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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-2025-Voor-een-vitale-Haagse-economie-1

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

Our board members in the spotlight: This is Ellen Maat

Since when have you been a member of the EBTH and what motivated you to join?
I have been a member of the Economic Board The Hague since 2022. My motivation to join stems from my belief that good and accessible healthcare is a vital condition for the economic development of the city. At the same time, the healthcare sector itself is an essential part of that economy. From this perspective, I am happy to contribute to the Board. Additionally, I feel a strong connection with The Hague, where I have enjoyed living for over 25 years.

What background do you represent, and which domain do you represent?
I have worked in the healthcare sector throughout my entire career. For the past six years, I have been an executive at Florence, a large (elderly) care organization in the Haaglanden region. Every day, twenty thousand residents rely on Florence’s healthcare professionals. Together with 3,300 employees and over 1,100 volunteers, we help people continue living the lives they cherish as much as possible. I represent the healthcare domain within the Board.

What would you like to achieve with the Board, and what are you most proud of?
With my contribution to the Board, I want to strengthen the connection between quality care and economic growth in The Hague. I am proud that at Florence, with so many dedicated employees and volunteers, we make a difference every day for thousands of people in the Haaglanden region. It is remarkable to see how we collectively contribute to the quality of life for our clients.

What is the biggest opportunity waiting to be seized in The Hague?
I see a significant opportunity in further integrating the healthcare sector into the city’s economic agenda. Healthcare is not only crucial for the well-being of residents but also forms an important pillar of the local economy. By collaborating and innovating, we can both improve healthcare and strengthen The Hague’s economic power.

The Hague business community speaks out on Network Strategy 2040

The Hague is growing – in residents, businesses, and international visitors. A future-proof mobility strategy is therefore essential to ensure accessibility and economic strength for The Hague. Both The Hague Connected and the Economic Board The Hague, representing small, medium, and large businesses, emphasize in their statements the crucial additions and the importance of the right preconditions in the proposed plans.

Both statements convey a clear message:
International accessibility must be structurally addressed – with better international train connections and public transport links to Rotterdam The Hague Airport. The right preconditions in the implementation program are essential for smart, sustainable mobility and economic vitality.

Together, we advocate for smart connections that contribute to broad prosperity, strong regional cohesion, and an attractive business climate for entrepreneurs.

📄 Read the full statements here:

The Hague-based organisations strengthen cyber resilience: cyber check for 1,400 organizations.

Cyber threats are a growing challenge for organizations, and especially SMEs are increasingly at risk. To make organizations in the region more digitally resilient, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Municipality of The Hague, and the Connect2Trust foundation are joining forces. On March 26, the collaboration was officially confirmed under the name ‘Platform Local Cyber Resilience The Hague’. The aim is to connect local organizations so that they can work together to strengthen their cyber resilience through knowledge sharing and practical tools.

Launch with involved partners
The official launch took place in the presence of Saskia Bruines (Deputy Mayor for Finance, Culture, and Economic Development, Municipality of The Hague), Elisabeth Minnemann (President of the Executive Board, The Hague University of Applied Sciences), and Raymond Bierens (Chairman, Connect2Trust).

Elisabeth Minnemann emphasized:
“The challenges surrounding cyber resilience continue to grow. As The Hague University of Applied Sciences, we contribute through our education and research to finding solutions to societal issues such as this one. This platform, which we are initiating together through the triple helix approach, is a great example of that and helps organizations move forward. By combining scientific insights, practical experience, and local engagement, we elevate cybersecurity in the region to a higher level.”

Raymond Bierens added:
“This collaboration enables us to strengthen the cyber resilience of SMEs in The Hague by proactively sharing threat intelligence. The participating organizations receive concrete action perspectives to improve and safeguard their cybersecurity.”

Deputy Mayor Saskia Bruines stated:
“Due to geopolitical and technological developments, the importance of digital resilience is increasing every day. In 2022, the municipal executive presented the ‘Digitally Secure The Hague’ Agenda, and since then we have been working hard to enhance the city’s digital resilience. We do this for and together with the organizations that ensure the city keeps functioning well, remains livable, and offers opportunities for every citizen of The Hague. This new collaboration fits seamlessly into that effort and is a very important step forward toward a Digitally Secure The Hague.”

Participate in the maturity assessment
As its first action, The Hague University of Applied Sciences is conducting a maturity assessment among organizations in the region. More than 1,400 organizations will receive an invitation to participate. This study maps out where the greatest cyber risks lie and what improvements are needed to strengthen the cyber resilience of The Hague-based organizations. The results will serve as the foundation for targeted support and new collaborations within the platform.

Start the survey!

Cyber threats as a daily challenge
For many organizations, protecting themselves against cyber threats such as data breaches, phishing, and ransomware is a daily challenge. These threats can cause significant damage and seriously harm an organization’s reputation. The Platform Local Cyber Resilience The Hague helps organizations jointly strengthen their cyber resilience by sharing knowledge and developing solutions together for current cybersecurity challenges.

Cyber resilience in the The Hague region
The Platform Local Cyber Resilience The Hague aims to strengthen the cyber resilience of organizations in the region. It does so by uniting them in a multi-year collaboration. The platform initially focuses on 1,400 organizations that are at greater risk of suffering damage from cyber incidents. In the future, the intention is to expand the platform to other types of organizations that could benefit from support. The ultimate goal is to develop a joint approach that increases cyber resilience throughout the entire The Hague region.

Collaboration as the key to success
What makes this platform unique is its scale, its risk-based approach, and the broad collaboration between public and private parties. This joint approach offers organizations in the region a better outlook on structural solutions to the growing number of digital threats.

Digitally Secure The Hague
The Platform Local Cyber Resilience The Hague builds on scientific research and aligns with the municipal program Digitally Secure The Hague. Through this program, the municipality works with its partners to improve the city’s digital resilience, with attention to the unique risk profile and vital local processes. Moreover, the platform contributes to safeguarding economic activities in the region and lays a strong foundation for a secure digital future.

More information
Want to learn more about the Platform Local Cyber Resilience The Hague? Visit the project page, follow Digitally Secure The Hague on LinkedIn, take part in the cyber resilience assessment, or contact us via Lokaal-cyberweerbaar@hhs.nl.

Curious about the first results of the assessment?
Join the event on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, from 16:30 to 18:30 in The Hague. During this meeting, the Platform Local Cyber Resilience The Hague will present the first findings and engage in a discussion about the next steps.

Register now

See the attached support letter for the official endorsement of this initiative by the Economic Board The Hague.

EBTH – DTC supportletter