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The Mobility Week Helps to Reduce Traffic Intensity

From 15 to 19 September 2025, The Hague once again took part in the European Mobility Week. This annual campaign by the European Commission encourages behavioural change in the field of sustainable urban mobility. Nearly 3,000 cities across Europe, including The Hague, joined in by organising activities that promoted active travel, public transport, and other clean transport solutions.

Positive Results from the 2025 European Mobility Week
Measurements by Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar and the ANWB show that traffic levels in The Hague remained stable during the 2025 European Mobility Week, despite roadworks, poor weather, and natural growth in the region. This suggests that the joint focus on raising awareness and promoting sustainable mobility helps to reduce traffic intensity.
According to ANWB data, there was 6% less traffic in week 38 (the week of the campaign) compared to the previous week. Although traffic increased slightly by 4.3% in the following week, this indicates that the Mobility Week saw calmer traffic conditions than the surrounding weeks. Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar confirms this picture: across all measurement points, traffic increased by just 0.24% compared to the baseline measurement, while after the Mobility Week, the increase was higher (+1.81%). These results demonstrate that joint efforts to raise awareness and encourage behavioural change around sustainable mobility contribute to a more stable and less congested road network — a positive step towards a cleaner and more accessible city.

Collaboration in The Hague
The Hague Connected, the alliance of major employers within the Economic Board The Hague (EBTH), led the Mobility Week initiative in The Hague in cooperation with the Municipality of The Hague.
Together, they encouraged thousands of employees to travel more sustainably. Participating employers once again included organisations such as NN, PostNL, Shell and Siemens. Companies came up with creative initiatives, such as cycling and public transport days, travel challenges, promoting shared mobility, encouraging working from home, and offering on-site bicycle repair services.
Guy van Eijkeren, Manager of the EBTH: “The city marketing organisation The Hague & Partners also took part in the Mobility Week and inspired their staff to travel outside peak hours by welcoming them to the office with croissants at 7:30 a.m. These kinds of creative initiatives all contribute to the final result.”

Contribution to The Hague Climate Agreement
The results of the Mobility Week directly support the goals set out in The Hague Climate Agreement. One of the climate deals focuses on sustainable mobility and significantly reducing CO₂ emissions. The shared aim is a liveable, healthy and accessible city, where residents and employees consciously choose cleaner forms of transport.

Looking Ahead
Awareness around sustainable mobility is visibly increasing among both employers and employees. The Hague Connected and the Municipality of The Hague therefore call on all businesses in the city to join the local climate deal and take part in the 2026 Mobility Week. The more participants there are, the greater the collective impact.

The Hague Connected Sends Advisory Letter to The Hague Political Parties

With the 2026 municipal elections approaching, The Hague Connected (THC) is pleased to provide input to The Hague’s political parties by means of an advisory letter. In the letter, THC highlights the importance of accessibility as a key condition for maintaining a healthy business climate in The Hague. Specifically, THC advocates for general accessibility of the city and continued efforts to secure direct international rail connections to be firmly embedded in the political party manifestos for the 2026 municipal elections.

Read the full letter in Dutch here: Advisory Letter – Municipal Elections 2026 

THC is a collaborative partnership of six major employers based in The Hague: ANWB, PostNL, Siemens, Shell, Odido, and Nationale-Nederlanden. With the support of the Economic Board The Hague, THC works together to ensure that mobility in The Hague remains future-proof by actively contributing to:

  • Improving the (international) accessibility of the city;

  • Further developing regional and inner-city connections;

  • Designing mobility in a smart, sustainable and safe manner – with particular attention to hubs and urban logistics.

This Was The Hague Inspires 2025!

On Friday 13 June 2025, the Fokker Terminal once again became a hub of vision and connection during The Hague Inspires – the annual event where enterprising minds from The Hague come together to look ahead. Organised by the Economic Board The Hague and the Municipality of The Hague, in collaboration with VNO-NCW region The Hague, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland The Hague, MKB The Hague, Stichting Bedrijventerreinen Haaglanden and Rabobank, the event brought together a diverse group of entrepreneurs, policymakers and innovators for a day full of insights, inspiration and strengthened networks.

Theme 2025: Resilient in a Changing World

This year’s edition focused explicitly on social and economic resilience. In a world marked by geopolitical instability, digital threats, and structural labour market shortages, it is essential that entrepreneurs not only respond to change but also learn to anticipate it. The Hague Inspires 2025 gave the stage to innovators, strategists and bold thinkers who addressed these challenges from multiple perspectives.

Den Haag Inspireert 2025

Inspiration Sessions: From Cyber Resilience to Labour Market Transitions

The afternoon began with a wide range of inspiration sessions, where participants engaged in discussions on topics such as the new generation, working with freelancers, virtual reality, AI, social entrepreneurship, smart security, and business opportunities for impactful enterprise. As tradition dictates, attendees also had the opportunity to connect with The Hague’s major employers at the Top Tables.

Plenary Programme: Face to Face with Geopolitical Realities

Hosted by Frida Boeke, the plenary session explored the broader topic of resilience from various angles. Experts challenged the audience to think outside the box.

Admiral Rob Bauer, former Chair of NATO’s Military Committee, held up a mirror to the audience in his address, “If you want peace, prepare for war.” Bauer warned against the naïve belief that conflicts remain distant and called on entrepreneurs to significantly enhance their resilience: “Preparing for war is, in essence, a form of corporate responsibility. It makes your company stronger, your supply chain more robust, and your people more aware.”

Bart Götte set the tone with his sharp analysis of the 2025–2035 labour market transition. He called for radical collaboration and the abandonment of outdated models to tackle structural scarcity.

Cybersecurity expert Inge Bryan spoke on strategic data security, international supply chains, and cybercrime: “Raise the cost attackers must pay to reach us. Take better care of your IT and data – and hack them back.”

Job Kuijpers, CEO of Eye Security, shared an optimistic and pragmatic view on cyber resilience: “Amid digital chaos lies the opportunity to regain control.”

Den Haag Inspireert

Nelis and Yespers Win The ‘Haagse Parel’ 2025

The presentation of the 2025 Hague Pearls was once again part of the programme. This entrepreneurial award recognises outstanding contributions to The Hague. Alderman Nur Icar presented the awards to the winners: Nelis and Yespers.

  • Nelis won in the category: Exceptional Contribution
    At Nelis Company, social entrepreneurship is at the core of everything they do. Customers appreciate the process behind the product, staff show genuine engagement, and values are instilled that go far beyond the workplace. Here, people are not just given one but sometimes three chances to rejoin society.

  • Yespers won in the category: Impactful Circular Enterprise
    At Yespers, circular thinking is the common thread. Every part of the apple finds a purpose – from pip to core. But the chain itself is also cleverly designed: fair prices for growers, increased returns, reduced waste. An inspiring example of how things can be done differently – and better.

Moving Forward Together

The Hague Inspires 2025 demonstrated that entrepreneurs need not merely endure the future – they can help shape it. By focusing on collaboration, resilience, and innovation, we are collectively building a more robust economic future for The Hague.

The Economic Board The Hague and the Municipality of The Hague look back on a successful edition – and warmly invite you to the next event in 2026.

Vision Paper – For a Vital Economy in The Hague

We are proud to launch our vision paper (in Dutch) for the upcoming political term. This is a practice-oriented document focused on three essential pillars for a future-proof economy:

– Employment and the labour market
– Space and growth opportunities for businesses
– Sustainability connected to the economy and employment

You can read the full vision advice (in Dutch) here:


Visieadvies Economic Board The Hague

The Economic Board The Hague is keen to engage in dialogue with the city’s political parties to further elaborate on this vision. The aim is not only to collaborate on an ambitious economic policy for the 2026–2030 administrative term and beyond, but above all to prioritise the interests of the city and contribute to a reliable, future-oriented administrative culture. Together, we can build an innovative, prosperous and resilient city in which The Hague fully capitalises on its unique position within The Netherlands and the world.

The Hague Connected extends collaboration for another four years

The employer alliance The Hague Connected has renewed its joint commitment to improving and future-proofing the city’s accessibility for another four years. The goal of this collaboration is to strengthen The Hague’s business climate by tackling mobility challenges collectively and taking concrete steps towards a more accessible and sustainable city.

The Hague Connected
The Hague Connected is an alliance of The Hague’s largest employers: Shell, ANWB, NN, Siemens, PostNL and Odido Nederland. Following the joint declaration that marked the launch of the initiative in 2021, these organisations will once again collaborate over the next four years by contributing to:

🔷 Improving the (international) accessibility of the city
🔷 Further developing regional and inner-city transport connections
🔷 Designing mobility in a smart, sustainable and safe way

The Economic Board The Hague is once again committing to the alliance and will facilitate the process in the coming years.

Read the full continuation declaration here: Voortzettingsverklaring The Hague Connected 2025-2029

 

Our board members in the spotlight: meet Harry Wientjens

Since when have you been a member of EBTH, and why did you decide to join (what motivates you)?
I have been a member since 2018 and have served as the chair of the Economic Board since 2021. My motivation to join the board stems from a personal drive to improve the Broad Prosperity of our city. I consider it both important and an honor to be able to offer solicited and unsolicited advice to the city and its administration.

What is your background, and which domain do you represent?
In daily life, I am the Director of Rabobank Regio Den Haag, which gives me insight into both business and personal financial matters. Rabobank is also socially engaged in the city, allowing me to contribute to a wide range of topics. In addition to my banking expertise, I bring knowledge in marketing and business administration.

What do you hope to achieve with the board, and what are you most proud of?
I want more and more stakeholders in the city to know where to find the Economic Board The Hague – to strengthen their plans, make connections, and provide a critical perspective where needed. What makes me proud is that we are not only focused on the theme of work, but increasingly approach it from the broader perspective of Broad Prosperity. This helps us better address today’s complex challenges. Initiatives like The Hague Connected (focused on accessibility) and our advice on the city’s structural vision are great examples of this. And of course, I’m proud of the success of our annual networking event Den Haag Inspireert, which we organize together with the municipality and our partners.

What is the biggest opportunity waiting to be seized in The Hague?
The greatest opportunity lies in putting the interests of the city first, above political or personal agendas. Predictable and consistent policymaking is essential to restore public trust and continue building together on the Netherlands’ third-largest city. This doesn’t require financial or material investment, only the will and commitment to collaborate.
From an economic perspective, there is tremendous potential in strengthening and concretely developing The Hague’s identity as the City of Peace & Justice. By sharpening this positioning, the city can enhance its image as an international hub and economic powerhouse.

Save the Date: Working Together on Cyber Resilience in the The Hague Region

How Cyber Resilient Are Entrepreneurs in the The Hague Region?
During an inspiring event, the Local Cyber Resilience Platform The Hague will share the first results of the regional cyber resilience survey. Local entrepreneurs will talk about their own experiences and challenges when it comes to digital security.

📅 Tuesday, 13 May 2025
🕓 16:30 – 18:30
📍 Security Delta (HSD), Wilhelmina van Pruisenweg 104, The Hague

Program:
16:00 – 16:30 Walk-in
16:30 – 17:30 Entrepreneurs share their stories & first insights
17:30 – 18:30 Networking drinks

This afternoon offers plenty of opportunities to exchange experiences and collaborate on a secure digital future for our region.

🔔 Save the date!

The official invitation will follow soon. Want to be sure of a spot? Register now via this link ➡️ https://lnkd.in/epB9BDtT

Nominees Announced for the Hague Pearl 2025

In the category Exceptional Contribution, the nominees are TommyTomato, Haagse Schatten and Nelis. The nominees in the category Impactful Circular Enterprise are: CupXchange, Yespers and De Pot Op.

The Municipality of The Hague is proud of its entrepreneurs. That’s why the city presents the Hague Pearl each year – an award for companies and individuals who make a special contribution to The Hague’s economy. This year, there are two categories: Exceptional Contribution and Impactful Circular Enterprise.

Alderman for SMEs, Employment and Participation, Nur Icar: “Working, doing business, starting new ventures – The Hague has many energetic entrepreneurs who deserve to be celebrated. They contribute to a vibrant city with lively neighborhoods and also create jobs. I’m incredibly proud of this list of nominees. It’s wonderful to see so many socially committed entrepreneurs with a keen eye for sustainability. I call on everyone: cast your vote and let us know who you think deserves the Hague Pearl!”

Exceptional Contribution
In the category Exceptional Contribution, the nominees are TommyTomato, Haagse Schatten and Nelis.
TommyTomato turns primary school children into lifelong vegetable eaters by providing warm, healthy lunches in the classroom. With a playful approach, they make learning about food fun and accessible, contributing to a healthier and fairer start for every child.
Haagse Schatten puts local entrepreneurs in the spotlight through blogs, treasure maps and a gift card, encouraging residents to shop locally.
Nelis supports young people by training them to become window cleaners, caretakers or cleaners, offering personal guidance and support across various areas of life.

Impactful Circular Enterprise
In the category Impactful Circular Enterprise, the nominees are CupXchange, Yespers and De Pot Op.
CupXchange replaces disposable cups with reusable ones and collaborates with social employment partners.
Yespers processes surplus fruit in their zero-waste factory into sustainable breakfast products and is building a circular food system.
De Pot Op reduces the diaper waste mountain in The Hague through an innovative approach to early potty training, delivering environmental benefits and advantages for families.

Public and Jury Voting
Who will win the Hague Pearl 2025? That decision lies in the hands of both the expert jury and the public. From April 22 until Thursday May 22 at 12:00 PM, the public can vote for their favorite business at haagseparel.nl. Public votes will count for 40 percent of the final result.

The remaining 60 percent will be decided by the expert jury. The jury members are: Kaushilya Budhu Lall (on behalf of the Economic Board The Hague), Robert Medenblik (VNO-NCW), Edith Groenewegen (MKB Den Haag), Juriën Kester (Ockenburg Garden Center and winner of Hague Pearl 2024 – Exceptional Contribution), and Rolien Wiersinga (Circulair Green and winner of Hague Pearl 2024 – Impactful Circular Enterprise).

Award Ceremony
The Hague Pearl will be awarded during The Hague Inspires!, the city’s entrepreneurship event, taking place on Friday, June 13 at the Fokker Terminal.
Are you an entrepreneur and want to attend the ceremony live? Register here for a free ticket.

 

On Friday, June 13, it’s happening: The Hague Inspires! The city’s premier inspiration and networking event.

The Municipality of The Hague and the Economic Board The Hague invite you to a day full of inspiration and valuable connections.

The Hague Inspires! is the annual event for entrepreneurs and employers from The Hague and the surrounding region, where the city, the region, and the business community come together to look ahead to the future. Throughout the day, visitors will be challenged with powerful themes, inspired with fresh ideas, and encouraged to make new connections. Collaboration and entrepreneurship are at the heart of it all.

How can we remain resilient (as a city, as organizations, and as individuals) in a rapidly changing world? That’s the central question during the plenary program, featuring a series of powerful seven-minute talks. Inspiring speakers will share their perspectives on timely topics such as resilience, digital security, and the labor market. What opportunities do current developments present, and who should you be connecting with? During the program, we’ll also present the Haagse Parels (The Hague Pearls) a recognition for entrepreneurs and businesses that make an exceptional contribution to The Hague’s economy.

Before the plenary session, you can take part in a range of inspiration sessions. We’ll end the day with an informal networking reception.

Want to know more? Visit the website for a full overview of the inspiration sessions.

Register now and choose your session –> space is limited!
Sign up via: https://www.denhaaginspireert2025.nl/registreren/

Event Details
What: The Hague Inspires!
When: Friday, June 13, 2025
Where: Fokker Terminal, Binckhorstlaan 249, The Hague

Schedule
Inspiration sessions – arrival: 13:30 – 14:00
Inspiration sessions: 14:00 – 15:00
Plenary program – arrival: 15:00 – 15:30
Plenary program: 15:30 – 16:45
Networking reception: 16:45 – 18:00

We look forward to seeing you there!

The Hague Inspires! is an initiative of the Economic Board The Hague and the Municipality of The Hague, in collaboration with VNO-NCW The Hague Region, MKB The Hague, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland The Hague, Stichting Bedrijventerreinen Haaglanden, and Rabobank.

How does culture contribute to the broad prosperity of The Hague?

What does culture mean for The Hague? Much more than you think.
Culture is not only a source of inspiration and creativity but also a powerful driver of innovation, economic growth, urban development, and social cohesion. In this way, culture directly contributes to the broad prosperity of our city and its residents.

Together we build a strong cultural and economic future
To strengthen this valuable role of culture, various partners in The Hague are joining forces. The Hague Cultural Consultation, the directors’ meeting of The Hague Museums, and several private parties are working together to firmly embed culture into the economic and social fabric of the city. Because those who invest in culture, invest in the future of The Hague.

The Hague Cultural Summit – a new step forward
At the very first The Hague Cultural Summit, one key question takes center stage: How can we further strengthen The Hague’s approach to culture?
An inspiring afternoon filled with strategic insights, striking real-world examples, and meaningful encounters between cultural professionals, policymakers, and entrepreneurs. This is where the foundation is laid for long-term collaboration and new initiatives that will help The Hague thrive — both culturally and economically.

Will you be there?
The Economic Board The Hague warmly invites you to join us. For everyone who believes in the power of culture as a cornerstone of a future-proof city.

🔗 Register now via: https://kont.ly/7b814621