News Photo of the Year.

The News Photo and Sports Photo of the Year also receive an audience award. All winners will be announced in the Atrium City Hall.

Stichting Nieuwsfoto
Stichting Nieuwsfoto is a foundation which is set up by ANP (General Dutch Press Agency), Sound & Vision (Media Archive and Museum) and NSP (Dutch Sports Press). The municipality of The Hague is one of the partners and main sponsors of the event.

For more information, go to www.stichtingnieuwsfoto.nl (Dutch only).

 

Christmas-Sing-ALong 2024 with Free Livestream

The Atrium City Hall Foundation has organized the Christmas Sing-ALong on Sunday evening, December 15 in the Atrium City Hall. Under the inspiring leadership of Gregor Bak, over 300 choir members and the 1.100 visitors, together with guest artists Francis van Broekhuizen, the Uzory Ensemble, Theaterfanfare Kunst voor het Volk led by Sarif Tribou and the 2.200 online visitors via the Free Livestream it was a Christmas Concert that wil not be forgotten!

Program Chistmas-Sing-ALong 2024
The one-off Christmas choir, the more than 1.100 visitors in the Atrium City Hall and all those who stay at home and enjoy and sing along to traditional worldly Christmas carols via the livestream provided by Cue Creative under the inspiring leadership of conductor and pianist Gregor Bak, once again with a guest appearance by ‘dramatic soprano’ and TV personality Francis van Broekhuizen. There will be guest performances by Music Ensemble Uzory from Ukraine and  Theaterfanfare Kunst voor het Volk from The Hague, led by conductor Sarif Tribou.

Donation Music Ensemble Uzory & Tarwekamp
The Christmas-Sing-ALong is one of the bright spots in these dark days for which the Atrium Foundation has worked hard for all year long to realize this great Christmas Concert financially and production-wise. Not only is darkness hanging over the city The Hague due to the explosion at the Tarwekamp at this moment, but also still over the city of Mykolaiv in the south of Ukraine, where Music Ensemble Uzory comes from. Donation pots were placed during the Christmas-Sing-Along. A total of 2.250 euros was raised from all choir members and visitors for Mykolaiv in Ukraine and Lichtpuntjes van Mariahoeve in The Hague.

Thanks to
The Christmas Sing-ALong is based on an idea by Herbert Boerendonk. Atrium City Hall has been organizing the Christmas Sing-ALong in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague since 2015. Since the opening of the City Hall in 1995, this foundation has been the organization behind the many activities that are always organized in the Atrium of the City Hall. The Christmas Sing-ALong 2024 is supported by the contributions of:

Aftermovie with subtitles Christmas-Sing-ALong 2024
Click on the below image to watch the Aftermovie with subtitles produced by Cue Creative.

Photo’s Christmas-Sing-ALong 2024 Atrium City Hall – De Schaapjesfabriek

Exhibition Europol at 25

In 2024, Europol, the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation, celebrates its 25th anniversary. Since their establishment in 1999, they have been headquartered in The Hague, supporting EU Member States in preventing and combatting serious international and organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism.

This exhibition which can be seen from September 17 until September 27 4PM, showcases key milestones from their history, illustrating how their efforts contribute to making Europe safer.

For more information, go to www.europol.europa.eu.

Hâck The Hague 2024

On Monday 30 September 2024, the municipality of The Hague will be organizing the hacking competition Hâck The Hague for the sixth time in the Atrium City Hall. This year it will be a special edition with a focus on operational technology. 

In the Atrium City Hall specialized honest hackers will be challenged to find vulnerabilities in the physical resources of the municipality.

As the international city of Peace & Justice, cybersecurity is an important prerequisite for the municipality of The Hague. With regular internal checks, they continuously work on our digital security and resilience against cyber-attacks.

Operational technology
During this unique edition of the hacking competition, honest hackers will search for vulnerabilities in operational technology and related hardware.

This includes physical components such as charging stations for electric cars, movable bridges, traffic control systems, the camera management system, the walkie-talkies of employees on the street and laptops. It is extremely important that the municipality protect these resources.

The systems that are tested are also accessible to hostile parties. During Hâck The Hague they try to gain insight into possible weak spots in a safe and controlled manner. When a vulnerability is found, they can immediately use it to make environments worldwide safe if they use the same OT. OT is hardware and software that monitors or controls industrial equipment, assets and processes, such as software that controls robots in a factory.

The participating hackers must agree to the Rules of Engagement in advance and adhere to the Responsible Disclosure policy.

Participating hackers
This year, the municipality of The Hague will invite a select group of honest hackers to Hâck The Hague because it is a very specialized form of hacking and we only have a limited number of places available.

The group will be a combination of professional hackers and students. The hackers will work together in mixed groups to hack the operational systems within the municipality.

The group that ultimately qualifies for a prize will present the vulnerability found to the public, consisting of (participating) hackers and suppliers of the systems within the municipality of The Hague.

Review Hâck The Hague 2023
During the previous hacking competition in 2023, 66 vulnerabilities were discovered by 116 hackers present at Spui. The participating suppliers immediately benefited from these findings for their applications and were able to request additional information from the hackers if necessary. They already gained insight into the vulnerability found during the hacking competition. In some cases, the problem could be resolved on the same day. This not only made the systems of the municipality of The Hague more secure, but also the systems of their other customers.

www.hackthehague.com

Museum Night The Hague 2024: RollerSkateDisco (Sold Out)

For the 11th year in a row, the Atrium City Hall will transform into a real RollerSkateDisco during Museum Night The Hague from 7PM to 12PM. In addition, during the Museum Night evening you will have the first opportunity to see the exhibition Vertical Cities Expo: the Tallest, the Dreamed and the Unimaginable in the Atrium.

Put on your rollerskates and roll along to the funkiest beats of DJ Groove Selektor Brian Bfunk from Quadsk8. Don’t have roller skates in the attic, but you still want to shine on the dance floor? No problem! You can rent roller skates in sizes 36 to 47 for 5 euro per pair. Reservations are not possible.

Museum Night The Hague
On Saturday, October 12, 2024 it will be Museum Night The Hague again. You can visit 35+ institutions with one ticket. An evening full of art and culture and great activities: workshops, tours, performances, RollerSkateDisco and much more. Tickets are sold ou, please see www.museumnachtdenhaag.nl.

NB! In 2024, Museum Night The Hague will take place from 7PM to 1AM. The Atrium City Hall is open this evening from 7PM to 12AM.

Exhibition 125 Years City of Peace & Justice

The Hague is internationally known as the city of Peace & Justice. Today, almost 500 international organizations are based in the city. More than 20,000 people work every day to make the world a better, more just and safer place.

The reputation as the international city of Peace & Justice has its origins in the first Hague Peace Conference, which took place in the city 125 years ago. From May 18 to July 29, 1899, delegations from the most important countries in the world met in The Hague. Over a period of three months, diplomats and lawyers met to reach agreements regarding peace, arms control and the use of international arbitration.

Thanks to the first Hague Peace Conference, The Hague was recognized worldwide as an important center for diplomacy and international law. A second peace conference was held in 1907. In the 125 years since, numerous international organizations, courts, tribunals, non-governmental organizations, agencies and knowledge institutes have established themselves here. As a result, The Hague has grown into a unique, international city of Peace & Justice.

This year, the municipality of The Hague, together with Just Peace, is organizing a series of events that will focus on the Hague Peace Conference, including this Exhibition 125 Years City of Peace & Justice from June 24 until July 26 in the Atrium City Hall. But there are also peace dinners, walks and visits to organizations.

Just Peace The Hague
The Hague is the International City of Peace & Justice, and is famous around the world. Just Peace The Hague aims to Bring Peace & Justice to life for everyone in the city, through events, stories, and much more. 

Visit www.justpeacethehague.com/en/ for the entire program.

This exhibition can be seen until July 26 4PM in the Atrium City Hall.

 

POSTERWAND HAAGS GEMEENTEARCHIEF: TENTOONSTELLING HET ALOYSIUS COLLEGE 1917 – 2016

De tentoonstelling Aloysius College toont de opkomst en ondergang van een school voor bijzonder onderwijs.

De tentoonstelling ‘Het Aloysius College 1917 – 2016’ vertelt het verhaal van het eerste Rooms-Katholieke lyceum in Den Haag. Een speciale werkgroep, bestaande uit oud-leerlingen John van Dijk en Caspar Wintermans en oud-leraar Ino Mulders, stelde de tentoonstelling samen uit archiefmateriaal van het Haags Gemeentearchief. De tentoonstelling is van 8 april t/m 1 juni te bezoeken in het Atrium Den Haag.

Het Aloysius College was het eerste door jezuïeten opgerichte instituut voor voortgezet onderwijs in Den Haag. De school, gelegen aan de Oostduinlaan in het Benoordenhout, gaf bijna 100 jaar vorm en inhoud aan het onderwijs in onze stad en omstreken.

Wat speelde zich gedurende dit lange bestaan allemaal af achter de muren van dit monumentale pand? En waarom ging de school in 2016 – één jaar voordat het eeuwfeest zou worden gevierd – ten onder?

Op zoek naar antwoorden in het archief
Oud-leerlingen John van Dijk en Caspar Wintermans en oud-leraar Ino Mulders gingen op zoek naar antwoorden op deze vragen. Zij doken in het archief van het Aloysius College, dat na de sluiting van de school in 2016 geschonken is aan het Haags Gemeentearchief. Het resultaat is de tentoonstelling ‘‘Het Aloysius College 1917 – 2016”, waarin de bezoeker aan de hand van fraai beeldmateriaal en sprekende teksten wordt meegenomen door 99 jaren van bezielde inzet, onderbroken door vijf oorlogsjaren.

Van Rooms-Katholieke jongensschool naar brede scholengemeenschap
Het is het verhaal van een Rooms-Katholieke jongensschool die met zijn tijd meeging. Van heimelijke contacten met de andere sekse tijdens de oorlogsjaren, tot de toelating van meisjes vanaf 1971.

De gevolgen van de Mammoetwet in 1968 en de wens om een brede scholengemeenschap te zijn én te blijven komen breed aan bod. Zo veranderde het Aloysius van een hbs en gymnasium in een scholengemeenschap voor havo, atheneum en gymnasium, om later te fuseren met de mavo ‘Cordi Sacratissimo’ aan de Cornelis Jolstraat. In de twintigste eeuw krijgt de school negatieve pers, wat niet zonder gevolgen blijft. In 2016 sluit het Aloysius haar deuren, maar de herinneringen aan de school blijven bestaan.

“Het AC was een leerschool voor het leven, een plaats waar je je capaciteiten en tekortkomingen ontdekte. Ik heb daar dierbare vriendschappen gesloten en bewonderde de onbaatzuchtige jezuïeten die er doceerden.”
Bernard Bot, voormalig Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken en oud-leerling Aloysius College, (eindexamen 1956)

“Zonder de aanwezigheid van het AC in mijn leven zou ik waarschijnlijk niet zijn wie ik nu ben (en zonder mijn aanwezigheid op het AC zou het waarschijnlijk nu nog bestaan).”
Sjaak Bral, cabaretier (eindexamen 1981)

Documentaire Filmhuis
Het initiatief voor de tentoonstelling is genomen door regisseur en oud-leerling Remy Vlek die de documentairefilm ‘Hoe mijn school verdween’ maakte. Deze documentaire wordt op woensdag 10 april om 15 uur vertoond in het Filmhuis Den Haag. Zie ook: “Hoe mijn School Verdween”.

Voor meer informatie, ga naar www.filmhuis.nl.

International Yoga Day 2024

On Saturday June 1, 2024, the International Yoga Day will return to the Atrium of the City Hall of The Hague. This day is organized by the Embassy of India and is freely accessible for everyone after registration.

Program
Entrance between 10:00 and 10:45 hours
Yoga session from 11:00 until 12:00 hours

There is a yoga mat for everyone. You must bring your own comfortable clothing.

The entrance is free, after registration via Eventix.

For more information, go to the website of the Embassy of India.

Knowledge Region by the Sea: Welcome to the Year 2070

The exhibition Knowledge Region by the Sea: Welcome to the Year 2070 is on display from April 8 to 12 in the Atrium of the City Hall.

In collaboration with Wageningen University and Research (WUR), the Kennisregio aan Zee which consist of the municipalities The Hague, Leiden, Delft en Zoetermeer and other partners, such as Museon-Omniversum have developed a traveling exhibition on the future of our region. How do we deal with rising sea levels and the changing climate in this region? What will it look like here in half a century? The panels show the challenges we face and the natural solutions we can opt for. With which we can create a greener and more sustainable living environment that works for both people and nature.

For more information, go to www.kennisregioaanzee.nl (Dutch only)

Photo Exhibition 1964-2024: 60 Years of Turks in the Netherlands

In the 1950s and 1960s, the Netherlands experienced a significant shortage of labor. After initially attracting guest workers from countries such as Spain, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Greece, a wave of workers from Turkey began in the early 1960s. On August 19, 1964, the Netherlands and Turkey signed a labor contract to recruit workers. During the 1960s, for example, they worked at the Philips factory, Ford factory, Thomassen & Drijver, shipbuilding industry, and Fokker factory in The Hague. Without them, the Dutch economy would never have become as strong as it is today.  

Initiator, Sahin Yildirim:
“Without the Turkish guest workers, the Dutch economy would never have become as strong as it is today.” 

The great cultural diversity of the contemporary Netherlands is historically rooted. The identity and urban culture of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and The Hague are closely intertwined with their labor history. This is reflected in how people live, family life, language use, and socio-cultural diversity. Atlas Cultural Center aims to organize various activities in The Hague in the context of 60 years of Turkish labor migration, thereby providing equal opportunities to residents, keeping the city in development, and creating support to bring different groups together, promote dialogue, and foster new encounters. 

Atlas Cultural Center in The Hague aims to establish various activities surrounding 60 years of Turkish labor migration in the Netherlands: 

• Photo exhibition in the Atrium City Hall from October 23 to November 18, 2024 (traveling)
• Book ’60 years, 60 stories’ 
• Educational programs 
• Lectures and dialogue sessions 
• Literary evenings 
• Workshops 
• Music concert
• Theatrical performance 

The book 60 years, 60 stories
To make this unique project a success, Atlas Cultural Centre will publish the book 60 years, 60 stories. You can help them with this. Every order brings them closer to realizing this project. After the book presentation on October 23, 2024 (location t.b.d.) every buyer of the book will receive a signed copy of the book.

Atlas Cultureel Centrum (Atlas Cultural Centre)
In 2013, a group of residents of The Hague took the initiative to make the history of the first guest workers known to a wide audience. Their motivation was as simple as it was important: Those who do not honor their past lose the future, and those who destroy their roots can no longer grow.

Atlas Cultural Center was officially founded in 2014 to preserve, preserve and transfer the knowledge, experiences, successes and failures of these migrants (Spaniards, Italians, Greeks, Turks and Moroccans) to the new generation.

For more information and to buy the book, go to atlascultureelcentrum.nl. (Dutch only)

The Atrium City Hall will be closed on Saturday November 2, 2024 due to maintenance work.

The Netherlands Red Cross – Serious Request: Discover 12 Stories about Change

This exposition which can be seen from February 6 until February 23 in the Atrium of the City Hall, presents stories of Most Significant Change of the 3FM Serious Request Programme in Zambia and Central African Republic (CAR). Showcased are 12 out of the 160 collected stories for the meta evaluation of the 3FM programme conducted by the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (PMEAL) team of the Netherlands Red Cross. The final (interactive) report will be published by the end of January 2024.

The 3FM Programme
The Netherlands Red Cross, together with the Dutch radio station NPO 3FM undertook an annual fundraising campaign known as 3FM Serious Request from 2004 – 2020. Each year, this campaign tackled a specific theme, often shedding light on ‘silent’ crises that required urgent attention. 3FM Serious Request raised a remarkable total of 102.695.033 euros. The impact of these funds can be seen across 52 countries and 9 regions, with over 155 projects. In total more than 10,880,716 people were reached.

This exposition presents 12 stories of two 3FM projects— “Next Generation project” in CAR and the  ‘Reducing child mortality through diarrhea reduction project’ in Zambia—offering an understanding of the impact of the 3FM programmes on people’s lives. The stories were acquired in a meta-evaluation utilizing the Most Significant Change (MSC) technique. The evaluation is currently still ongoing. Upon its completion, the results will be published online.

‘This Next Generation project’ in the CAR (2017-2019)
Learn about the 3FM Next Generation project in CAR, spanning from March 2017 to August 2019. The project aimed at making young people who have to cope with conflict and that are part of ‘this next generation’ more resilient to the consequences of conflict. Young people in Bangui were supported with Income Generating Activities, education, first aid, vocational and social cohesion training. Discover in this exhibition how these activities impacted people’s lives.

‘Reducing child mortality through diarrhea reduction project’ in Zambia (2014-2017)
Explore the change made in challenges related to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in Zambia through the Diarrhoea Reduction Project, which ran from January 2014 to March 2017. The aim of the project was to reduce child mortality due to diarrhoea, through building community resilience in Zambia’s Western province. In Zambia, diarrhoea diseases were a major concern, particularly among children under five, constituting 16% of mortality in this age group, intensified by limited access to safe water and proper sanitation facilities. Find out more about the impact of the project activities on the affected population by reading their personal stories of change in the Atrium City Hall.

This is Red Cross Netherlands
Helping people in need. That is what the Red Cross stands for. Close, if you have blisters during the Four Days Marches in Nijmegen. If you have to leave your house due to a gas leak, or if you have stood in glass at a festival. But also far away. When people have to flee violence, or when their house is swept away by a mudslide.

Curious about what you can do to contribute? Go to www.rodekruis.nl/en.

Chinese New Year Celebrations 2024: Year of the Dragon

The cheerful celebration of the National Chinese New Year will be organized again as before in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague and in Chinatown in The Hague on February 24, 2024. All activities are free of access.

Long tradition
The Chinese New Year in The Hague has a long tradition. In 2002, the municipality of The Hague signed an agreement with the Chinese community, the LFCON and the embassy stating that the National Chinese New Year Celebration (CNY) would be held in The Hague from that year onwards. The New Year festivities take place in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague and in the Chinatown The Hague, with street parades on the Plein and in the city center of The Hague.

The Chinese New Year celebration in The Hague is a special event. It distinguishes itself from the New Year’s celebrations in the other major cities due to its size, the program, and unique collaboration with the municipality of The Hague. It is characteristic that young and old, both internationally and nationally, including the residents of The Hague, actively participate. It provides The Hague with a unique platform in the Netherlands, in which mutual culture, knowledge exchange and common values ​​are the central focus.

2024: Year of the Dragon
Every year, a new year begins at the end of January/beginning of February according to the Chinese calendar. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is all about the Dragon. Unlike the Western zodiac signs, the Chinese zodiac is based on the year of birth rather than the month of birth.

For more information about the organisation, go to www.chineesnieuwjaar-denhaag.nl

Program Atrium City Hall (for all program details, see the flyers below the text)

• 10AM Opening of the program in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague.
• 10:30AM uur Parade with Chinese lion and dragon dances Chinatown & Spuiplein.
• 11:45AM uur Official opening ceremony in the Atrium of the City Hall, speeches by the Mayor of The Hague, the Chinese Ambassador, the Chairman of the National Chinese New Year Celebration Committee 2024, delegations and key committee members.
• 12PM until 2:30PM Presentation Festival of Spring, Cultures of China.
• 2:30PM until 5PM Varied program with performances by local Chinese and Dutch artists.

For the program in China Town The Hague, go to www.chinatowndenhaag.com.

Overview exhibition Berlage Flag 2023

On October 24th 2023, the Berlagevlag (Berlage Flag), the architecture prize for The Hague and surrounding areas, was awarded during a festive meeting in the Centrale Bibliotheek. De Berlagevlag is organized by Haags Architectuur Café (HaAC) since 2017, in collaboration with BNA Haaglanden and Dag van de Architectuur. The Berlagevlag, Berlagewimpel (pennant) en Berlagevaan (banner) are intended for the entire team of parties involved. On Saturday February 3, 2024 the Atrium is closed due to maintanence.

For this edition, 38 beautiful and very diverse projects were submitted to compete. This exhibition, which can be seen from February 1 until 23, 2024 in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague, contains descriptions and photos of all 38 entries. All entries together clearly demonstrate the diversity of the construction task in The Hague and surrounding areas over the past two years. 

The independent professional jury of the Berlagevlag 2023 consists of: Dorte Kristensen (Atelier PRO – chairman), Mark Graafland (Bureau Kroner architects – secretary), Wim Voogt (OKRA landscape architects), Carina Nørregaard (LIAG architects and construction consultants), Richard Koek (Rijnboutt tot 1st of September). In addition to the Berlagevlag, the audience award – the Berlagewimpel – has also been introduced. The public voted on a shortlist of 12 projects nominated by the jury. In addition, no fewer than two Berlagevaantjes were awarded, which represent an honorable mention.

Winners 2023

• Berlagevlag: Jaarsmahof (HVE Architecten)
• Berlagewimpel: Onderwijscluster Donker Curtius (het Zandkasteel) (Spring Architecten i.s.m. ArchiTech Company)
• Berlagevaan: Transformatie Plesmanweg (Architektenkombinatie) en Leyhof (Studio Ard Hoksbergen ism Workshop Architecten).

For more information, go to www.haacs.nl.

Photo Exhibition Best News Photo and Sports Photo of the Year 2023

Have a look at the best Dutch news and sports photos of the year until January 29, 2024 in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague. On Saturday January 13 and January 27, 2024 the Atrium is closed due to mainaintance.

The awards for the News Photo of the Year 2023 and the Sports Photo of the Year 2023 has been presented for the first time on January 9, 2024 in the Atrium. This exhibition features the 100 best photographs of the year of the decisive moments in sport, politics and society. The competition and exhibition are organized by Stichting Nieuwsfoto (Foundation News Photo). The below photos of the winning photographers 2023 Pim Ras, Sem van der Wal, Tom Bode and Robin van Lonkhuijsen can also be seen in this photo exhibition.

Winners 2023
The winning photographers of 2023 are:

• Winner of the Jury Prize News: Sem van der Wal. Photo Dilan Yesilgoz (VVD) Pieter Omtzigt (NSC) Geert Wilders (PVV) Caroline van der Plas (BBB) ​​discussion of motion during suspension of debate of House of Representatives election results.
• Winner of the Audience Award News: Pim Ras. Photo A full Coolsingel Rotterdam during the celebration of National Champion Feyenoord.
• Winner of the Sports Jury Prize: Robin van Lonkhuijsen. Photo Sifan Hassan falls just before the finish of the 10 kilometers at the Budapest World Athletics Championships.
• Winner of the Audience Award for Sports: Tom Bode. Photo Geertruida after his winning goal for Feyenoord in the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Stichting Nieuwsfoto
Stichting Nieuwsfoto is a foundation which is set up by ANP (General Dutch Press Agency), Sound & Vision (Media Archive and Museum) and NSP (Dutch Sports Press). The municipality of The Hague is one of the partners and main sponsors of the event. 

For more information, go to www.stichtingnieuwsfoto.nl (Dutch only).

Christmas-Sing-ALong 2023

On Sunday evening, December 17, the seventh edition of the Christmas-Sing-ALong took place in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague. With Gregor Bak, Francis van Broekhuizen, Music Ensemble Uzory, Theater Fanfare Kunst voor het Volk led by Sarif Tribou, the 350 choir members, 1,100 visitors and the online visitors via the Livestream, it was a Christmas Eve you will never forget!

Aftermovie with subtitles
Watch the Aftermovie with subtitles of the Christmas-Sing-ALong 2023 in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague, produced by cuecreative.nl in collaboration with the organization of the Christmas-Sing-ALong Foundation Atrium City Hall.

Program 2023
On Sunday evening, December 17, everyone could attend the seventh edition of the special Christmas Sing-ALong in the Atrium The Hague from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. and enjoy it at home via the livestream. The 350-member one-off Christmas choir, the more than 1,100 visitors in the Atrium The Hague and those staying at home can enjoy and sing along to traditional worldly Christmas carols via the livestream on this page under the inspiring leadership leadership of Gregor Bak with ‘dramatic soprano’ and TV-personality Francis van Broekhuizen. And there are guest appearances by Muziekensemble Uzory from Ukraine and Theaterfanfare Kunst voor het Volk from The Hague conducted by Sarif Tribou. The Christmas choir and the visitors have jointly collected a donation of more than 3.000 euros for Uzory.

Photos Christmas-Sing-ALong 2023
Watch all photos of the Christmas-Sing-ALong 2023 on Facebook.com/AtriumDenHaag.

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Citywide Meeting on Environmental Vision 2050

The municipality of the city of The Hague would like to invite all residents to the citywide meeting on Environmental Vision 2050 on Saturday October 7 from 2PM until 4PM in the Atrium of the City Hall with hosts alderman Robert van Asten and presentor Fred Zuiderwijk.

At 12PM the meeting will start with snacks and the municipality will update everyone about the progress of the The Hague 2050 environmental vision. The municipality went into the city last June and July with the ‘Haagse Mixer’. Get to know the outcome of these interviews and hear what ambitions people from the different neighborhoods have. The municipality will ask you and other guests to join them on a large map of The Hague (Haagse Mat) where you can indicate what you are proud of, which places should be preserved and where something certainly needs to be done in the city.

There is a separate area for children where they can play andcan build their ideal playground with a supervisor: we create The Hague’s environmental vision together.

The municipality would appreciate it if you send an email to omgevingsvisie@denhaag.nl so that they know that you are coming and they can inform the catering. And please do invite neighboors, colleagues, sports buddies and other people.

For more information, go to the website of the Environmental Vision The Hague 2050.

International Yoga Day 2023

On Sunday June 18, the International Yoga Day will return to the Atrium of the City Hall of The Hague. This day is organized by the Embassy of India and is freely accessible to everyone, registration is not necessary.

Program
Entrance between 10:00 and 10:45 hours
Yoga session from 11:00 until 12:00 hours

There is a yoga mat for everyone. You must bring your own comfortable clothing.

Are you not aible to attend, watch the livestream on the YouTube account Indian Diplomacy.

More information can be found on the website of the Embassy of India.

The Hague Children’s Music Day 2025

On Saturday April 5 the Atrium City Hall will be all about music! Come by this afternoon between 13:00 and 17:00 hours and get to know everything that has to do with Hague music for children.

Discover and try all kinds of musical instruments in the music market during the instrument garden and workshops, enjoy all kinds of performances and get acquainted with the many music schools, music teachers, youth orchestras and associations from the region of The Hague during the information market. This musical afternoon will be opened by Alderman for Education & Youth Hilbert Bredemeijer. The Hague Children’s Music Day is free of entrance and is part of the national Children’s Music Week. 

Program Performances Atrium

• 1PM until 1:30PM
  Hofstads Jeugd Orkest Voorbereidend Orkest
• 2PM until 2:30PM
  Notes Beats and Bars
• 3PM until 3:30PM
  De Phoenix Wateringen
• 4PM until 4:45PM
  The Residents & Zingverhalen
• 4:50PM
  Children’s Music Week Song Dream Pilot

At the end of this musical day everyone can sing-along with the Children’s Music Week Song Droompiloot (Dream Pilot). Want to practice the song Droompiloot in Dutch only? Click here to download the text and click here to download the Leadsheet and go to @youtube to rehearse this song. More information about this song can be found on the website of the Kindermuziekweek.

Program Music Market
Around the performances, children can try out all kinds of instruments and follow Drum, DJ & Rap Workshops. In addition, various music schools, music teachers, youth orchestras and music associations from the region of The Hague will be present at the information market to provide visitors with information.

Instrument Garden Atrium
1:30PM – 2PM
2:30PM – 3PM
3:30PM – 4PM

Workshops Foyer Council Chamber
1:30PM – 1:45PM
Drum Workshop Sander van Elferen
2:30PM – 2:45PM
Drum Workshop Sander van Elferen
3:30PM – 4:30PM
DJ & Rap Workshop Haags HipHop Centrum

All instruments and workshops are supervised by professional teachers. Registration is not possible.

Children’s Music Week
The Hague Children’s Music Day is part of the national Children’s Music Week. This is an initiative of 14 major Dutch music sector organizations that have joined forces to realize a 10-day Children’s Music Week every year. As the Children’s Music Week Foundation, we want to let all children from the Netherlands from 0 to 12 years of age enjoy making and listening to (live) music for 10 days every year.
www.kindermuziekweek.nl 

Made possible by
The Hague Children’s Music Day is organized and made possible by Atrium City Hall, Residentie Orkest, Theaterfanfare Kunst voor het Volk  and Cultuurschakel.

30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall
In 2025 it will be 30 years since the City Hall opened at Spui 70 and in that same year the Atrium City Hall Foundation was established. The year 2025 will therefore be all about 30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall.

With a great diversity of exhibitions and events it will be a special year, such as The Hague Children’s Music Day, The Hague Freedom Meal  Redesign Rietveld, artwork Jan van Goyen and and the exhibition 30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall.

Photo’s The Hague Children’s Music Day 2025 by Hans Poel

Chinese New Year 2023: Year of the Rabbit

Photo Exhibition ANP News Photo of the Year 2022

On Tuesday evening 10 January 2023, the announcement of the ANP News Photo of the Year 2022 has taken place. Following this, the photo exhibition with more than 100 news photos from 2022 will be on display in the Atrium of the City Hall of The Hague until January 31, 2023. This photo exhibition wil not be on display on Saturday January 21, 2023, due to the Chinese New Year Celebration.

News photo of the year 2022
For the past five years, a professional jury has selected the ANP News Photo of the Year from the wide range of ANP news photos. Last year, Bart Maat won with his photo of Minister Ollongren at the Binnenhof. The photo, now known as ‘function elsewhere’, turned the entire cabinet formation upside down in the spring of 2021. The aim of this award is to generate attention for the news photography produced daily by photojournalists in the Netherlands.

This prize – formerly the Jos van Leeuwen Photo Prize – is awarded to the news photographer who has made the best news photo from the range at ANP Foto. This year’s jury consists of freelance image consultant Leo Blom, head of photo at Het Parool Eva de Vos and professor of journalism and innovation Danielle Arets. In addition to the jury prize, the audience prize was also awarded. Each month, the public could vote for their favorite news photo via social media and a web page. There is one winner every month, who is nominated for the annual ANP News Photo of the Year Audience Award. The nominees were:

Vincent Jannink – Hundreds of people sleep outside at the Ter Apel application center (winner of the jury prize)
Rob Engelaar – Silent march in Kerkrade for the murdered Gino
Ramon van Flymen – Crowds at Schiphol after strike
Laurens Bosch – Man in camouflage clothing after an Apple Store hostage (winner of the public award)
Ramon van Flymen – Ukrainian refugees after arriving from Berlin at Amsterdam Central

These 5 nominated photos from 2022 can also be seen in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague until January 31, 2023.

For more information, go to www.anp.nl (Dutch only).

Photo Exhibition Catch21

In this photo exhibition which can be seen from December 19, 2022 to January 9, 2023 in the Atrium of the City Hall in The Hague you will see work by eight talented photographers who got to know each other during their study Photographic Design in Rotterdam: Leonie, Ariana, Wieneke, Britt, Lotte, Monica, Karin and Sun.

In September 2021 they organized as a collective Catch21 their graduation exhibition in the Elleboogkerk in Amersfoort.. Although their projects left a surprising diversity in theme, style and working method due to the mutual connections and mutual interests, it turned out to be an intuitive but strong conceptual connectedness. After this very positively received exhibition, this is the second time that their work can be seen together. The photographers of Catch21 will show how they have developed further in the year after their graduation. This time on invitation from Atrium City Hall in the city where a large part of the collective lives or works and has already done so was exhibited by part of the group. Catch21 takes you on photographic discovery tour through human interest, documentary, research, mixed media and alternative techniques.

For more information about Catch21, go to their Facebook pagina.

Leonie Gossens
Ik mis

As a photographer and artist she attempts to capture that what is no longer there, has not yet been or may not have been. Not the here and now, but the absent is translated into something visible. The starting point for her photographic and visual experiments is a sensitivity to the seemingly unnoted, the unwitnessed or deviant. The search for a visual and tangible translation urges her to create. I Miss is her research into photographic strategies to explore and imagine the impact of experiencing a miscarriage. How could she capture something that was not yet visible and has suddenly disappeared? How could she make something tangible that others have not seen or felt, but was and remains so clearly there?
With I Miss she hopes to tempt you to pause for a moment to think about this subject, that has not been discussed very openly. And that her photographic thoughts contribute to more attention, recognition and contemplation. In 2022 she started worked on a sequel to I Miss at the Photo Academy in Amsterdam and here she shows you the first step.
www.leoniegossens.com

Ariana Eland
Your perception of me is a reflection of you
With the question “what do you see’ Ariana wants to introduce people into her world and invite them to look for themselves. The themes of identity, individuality, connection with others and her environment are central to her work. She is always looking for the answer to the question: ‘Who am I, and what is my place in this world?’ Ariana’s work is aesthetic, enigmatic and has a strong interplay between form and content. What emerges is an eclectic visual story full of shapes, objects, people and situations. Do you dare to stand still and make the invisible visible? Its not about what you see, it’s about what you want to see.
www.arianaeland.nl

Wieneke de Leeuw
Bloemstillevens in chemigrammen
Ever since her childhood in Twente, Wieneke has longed to see the Snakes’s head flower (Fritillaria maleagris). At the beginning of 2021, Wieneke started this long-term project, in which she is researching this special flower bulb. She collected stories from residents, administrators and historians, and studied the symbolism of this flower and its background. For this photo series “Flower still lifes in chemigrams” Wieneke has researched the flower still lifes from the 16th and 17th centuries and the ecological environment in which the Snake’s head flower occurs. The photographic design in chemigrams is a time-consuming and intensive process with sunlight on analog paper using, among other things, flowers from the vicinity of the Fritillaria maleagris. The structures refer to the stains on the pages of the old Herbaria and the original colors give it a warm authentic atmosphere. This is exactly the look Wieneke was looking for for these photos. In the Netherlands, 90% of these rare flower bulbs bloom in the spring in the IJsseldelta near Zwolle. Wieneke thinks it is important to preserve history, so that this flower continues to be appreciated and seen. In 2023, Wieneke hopes to complete her project with a book designed by the Hague designer Sybren Kuiper.
www.wienekedeleeuw.nl

Britt van den Broeke
Nèrgens
Britt photographs in the direction of documentary style and has a fascination for simplicity. The work she makes is mainly focused on West Zeeuws-Vlaanderen, the place where she grew up and which is close to her heart. Her images have an atmosphere of stillness, peace and sincerity. In her series ‘Nèrgens’ she visually captures the feeling of homesickness about the pure simplicity of her region. Images that can still be seen sporadically can be captured for the future.
www.brittvandenbroeke.com

Lotte van Huuksloot
Contouren
Lotte van Huuksloot (1979) graduated in 2021 from the Dutch Academy of Image Creation (The Netherlands,Rotterdam) in Photographic design. With a good eye for the visual poetry of the everyday, she translates her own experiences and emotions into images that move and make
you reflect on things. The series “Contours” is Lotte’s graduation project and arose during the Lockdown. Due to the pandemic and the measures taken, she was limited in her freedom of movement. She was stuck in a densely populated urban area with no nature in the immediate surroundings. Almost every day she went for a walk within a radius of two kilometers from her home to take pictures. By instinctively and intuitively looking for images that touched her, she managed to visualize the complexity of her emotions. This caused a delay and acted as an outlet that allowed her to stay in balance. The limitation slowly became a voyage of discovery full of moments of wonder.
www.lottevanhuuksloot.space

Monica Stuurop
Misofonie
For this project, Monica immersed herself in the phenomenon of ‘Misophonia’, which means ‘hatred for sound’. Especially eating, taste and repetitive sounds. Unknown to many, unspoken or in the taboo sphere. With this documentary series she wants to create awareness for this not so well-known neurological disorder. The project “Misophonia” is an ongoing project that is being further expanded. Monica Stuurop, 1970 graduated in 2021 from the Dutch visual academy in Rotterdam, Photograpic Design. She is currently working on the deepening and expansion of this photographic documentary project.
www.monicastuurop.com

Karin van Bijlevelt
Leftovers
By telling personal stories that are close to herself, and visually converting this into images, Karin knows how to touch or connect people. Her work has a soft poetic analogue atmosphere, the images are fused together into a unity. With her project ‘Leftovers’, Karin tells the story of her father, who was abandoned as a baby by his mother, under duress from her family, to an orphanage in The Hague in 1942. She searched for the feeling of giving up and holding on, trauma, the sadness and being left alone. Karin van Bijlevelt graduated from the Dutch Academy for Image Creation Rotterdam (Photographic Design) in 2021.
www.karinvanbijleveltfotografie.nl

Sun van Nieuwburg
The Nightfly
As a child, Sun always walked around her neck with a camera. With her ADHD she could say with images what did not come out well with words, in this way she was better understood. She still always has a camera with her to capture the pure moment. “My images often arise in the night, they are about femininity, emotions and freedom. I work digitally, analoguely and with polaroids. To give some photos more layering, I edit them with various materials. As traditionally, the night is associated with the feminine – the moon is the queen of the night for a reason. At night there is room for emotions and magic.  Often I wake up in the middle of the night and can no longer sleep. Then I go astray. It is dark, no one sees me, in the anonymity of the dark feelings are given free rein. Fear, anger, sadness, feelings of freedom, desire, exuberance and sensuality flow by. The night is confronting and liberating at the same time. The night is my girlfriend, it brings me closer to myself, comforts me and challenges me.  Sun graduated from the Fotoacademie Amsterdam.
www.sunousan.com

Orange the World 2022: Catcalls The Hague

November 25 marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. This day kicks off the worldwide 16-day campaign ‘Orange the World’. Orange is the colour of the campaign because the colour stands for a sunrise: the sunrise in a future free of violence.

Around the world, women and queer people are most often victims of gender-based violence. Part of this is street harassment; think of catcalling, hissing and touching without consent. The Instagram account Catcalls Den Haag raises awareness for street harassment and the willingness to report on incidents. Victims of street harassment share their experience and Claudia chalks this in the place the incident happened. Claudia was inspired by the worldwide Chalk Back movement, which involved young activists raising awareness in their own cities for this global issue. Claudia realised that to be an activist yourself, it does not actually take such a big step; sometimes small actions can have great effects.
For more information, go to www.chalkback.org.

The posts of Catcalls The Hague are on show from November 21 to December 2 in the Atrium of the City Hall of The Hague. Here you can find Claudia’s Instagram account; Cat Calls of Den Haag (@catcallsofdenhaag) or go to the website of the international organization Chalk Back www.chalkback.org.

City Hall turns Orange
On Friday November 25 at 19:00 there is an opening ceremony by Mariëlle Vavier, alderman for Poverty, Inclusion, and Public Health, during which the city hall will be lit up in orange and the flag of Orange the World will be hoisted. There will also be the recital of a poem written especially for the campaign by Nart Alghabbach, member of the Jonge Stadsdichters (Young City Poets) of The Hague.

The full Orange the World is announced on www.haagsevrouwendagen.nl. And all national activities are listed on www.orangetheworld.nl.

Poster Wall The Hague Municipal Archives: 200 Years Mauritshuis

Leiden University in The Hague – Researchers of the City

The photo exhibition Leiden University in The Hague – Researchers of the City with photo’s from Wilke Geurds can be seen from August 18 until September 5 in the Atrium City Hall.

This photo exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the research being carried out at Leiden University in The Hague. It features eight researchers working on a wide range of topics, all with one thing in common: their research has a real impact on the city and people of The Hague.

The photos not only show the places and people behind the research, but each also includes a QR code linking to more information. Discover what the research is about, why it matters, and what makes The Hague so special in the eyes of the researchers. The themes explored in this exhibition are as diverse as the city itself, offering insights and solutions to the challenges The Hague is facing today.

In 2025, we are celebrating a milestone: Leiden University’s 450th anniversary! And for the past 25 years, we’ve been making a difference in The Hague. We are pleased to share and celebrate through the ‘Researchers of the City’ photo exhibition in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall.

Societal challenges The Hague
The photographs not only show the places and people behind the research, but each image also includes a QR code linking to in-depth information. Discover what the research is about, why it matters, and what makes The Hague so special in the eyes of the researchers. The themes explored in this exhibition are as diverse as the city itself, offering insights and solutions to the societal challenges The Hague is facing today. The researchers and their themes are:

• Achim Häger – Why the dunes of The Hague matter for the water from your tap
• Rimke Vos – Joining forces for a healthier The Hague
• Bernard Bernards & Marit Schubad – From passports to policy: take a moment to look up in City Hall
• Sebastiaan Grosscurt – Being a better neighbour to the nature around you
• Jennifer Doekhie & Anouk den Besten – Out of prison, into the world: who will give you a second chance?
• Alistair Kefford – History is all around you: how well do you know your neighbourhood?
• Cristina del Real – Don’t wait until you’ve been hacked: how we prepare for cybercrime
• Joeri Morpurgo – The Hague is alive with nature – you just have to look

450 Years Leiden University
In 2025, we celebrate a remarkable milestone: Leiden University turns 450! And for the past 25 years, they’ve been making a difference in The Hague. They proudly share and celebrate this through the photo exhibition Researchers of the City organized in the Atrium City Hall.

About Leiden University – Campus The Hague

Leiden University’s Campus The Hague is rooted in society and focuses on urgent themes such as peace, justice, public administration and major urban challenges including sustainability and health. All of this is done with and for the city’s residents.

Leiden University opened a small location in The Hague 25 years ago. Since then, it has grown into a vibrant city campus with four locations in the heart of The Hague, now home to 7,000 students and over 500 staff members. A new location will open soon: the former V&D department store (later Hudson’s Bay) on Spui has been transformed into a fully-fledged university building. In January 2026, the doors will open to the new Spui Campus, where Leiden University will be joined by TU Delft, the Open University, the LUMC and the Universities of the Netherlands. It will be a place for teaching, research, knowledge sharing and connection.

For more information go to universiteitleiden.nl/en/the-hague.

30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall

In 2025, the city hall and library complex on the Spui and the attached Forum building on the Kalvermarkt will celebrate their 30th anniversary. Thirty years ago, the Atrium City Hall Foundation was also established. Especially for the 30th anniversary, the exhibition 30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall can be seen in the Atrium and the exhibition City Halls The Hague can be seen in the poster wall of the Hague Municipal Archives. These exhibitions are part of the Open Monument Days 2025.

30 Years Memorable Moments
The exhibition 30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall takes visitors back to 1986, the year the initiative was launched to build a new city hall in the centre of The Hague. The choice of location and the building’s design sparked excitement and political debate. After a design competition, the winning design by American architect Richard Meier was selected. The building was officially opened on September 8, 1995, by Queen Beatrix and Mayor Ad Havermans. This exhibition offers insight into the design and construction process, the involved decision-making and highlights of many memorable moments from the past 30 years, such as the Documentary 30 Jaar Atrium Foundation which only can be seen in the Atrium.

Organisation exhibition
The exhibition 30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall is an initiative of Atrium City Hall, the foundation that organizes and coordinates all activities since the opening in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall. The curators of this exhibition are Corien Bakker and Laura Wijninga, the design is by Meta Menkveld and the exhibition builder is LetterZDesign.
Special thanks to: Tanja ten Berge, Photographer Jos van Leeuwen and Marianne van Leeuwen, Liesbeth Janson, The Hague Municipal Archives, department of Monuments and Prosperity, department Facility and Housing, Hague Historical Museum, Kunstmuseum, Joop ten Velden and Nieuwe Instituut.

Exhibition Poster Wall The Hague Municipal Archives: City Halls The Hague
Especially for the 30th anniversary, the exhibition City Halls The Hague can be seen in the poster wall of the Hague Municipal Archives from August 18 until October 4, compiled by the Hague Municipal Archives in collaboration with the Department of Monuments and Prosperity. This exhibition paints a picture of the city halls and council chambers of the past from the year 1248 until 2025. This exhibition is in Dutch only.

African Expo: Black Queens – Women Driving Change

The exhibition African Expo: Black Queens – Women Driving Change will be on view from 7 to 18 July at the Atrium City Hall and Amare and is part of the official festival program of The Hague African Festival. The exhibition in Amare features an exclusive collection as an ode to African women and music, and in the Atrium the visitor is taken along and told the story of female icons who brought about important changes.

African Expo is an annual program by Nteasee Foundation in which young people and visual artists embark on a shared journey through the rich cultures and current themes of Africa and the African diaspora. Each year, the program focuses on a specific theme. In 2025, the theme is: Black Queens – Women Driving Change.

The African Expo 2025 presents a special exhibition celebrating the power and influence of Black women from Africa and the diaspora. Both historical and contemporary figures, such as Yaa Asantewaa, Nina Simone, and Michelle Obama are honoured. In collaboration with Stichting Topaze, The Hague African Festival offers young people from various neighbourhoods in The Hague the opportunity to explore these stories and translate them into visual art.

During six workshops of 90 minutes each, participants from diverse backgrounds will be guided in creating their own artworks. They will choose which women to represent and in what form paintings, sculptures, or collages. Research into the history and significance of these women is an essential part of the process. Through this, the participants not only gain space for creative expression, but also deepen their understanding of heritage, identity, and social change.

The workshops are led by professional visual artists and educational specialists from Foundation Topaze, with extensive experience in art education and cultural history. Participants are recruited through art institutions, schools, and local networks in The Hague.

Additionally, the artworks will be showcased during AfroBeats in the Park on Sunday 3 August 2025. The exhibition is curated by Frieda Verwer, board member of Foundation Ntease.

About African Expo
The program offers children and young people an inspiring learning experience, while also providing a meaningful platform for visual artists from Africa and the diaspora. Through their art and stories, they inspire, connect, and empower diverse communities. By actively participating, young people build confidence and develop their creative and cultural awareness.
Want to stay informed about African Expo and other festival events? Subscribe to their newsletter at www.thaf.nl.

Posterwand Haags Gemeentearchief: Componisten in Oorlogstijd

Van 10 juni t/m 18 augustus presenteert het Haags Gemeentearchief de tentoonstelling Componisten in Oorlogstijd in de posterwand in het Atrium Den Haagdie is samengesteld op initiatief van de Leo Smit Stichting.

Achttien componisten
De tentoonstelling belicht leven en werk van achttien componisten. Zij maakten muziek, gaven muziekonderwijs, het Concertgebouworkest voerde hun werken uit, en ze dirigeerden orkesten en koren. Sommigen van hen begonnen onbezorgd aan hun loopbaan, anderen hadden moeten vluchten voor het antisemitisme in Duitsland en Hongarije. Toen brak de Tweede Wereldoorlog uit en werd Nederland bezet.

Vervolgd
De componisten in deze tentoonstelling werden vervolgd om hun afkomst of vanwege hun standpunten. Zij doken onder, gingen bij het verzet of werden gedeporteerd. Acht van hen overleefden de oorlog niet.

Leo Smit Stichting
De muziek en de verhalen van deze componisten zijn grotendeels vergeten. De Leo Smit Stichting doet sinds 1996 onderzoek naar vervolgde componisten en zet zich in om hun werk ten gehore te brengen. Deze tentoonstelling is op initiatief van de stichting gerealiseerd.

Voor meer informatie over de Leo Smit Stichting, ga naar leosmitfoundation.org.

Beluister terwijl je bekijkt
Componisten eer je door hun muziek te laten klinken. Daarom heeft ieder paneel in deze tentoonstelling een QR-code. Scan de QR-code met je smartphone en je kunt de muziek meteen beluisteren.

Collecties Nederlands Muziek Instituut
Het Nederlands Muziek Instituut is in 2000 ontstaan door het samengaan van drie historische papieren collecties over muziek in het algemeen en Nederlandse klassieke muziek in het bijzonder: de muziekbibliotheek en muziekarchieven van het Haags Gemeentemuseum en de muziekdocumentatieverzameling van de Stichting Musica Neerlandica. Sinds 2016 is Collecties Nederlands Muziek Instituut onderdeel van het Haags Gemeentearchief. Hier blijven de muziekcollecties behouden, worden ze uitgebreid en toegankelijk gemaakt.

Voor meer informatie over het Haags Gemeentearchief, ga naar haagsgemeentearchief.nl.

Not My Choice

Ten portraits. Five people who had no choice. Five care providers who helped others find their voice again. Watch their story between July 1 and 23 in Not My Choice, An exhibition about forced marriage and abandonment which can be seen in the Atrium City Hall.

What if you have to choose between your freedom and your family — or if you can’t choose at all?
In Not My Choice, five experts by experience and five care providers share their stories about forced marriage and abandonment. Ten different perspectives, from various situations. Some were forced to marry, others were left behind in another country without a passport, without a voice. And some stood on the other side: as a care provider, listening, arranging, anxiously waiting for a sign of life.

This exhibition shows how complex these situations are. How drastic. And how close.

The faces remain anonymous — but the stories are real.

Not My Choice wants to make visible what often remains hidden. It gives space to sadness, to strength, to doubt, to perseverance. And above all: to recognition.

So that we learn to listen, to ask questions, to ask further questions. And so that no one ever has to disappear in silence

Credits
Not My Choice is a project by the National Hub for Forced Marriage and Abandonment (LKHA), on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, in collaboration with Stichting Open Mind, which produces and presents the exhibition.

The artistic concept, stories, photography and design were provided by Ernst Coppejans.

For more information, go to huwelijksdwangenachterlating.nl.

BeHague & Road to Summit

From June 2 to June 20, the exhibition BeHague & Road to Summit can be seen at the Atrium City Hall. This exhibition is part of the Just Peace Festival and Dag van de Architectuur.

As The Hague prepares for the NATO summit, various activities focused on peace and justice are taking place for everyone in the city. Several of these activities are featured in this exhibition.

Come and see the enormous LEGO model of the World Forum: a glimpse into The Hague’s premier conference center where the NATO summit will be held. You’ll also find the winning peace and justice LEGO creations submitted by residents of The Hague.

Join the Haagse Krabbels drawing contest or record a message for the world in the Hello World! video booth on June 17, 18, and 19 during opening hours of the Atrium City Hall.

A number of portraits of people from The Hague with a message for the world are also on display in the Atrium. You can read their full stories at behague.com.

Redesign Rietveld

The year 2007 was 100 Years of Mondrian & De Stijl in The Hague, with the exhibition StijlVol Atrium The Hague with the exhibition 100x Rietveld in the Atrium City Hall. This exhibition returns to the Atrium during our 30th anniversary year after its success in the more extensive and new designed exhibition Redesign Rietveld by M&H Expo which can be seen in the Atrium City Hall from June 30 to August 15.

World-famous furniture designs
Redesign Rietveld (1888-1964) is about the world-famous furniture designs of Gerrit Rietveld and his influence. The exhibition consists of 60 fantastic models of designs by artists from all over the world who were inspired by Rietveld’s work and then came up with their own variation. These designs have all been recreated on a scale of 1:3 by exhibition maker Harry Hoek of MH Expo.

Exceptional and renowned artists, such as Maarten Baas, Joost Swarte and Pieke Bergmans agreed to use their redesign in the exhibition, with the aim of encouraging young makers to start designing themselves. Get to know Rietveld’s work through the eyes of others. And think for yourself, four planks and thirteen slats, how would you do it?

Book Redesign Rietveld
Harry Hoek, one of the two exhibition makers of M&H Expo, has published a book especially for this exhibition that soon will be for sale. This book contains 70 redesigns (variations) on Rietveld’s designs, such as the red-blue chair and the zigzag chair. The book is published by THOT Publishers.

M&H Expo
M&H Expo from Rotterdam consists of Harry Hoek and Marjoleine Molenaar. Together they create and rent flexible exhibitions, such as previously in the Atrium Den Haag: 100x Rietveld as part of the StijlVol Atrium Den Haag exhibition (100 Years of Mondrian & De Stijl in 2017), 2.000X Dick Bruna, Paper Planes and Vertical Cities Expo: the Tallest, the Dreamed and the Unimaginable. These exhibitions travel all over the world, from their home base Rotterdam to Asia and the United States, from public buildings, such as the Atrium City Hall, offices, hospitals, museums and libraries.
mh-expo.nl/en

30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall
In 2025 it will be 30 years since the City Hall opened at Spui 70 and in that same year the Atrium City Hall Foundation was established. The year 2025 will therefore be all about 30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall.

With a great diversity of exhibitions and events it will be a special year, such as this exhibition Redesign Rietveld and the artwork Jan van Goyen and the exhibition 30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall.

Posterwand Haagse Gemeentearchief: NIMH 85 jaar Meidagen

Op 10 mei 2025 is het 85 jaar geleden dat Duitse troepen Nederland binnenvielen. Het NIMH staat hierbij stil en heeft naast een publicatie van een fotoboek de tentoonstelling NIMH 85 jaar Meidagen georganiseerd in de posterwand van het Haags Gemeentearchief van 28 april t/m 7 juni.

In de publicatie wordt onder andere stilgestaan bij de vijf dagen durende strijd, die op diverse plekken in Nederland werd gevoerd. Deze strijd ging nog door, ook toen na het bombardement op Rotterdam op 15 mei de caitulatieovereenkomst werd ondertekend. Op 18 mei waren de laatste gevechten voorbij. De tentoonstelling richt zich op de Slag om de Residentie, waarbij de vliegvelden Valkenburg, Ypenburg en Ockenburg centraal staan. Tijdens de meidagen droegen meer dan 280.000 Nederlanders het militaire uniform, waarvan meer dan 2.300 de strijd niet overleefden.

Er is al veel over de meidagen van 1940 geschreven. Toch weten veel Nederlanders niet (meer) hoe de strijd globaal verliep. Het NIMH wil met behulp van het fotoboek en de tentoonstelling het meidagenverhaal toegankelijk maken voor een breed publiek. Hiervoor worden naast vele foto’s ook kaarten worden opgenomen, waarin het strijdtoneel is aangegeven. Van de slag om de Residentie en het bombardement op Rotterdam tot de gevechten op en rond de Grebbeberg. Van de opmars door Noord-Brabant tot de strijd bij Kornwerderzand en het nog langer doorvechtende Zeeland. Wanneer het fotoboek is dichtgeslagen weet de lezer hoe de meidagen in grote lijnen verliepen.

Voor meer informatie, ga naar haagsgemeentearchief.nl.

Qhapac Ñan: The Great Inca Trail

From May 16 until May 30 the photo exhibition Qhapac Ñan: The Great Inca Road can be seen in the Atrium City Hall, as part of the celebration of the 200 years of bilateral relations between Peru and the Kingdom of the Netherlands organized by the Embassy of Peru in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The exhibition features 32 photographs carefully selected from the archives of the Peruvian Ministry of Culture, showcasing how, five centuries after its construction, the Inca Trail remains relevant to the fraternal nations of Peru.

The Qhapac Ñan, or main road in Quechua, is a 30.000 km network of road and logistics infrastructure that served as communication channel, trade road, and defense system during the pinnacle of the Great Inca Empire. This Andean road system was the backbone that connected the towns of Tawantinsuyo (the four integrated regions, or suyos of the empire) through lodgings, ceremonial centers, warehouses, and roads that still today converge to the main square of Cusco, the capital of the empire, connecting it with remote locations that are nowadays found along six South American countries as, in addition to Peru, the fellow countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Chili, Colombia y Ecuador.

The construction of the road system challenged the local geography, imposing itself on snow-capped mountains, tropical rainforests, and arid deserts, bearing witness to the advanced engineering and geographical mastery of the pre-Inca civilizations that created the various sections of the route unified under the Inca administration from Cusco. In addition to being an archaeological legacy and a trace of a great ancient civilization, its value lies in being a living heritage that connects the past and present of South American Andean peoples.

The Qhapac Ñan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014, so you can find more information about the Great Inca Trail on the World Heritage Convention website of Unesco.

Climat Pavilion – A Living Lab for Activism

As part of the broader initiative Toolbox of Empowering Instruments, the Climat Pavilion offers a dynamic platform for exploring activism, climate justice, and collaborative practices. From June 10 to June 18 this interactive exhibition in the Atrium City Hall will transform the Atrium City Hall into a place for critical engagement, experimentation, and connection. The Climate Pavilion is part of the Just Peace Festival and Dag van de Architectuur.

At the heart of the exhibition is the mobile pavilion, constructed from scaffolding — a structure that stems from a six-month interdisciplinary think tank on art, activism, law, and international politics. Originally intended as an observation platform for the International Court of Justice, it is now evolving into a participatory space for discussion, performances, and reflecting on justice in light of the climate crisis. 

Interactive Program
On the three activation days (June 10, 13, and 18), we will run an interactive program from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. During these days, the nearby Humanity Hub will serve as a meeting place for deeper reflection, dialogue, and networking (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM). 

Key activation moments include: 

• June 10 – Opening Night & Networking Event 

• June 13 – Workshop on (De-)Constructivism & Panel Discussion on Collaboration and Community Building 

• June 18 – Film Screening of YUMI - Location to be announced 

This exhibition is not just an exhibition — it is a toolkit in action. Visitors, partners, and participants are invited to test, transform, and activate the pavilion through workshops, lectures, and performances. Whether it’s building new structures with scaffolding or co-creating evening programs, the Climat Pavilion will become a shared space to rethink how we build movements together. 

Join us in shaping this evolving laboratory for activist research and collective empowerment. 

The makers of the Climat Pavilion do not have a website. They can only be contacted on June 10, 13 and 18 for more information about this project. 

Just Peace Festival | 12–26 June
The Just Peace Festival transforms the city into a dynamic forum for open dialogue, inspiration, and learning about peace and justice. From dialogues and debates to exhibitions, music, dance, and film—the festival brings together citizens, artists, experts, policymakers, and YOU to explore the power of peace and justice in action.

As part of the city-wide Road to Summit programme, this two-week festival invites you to participate, learn, share, and be inspired by the diverse voices working toward a more just world—right here in The Hague.

The festival is a joint initiative of The Hague Humanity Hub, the University of Leiden and the Municipality of The Hague, and is organised in collaboration with dozens of contributing partners.

Curious about the full range of activities during the Just Peace Festival? Visit justpeacethehague.org for the complete programme.

The Splendour of Azerbaijani Carpets: Learning Through Art

The exhibition The Splendour of Azerbaijani Carpets: Learning Through Art can be seen in the Atrium City Hall from May 16 until June 20. A celebration of Azerbaijani carpet weaving, both traditional and contemporary, highlighting the carpet as a bearer of cultural identity and living memory.

Curated by embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Azerkhalcha OJSC, the exhibition presents a carefully selected collection that reveals the layered richness of Azerbaijan’s carpet art. In collaboration with leading Azerbaijani and international artists, The Splendour of Azerbaijani Carpets: Learning Through Art connects past and present through craft, form, colour, and symbol.

Among the featured works are interpretations of classic Karabakh Gasimushaghi and Chalabi carpets, the exclusive 3D-textured series Fruits in the Garden, inspired by the paintings of Samira Allahverdiyeva, and world-renowned designer Jan Kath, listed among Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Designers of 2024.

The exhibition will also include a cultural program featuring a public lecture on the symbolism and contemporary relevance of Azerbaijani carpet weaving and a hands-on master class where participants can explore knotting techniques and try their hand at weaving patterns at the Royal Academy of Art The Hague.

The exhibition positions the Azerbaijani carpet not merely as a decorative object, but as a cultural phenomenon—a thread of time that links generations and reflects a society in motion.

The Splendour of Azerbaijani Carpets: Learning Through Art invites visitors into a dialogue about heritage, transmission, and transformation in a global cultural context.

UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage
In recognition of their historical and cultural significance, Azerbaijani carpets were proclaimed a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO in 2010. They are preserved in renowned museums across the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK, The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, The Berlin Museum of Islamic Art, Germany and many others.

Inspiration Dutch artists
Upon their arrival in Europe, Azerbaijani carpets captivated audiences, quickly becoming an essential feature not only in royal palaces but also in ceremonial art. They also served as a source of inspiration for renowned Dutch artists such as Jan van Eyck and Hans Memling. The influence of these carpets can be seen in several iconic works, including Jan van Eyck’s Madonna with Canon van der Paele (1436), Groeningemuseum, Bruges, Belgium; Hans Memling’s Still Life with a Jug and Flowers (1485), and Portrait of a Young Man Praying (recto), Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, Spain; Virgin of Jacob Floreins (c. 1485), Louvre Museum, Paris, Germany; and Small Triptych of St. John the Baptist (1485–1490), Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, Austria.

The embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan invites everyone to explore the rich cultural heritage and artistic mastery of Azerbaijani carpet weaving at this distinguished exhibition in the Atrium City Hall in The Hague.

For more information, go to thehague.mfa.gov.az and azerkhalcha.az.

Exhibition The Hague Storytellers and Treasure Seekers

The Exhibition The Hague Storytellers and Treasure Seekers from Topaze can be seen from May 19 until May 31 until 1PM in the Atrium City Hall, an art project about stories, traditions, and shared heritage.

The Hague Storytellers and Treasure Seekers
Are people themselves intangible heritage? What can we learn from each other, preserve, and pass on?
In the The Hague Storytellers and Treasure Seekers art project, Topaze explored these questions alongside a diverse group of participants—young and old, from various cultural backgrounds—translating their reflections into art. 

At the Topaze workshop in Transvaal, people come together to create. As they work, they share stories about their families, traditions, and life experiences. This inspiring space is where personal histories and cultural practices intersect. These unique encounters and the curiosity about one another’s backgrounds were the driving forces behind this project. 

With The Hague Storytellers and Treasure Seekers, people were encouraged to explore their own heritage and express their stories in a creative way. The result is a remarkable collection of artworks—touching, colorful, and deeply personal. From family recipes and traditional hairstyles to memories of places of origin, each participant has visualized a part of their history in their own unique way. Themes of migration, war, and loss, but also connection and pride, emerge in the works. The outcome is a series of triptychs that invite the viewer into the personal world of each creator. 

A special element of the project is the communal practice of batik, a craft with deep roots in the Indo-Dutch community. At the request of this community, participants reconnected with this symbolic and meaningful art form, bringing it back to life. 

Come, see, listen, and immerse yourself in these extraordinary stories!

Topaze: From Festival Stages to Community Art
What began as an artist collective creating spectacular stage designs and decorations for festivals like Lowlands, North Sea Jazz, and The Hague Jazz has grown into a driving creative force in The Hague’s neighborhoods. Topaze has worked with renowned venues such as Paard van Troje, Paradiso, and Melkweg, crafting visual worlds for artists like Anouk and Cesar Zuiderwijk. 

With the belief that art connects people, Topaze shifted its focus from large festivals to the dynamic heart of the city. Today, the organization runs a vibrant studio in Transvaal, The Hague, where young people and local residents engage in daily creative activities. Through inspiring art projects focused on cultural participation and education, Topaze uses art as a powerful tool to tell stories, bring people together, and make creativity accessible to all, such as with various exhibitions in the Atrium City Hall in recent years.

Made possible by
The Hague Storytellers and Treasure Seekers is an initiative by Stichting Topaze and is supported by the Dutch Fund for Cultural Participation, Fonds voor Cultuurparticipatie. 

For more information, go to www.topaze.net. 

Meal of the City – The Hague Freedom Meals

Every year, Haagse Vrijheidsmaaltijden (The Hague Freedom Meals) organizes one really big meal on May 5: Meal of the City. A meal where hundreds of residents of The Hague sit down together at an iconic location in The Hague. In the year in which we celebrate eighty years of freedom, this takes place at a very special location. The Atrium City Hall will be the setting for the 2025 edition. In collaboration with Atrium City Hall foundation and enthusiastic volunteers.

We eat soup on May 5th
On May 5th we will eat soup together at eighty locations throughout the city. Made with love by chef Jet van Nieuwkerk and with the taste of freedom. Soup that connects, starts stories and with which we celebrate our freedom. The soup will soon be on the menu of many restaurants in The Hague, can be purchased in local shops and will be tasted during the many Hague Freedom Meals, such as the Meal of the City in the Atrium City Hall on Monday May 5th, 2025.

Host Mayor Jan van Zanen
In addition to the dozens of meals throughout the city, there is one very large meal every year. In the year that we celebrate eighty years of freedom, it will take place at a very special location: the Atrium City Hall is the setting for the meal of the city. On Monday May 5th, 500 residents of The Hague can, after registration, join for the largest freedom meal in the city. None other than mayor Jan van Zanen is the host of this special meal.

Register for the Meal of the City
Registration for the Meal of the City is opened and only possible via the website of Haagse Vrijheidsmaaltijden.

Photo Exhibition Soep Stories in the Atrium City Hall
The Photo exhibition Soep Stories of the Hague Freedom Meals can be seen from April 9 until to May 5 in the Atrium City Hall. This exhibition is one of the components of the Hague Freedom Meals. Go to Photo Exhibition Soep Stories for more information.

30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall
In 2025 it will be 30 years since the City Hall opened at Spui 70 and in that same year the Atrium City Hall Foundation was established. The year 2025 will therefore be all about 30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall.

With a great diversity of exhibitions and events it will be a special year, such as The Hague Freedom Meal, The Hague Children’s Music Day Redesign Rietveld, artwork Jan van Goyen and and the exhibition 30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall.

Photo Exhibition Soup Stories

The photo exhibition Soup Stories from the organization The Hague Freedom Meals (Haagse Vrijheidsweken) can be seen in the Atrium City Hall from April 9 to May 5.

Portrait per part of the city
Freedom means something different to everyone. That is why the Hague Freedom Meals found eight different residents of The Hague per city district who tell what freedom means to them. This gives the photo exhibition a broad picture of freedom through the eyes of 80-year-olds. The people portrayed have one thing in common: they were born in the year 1945. The year the Netherlands was liberated.

Meal of the City – The Hague Freedom Meals
In addition to the dozens of meals throughout the city, there is one very large meal every year. In the year that we celebrate eighty years of freedom, it will take place at a very special location: the Atrium City Hall is the setting for the Meal of the City. On Monday May 5th, 500 residents of The Hague can, after registration, join for the largest freedom meal in the city. None other than mayor Jan van Zanen is the host of this special meal. On Monday May 5 visitors can only come visit the photo-exhibition Sope Stories after registration for Meal of the City. Go to Meal of the City – The Hague Freedom Meals for more information and how to registrate for the Meal of the City.

For more information about The Hague Freedom Meals, go to haagsevrijheidsmaaltijden.nl.

30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall
In 2025 it will be 30 years since the City Hall opened at Spui 70 and in that same year the Atrium City Hall Foundation was established. The year 2025 will therefore be all about 30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall.

With a great diversity of exhibitions and events it will be a special year, such as The Hague Freedom Meal ,the artwork Jan van Goyen and The Hague Children’s Music Day!

Exhibition The Hague Women

From March 1 until March 26 the portrait series ‘Remember the women‘ and ‘The Hague women‘ can be admired in the Atrium City Hall as part of The Hague Women’s Days 2025. The first series features fifteen women who played a key role in the emancipation movement in the Netherlands. The second series focuses on women from The Hague who, through their special work and the impact they make, make a difference in various sectors, from culture and sports to welfare and business. Both exhibitions reflect the strength, versatility and influence of women in (The Hague) society.

The Hague Women’s Days 2025
From March 1 to 8, in the week of International Women’s Day, the municipality of The Hague will reflect on the emancipation and position of women around the world. Together with women’s organizations and cultural anchors, they organize activities in the Hofstad. They bring women together in The Hague and beyond to celebrate their achievements and address important issues affecting women worldwide. Women can inspire each other and learn from each other during various workshops, inspiration sessions, performances and the exhibitions in the Atrium City Hall.
For more information, go to www.haagsevrouwendagen.nl (Dutch only).

Photo Exhibition The Good, the Bad and the Roma

Between April 9 until May 2 the Photo Exhibition The Good, the Bad and the Roma can be seen in the Atrium City Hall.

The influence of images and portrayals on society is enormous. This exhibition is an invitation for reflection on perception.

For about 15 years, Den Haag based photographer Peter van Beek travelled with Roma en Sinti in Eastern Europe and collected his photos in the book The good, the bad, the Roma. A book about the largest minority group in Europe.

For the project Eens waren we vogels, Van Beek creates a new exhibition in which he pairs atypical portraits of Roma and Sinti with portraits from his earlier work. This way, he presents other faces, new stories and shatters existing stereotypes associated with the community.

About Eens waren we vogels
The photo exhibition is part of Eens waren we vogels. The history and culture of Roma and Sinti through various artistic expressions will be demonstrated. As well as the forgotten Holocaust and the current challenges the community faces. It is special to establish a common creative project that shatters stereotypes and tells a different story. Visit www.oncewewerebirds.nl for more information about the project.

Haagse Stadstekenaar Babette Wagenvoort

De eerste Haagse stadstekenaar, Babette Wagenvoort, neemt afscheid met een boek en 2 tentoonstellingen die tot 3 maart zijn te zien in de Vestibule van het Haags Gemeentearchief in het Atrium Den Haag en in Galerij in de Tramtunnel, halte Spui, Den Haag.

Projectsecretaris Kunstenplan 2025-2028 Florien Vos van de gemeente Den Haag zette het Stadstekenaarschap 2 jaar geleden in de steigers. Het is eind 2021. Judith Klokkenburg (ChristenUnie/SGP) komt met een motie in de gemeenteraad genaamd ‘Verfraai de stad met een stadstekenaar’. De motie wordt aangenomen. Florien Vos, beleidsadviseur Cultuur bij de dienst OCW, onderzoekt samen met het Haags Gemeentearchief of er voor meerdere jaren een stadstekenaar kan worden aangesteld. Nest ruimte voor kunst en de Bibliotheek Den Haag sluiten aan in het projectteam en na het samenstellen van een longlist worden meerdere kandidaten uitgenodigd voor een pitch. Babette Wagenvoort wordt gekozen als eerste stadstekenaar van Den Haag en gaat in februari 2023 aan de slag.

Eigen kijk op de stad
Babette Wagenvoort maakte 2 jaar lang tekeningen vol verhalen en gezichten. Ze had een eigen kijk op Den Haag en legde de ervaringen en belevenissen vast van inwoners van de stad. Wagenvoort koos het thema Samenkomsten op Haagse plekken voor haar stadstekenaarschap. ‘Ik wilde Den Haag zoals het nu is laten zien op een persoonlijke manier,’ vertelt Babette. ‘Mensen komen samen omdat ze iets belangrijk vinden, of dat nu een demonstratie is of winkelen in de Grote Marktstraat.’ Babette bezocht de afgelopen twee jaar veel Haagse locaties en maakte meer dan 40 stadstekeningen over onderwerpen zoals een protest op de A12, de laatste Tong Tong Fair op het Malieveld, een samenkomst van kerstbomen op het Regentesseplein, het Haags Beat Festival, de naaiclub in Centrum Laakhaven en van de Haagse Vrijheidsmaaltijd 2023 in de Grote Kerk.

‘De tekeningen komen allemaal in de collectie van het Haags Gemeentearchief,’ zegt Babette Wagenvoort. ‘Zij vonden het interessanter als ik dingen tekende die anderen nog niet zo vaak hebben gedaan. Mooie tekeningen van het Lange Voorhout zijn er genoeg. Ik heb me meer gericht op mensen. De Haagse plekken zijn herkenbaar, maar ik probeer meer de beleving te tekenen dan de fotografische werkelijkheid.’

In haar periode als Stadstekenaar gaf Babette ook workshops in filialen van bibliotheken in Ypenburg, Laak en Loosduinen. Daarin tekenden bewoners het beeld dat zij van hun stadsdeel hebben en Babette maakt daar een collage van. Daarnaast was er maandelijks een tekening te zien in de zaterdageditie van het AD. Er was een symposium over samenkomsten en tekenen in de Centrale Bibliotheek op het Spui. Maandelijks wisselend waren de tekeningen te zien in 13 filialen van de bibliotheek in de stad.

Tentoonstellingen Atrium en Galerij Tramtunnel Spui
Met twee tentoonstellingen – in de Galerij van de tramtunnel (halte Spui) en in de Vestibule van het Haags Gemeentearchief in het Atrium bij de ingang van de Studiezaal van het Haagse Gemeentearcief – en de presentatie van een publicatie blikt de gemeente Den Haag tot 3 maart terug op de eerste 2 jaar Stadstekenaarschap in Den Haag. Alle 40 tekeningen die Wagenvoort tussen februari 2023 en februari 2025 maakte als Stadstekenaar komen langs. In de vitrines zie je een aantal van de vele schetsen die Wagenvoort gebruikte om haar tekeningen te maken. Ook is het uitvouwboek (leporello) dat Wagenvoort maakte samen met vormgever Caroline de Lint met al haar stadstekeningen en een tijdlijn.

Het Stadstekenaarschap is een project van de gemeente Den Haag, Nest ruimte voor kunst, Bibliotheek Den Haag en het Haags Gemeentearchief. In maart 2025 wordt de nieuwe stadstekenaar bekendgemaakt.

Een uitgebreider interview met Babette Wagenvoort staat in de Stadskrant van 29 januari 2025.

Hague Historical Museum: Masterpiece View of The Hague – Jan van Goyen (1650-1651)

From January 20, the View of The Hague from the southeast by Jan van Goyen (1650-1651) will be exhibited in the Atrium City Hall. With a width of 4.6 meters, the View of The Hague is one of the largest cityscapes ever made in the Netherlands. The painting shows the 17th century city surrounded by meadows and with busy traffic of people along the channel Trekvliet.

Jan van Goyen made this panoramic painting in 1651 on behalf of the Hague magistrate. This was how the city council expressed their pride in The Hague. More than 350 years later, this is still a painting to be proud of. Exactly in the middle of the painting is a stork, the symbol of the city. The cityscape was hung in the (old) town hall on the Groenmarkt. Normally the View of The Hague is the highlight in the Schutterszaal of the Hague Historical Museum. Because the museum is currently being renovated, this masterpiece will hang in the Atrium City Hall. So in a sense the painting is back home.

Unique Collaboration
Foundation Atrium City Hall, the Municipality of The Hague and Hague Historical Museum believe it is important that View of The Hague remains accessible to the public during the renovation of the museum building, which will take place until the spring of 2027. Because of this, they have entered into this unique collaboration: this masterpiece can be seen in the Atrium City Hall for no less than a year and a half. The specially designed climate controlled showcase has been realized thanks to generous support by Meerdervoort N.V. en Van der Feltz advocaten.

For more information, go to haagshistorischmuseum.nl/en.

30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall
In 2025 it will be 30 years since the City Hall opened at Spui 70 and in that same year the Atrium City Hall Foundation was established. The year 2025 will therefore be all about 30 Years: City Hall The Hague x Atrium City Hall.

With a great diversity of exhibitions and events it will be a special year, such as the artwork Jan van Goyen, The Hague Freedom Meal, The Hague Children’s Music Day, Redesign Rietveld and the exhibition 30 Years: The Hague City Hall x Atrium City Hall.

Exhibition Residents of The Hague

From January 13 until January 27 residents from all parts of The Hague will be central in the exhibition Residents of The Hague. They were photographed by photographer Martijn Beekman at their favorite place in the city and tell why this place is so special to them. From a city garden in Segbroek to a club in Laak and from a bat hotel in Benoordenhout to a converted church in Scheveningen.

This exhibition is part of The Hague’s environmental vision. The first series of Residents of The Hague can still be viewed in the magazine Haagse Mensen.

For more information, go to Omgevingsvisie.denhaag.nl.

Exhibition ART.Grondwet

ART.Grondwet is a poster exhibition on the subject of 10 articles of the Dutch Constitution. This exhibition from Nieuwe Bossche School and  Netherlands Helsinki Committee can be seen from February 4 until March 4 in the Atrium City Hall.

The design collective Nieuwe Bossche School (NBS) was asked by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee to curate and organize a poster exhibition on the theme of the Dutch Constitution. This Constitution will have existed for 175 years in 2023. Although it is now 2024, it is still as important as ever to know your rights and to draw attention to and emphasize the content of the constitution.

Netherlands Helsinki Committee
The Netherlands Helsinki Committee (NHC) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that promotes human rights, the rule of law, and justice across all countries in Europe. The NHC collaborates with networks within civil society, governments, and the justice sector. With over 35 years of experience, its mission is to build bridges and inspire change in creating just societies that respect human rights.For more information, go to nhc.nl.

2 Cities / 10 Articles / 20+ Participants
The exhibition was already on display in ’s-Hertogenbosch. NHC selected 10 articles of the Constitution and invited 20 designers. Furthermore, each member of NBS made a design and there was room for the 3 winners of the Open Call.

Organisation
De Nieuwe Bossche School is an occassional collective of four design studios from Den Bosch: ATTAK, Autograph, Studio Boot and Studio Turbo. They organized several national poster projects and provided various (street)exhibitions with posters. De Nieuwe Bossche School is a lightly activistic movement that stands for generous use of typography as an (illustrative) visual medium and generous use of colour.
For more information, go to nieuwebosscheschool.nl.

Poster in the streets
The poster belongs in the street, in the public domain. It has traditionally been a means of communication, propaganda and advertising, embraced by many generations of designers as a medium to engage, mobilize, invite, amaze and speak. That is why the poster is ideally suited to draw attention to the Constitution and its contents.

Made possible by
This exhibition is made possible by Fonds 1818, Vfonds and het Cultuurfonds.
For more information, go to nhc.nl.

Exhibition Do You See Me? – Raising Awareness About Elder Abuse

From January 15 until January 27, GGD Haaglanden and the Municipality of The Hague will raise awareness about elder abuse with the campaign ‘Do You See Me?’, taking place in the Atrium City Hall.

Elder abuse is a form of domestic violence that often goes unnoticed, even though its impact can be significant. Research shows that more than one in twenty people aged 65 and older experience some form of abuse. Elderly individuals are often particularly vulnerable due to their age, illness, or psychological conditions, such as dementia. This dependency on caregivers, partners, or family members can increase the risk, with perpetrators frequently being close to the person receiving care.

Making a hidden problem visible
This campaign aims to raise awareness about elder abuse and provide tools to start important conversations, encouraging everyone to take action and help ensure a safe and respectful environment for older adults. “Elder abuse and financial exploitation are significant yet often invisible problems,” says Shury Jamanika, project leader at GGD Haaglanden. “Caregivers and members of the community often lack the knowledge to recognize these issues or address them effectively.”

What Can You Do?
Breaking the cycle of an unsafe home situation begins with recognizing the signs and addressing your concerns. Do you suspect someone in your surroundings may be experiencing a form of elder abuse? Speak up and make it a topic of conversation.

Visit the Atrium City Hall between January 15 until January 27 to learn more about how you can help.

For more information, go to www.ggdhaaglanden.nl/ziejemij. *The link is avaibale as of  January 15, 2025.