Since when have you been a member of the EBTH and why did you decide to join?
I have been a member since its inception in 2017. My motivation is that I want to contribute to the objectives of the EBTH from my years of experience in the various aspects entrepreneurship in The Hague.
From what background are you affiliated and what field do you represent?
I am affiliated from my background as former board member of the Haaglanden Chamber of Commerce at the time, former board member of VNO-NCW West circle The Hague and former chairman of the Advisory Council District Economy of the Municipality of The Hague. I represent the district economy within the board.
What would you like to achieve with the board and what are you most proud of?
I would like to use the board to ensure that entrepreneurs in neighbourhoods where there is lively entrepreneurship but which are not yet sufficiently organised or involved in developments in the city, feel heard and are stimulated to participate in developments of importance to the city. I am most proud that the board has taken a first step in that regard by making a strong connection with the entrepreneurs united in the Ondernemersberaad Haags Veen (Schilderswijk and Transvaal).
What is the biggest opportunity in The Hague?
At this juncture, peace in the world is anything but self-evident anymore. Here lies an opportunity to strengthen and build on The Hague’s economic and financial spin-off as an international city of Peace and Justice.
For the 3rd time in a row, numerous large companies in The Hague are taking part in European Mobility Week from 16 to 22 September 2024. During this week, employers and employees will be motivated to travel sustainably. In the two previous years, the week resulted in a decrease in traffic jams on the A4 around The Hague (Rijkswaterstaat measurements).
Call to employers: Travel congestion-free too
The municipality of The Hague, Economic Board The Hague, the province of Zuid-Holland and Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar are initiators of this Mobility Week in The Hague and are communicating with the slogan: Reis ook filevrij! This will motivate their employees to walk, cycle, use shared transport or public transport. Working from home is also encouraged wherever possible as is avoiding rush hours. Besides the awareness campaign for sustainable urban mobility (travelling with as few CO2 emissions as possible within cities), all (legal) changes employers have to deal with are also anticipated. By participating in European Mobility Week, the initiators are giving substance to the climate deal ‘Making work-related passenger transport more sustainable’ in the Hague Climate Agreement.
In addition to over a hundred companies affiliated to The Hague Climate Accord, the following employers are also participating in Mobility Week: NN, PostNL, Shell, Siemens, ANWB, ODIDO (all united in The Hague Connected), Green Business Club Beatrixkwartier, Derksen & Drolsbach BV and The Hague & Partners.
Toolbox with 5 themes to get started
To inspire companies, a toolbox has been developed with tips on five themes: encouraging travelling by bike, working from home, shared transport, encouraging travel by public transport and avoiding rush hour. In addition, low-threshold actions are offered (lasting longer than Mobility Week) such as placing an e-bike pool with employers and free use of shared transport by employees. All information is on the Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar website.
European Mobility Week
The theme of European Mobility Week 2024 is ‘shared public space’. Almost 800 cities in over 30 countries are putting on activities related to public space during the week.
More information on this international week can be found here: European Mobility Week
Participate
Companies are cordially invited to participate in European Mobility Week 2024 from 16 to 22 September. Support is possible for The Hague region from the Economic Board The Hague and Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar. Please contact info@economicboardthehague.org or the mobility advisor of Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar at info@zuidhollandbereikbaar.nl.
Since when have you been a member of the Economic Board The Hague and why did you decide to become a member?
I am secretary of the EBTH and a member from the beginning in 2017. It was not a difficult decision to become a member: in my work at the World Forum The Hague, I am involved with the local economy and employment on a daily basis. That employment issue in particular is something that fascinates and motivates me enormously. I like to dedicate myself to the local economy and what that can mean for the residents of The Hague. We don’t have much physical space for manufacturing in The Hague, so we will have to work extra hard to serve the entire labour market and not just that for university-educated people. Inbound business and leisure tourism is the only opportunity we have in The Hague to create jobs for this important part of the labour market. We should therefore nurture that sector.
From what background are you affiliated and what domain do you represent?
The conference sector, hotels and restaurants, but also more broadly: all businesses that benefit from inbound business and recreational tourism, is the domain I represent. My main focus is on employment. I have been working in these sectors since I was 16 and they all come together in my current day-to-day work at World Forum The Hague.
What would you like to achieve with the board and what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of ‘The Hague Inspired’, this annual event is already the highlight of the year for everyone involved in the business activity of this beautiful region. With the board, I would still like to achieve real depth in cooperation with the municipality of The Hague to optimise the labour market. We initiated this a few years ago, but to go in depth you need an overlapping strategy from the Economy, Social Affairs and Education departments. Those usually fall under three different aldermen so it doesn’t happen automatically, but this integrated approach is the only solution.
What is the biggest opportunity in The Hague?
We are already known as an international City of Peace and Justice. Any city would give anything for such a bright profile! The opportunity we have in The Hague is to continue ‘filling’ that profile: attracting international organisations and companies, international studies and, now I am preaching to my own parish, international events like the NATO Summit 2025.
Since when have you been a member of the Economic Board The Hague and why did you decide to become a member?
I have been a member of the EBTH since April 2020. I was recommended from my network and my motivation comes from my passion for innovation and my desire to have a positive impact on the IT sector in the Haaglanden region. Through my experience as an entrepreneur, with my company QISS IT, I have seen the importance of motivating young talents and creating opportunities, even for those without a traditional IT background. It is my belief that everyone, regardless of their education or background, can make a valuable contribution to the IT sector (or any sector for that matter) if they are given the right guidance and opportunities and thus start seeing for themselves. This drives me to be actively involved in EBTH and contribute to the development of the region.
From what background are you affiliated and what domain do you represent?
From my role as entrepreneur and founder of QISS IT, I am affiliated with the EBTH. My focus is on job creation in the IT sector in the Haaglanden region. At QISS IT, we have created jobs for people without IT training by motivating young talents and showing them that IT can not only be accessible, but also fun. We have developed a unique approach where we train and guide candidates without an IT background to a successful career in IT. This has led not only to more employment opportunities, but also to a more diverse and inclusive workforce in the IT sector. My goal is to spread this approach further and inspire more companies to start similar initiatives. In addition, I am a very practical person; I like to keep things simple, practical and clear, which is sometimes difficult in political The Hague. That’s partly where the name QISS IT comes from: Keep it short & simple.
What would you like to achieve with the board and what are you most proud of?
With the board, I would like to provide more information and support to SMEs, especially on legislation and how to successfully build a business. As an entrepreneur, you are often behind the times when it comes to laws and regulations, and that can be very frustrating. By providing better information and support, we can ensure that entrepreneurs are better informed and can respond faster to changes in legislation. I also want to strengthen the connection between students and SMEs so that we can create a better connection between education and the labour market. I am most proud of the impact we have had with QISS IT on the careers of young professionals and the companies they work for. We showed young professionals that IT is really cool and that with their skills, but without any knowledge in the industry, they can embark on a fantastic career!
What is the biggest opportunity in The Hague?
The biggest opportunity in The Hague lies in exploiting the synergy between educational institutions and the business community. By working more closely together, we can ensure that students are better prepared for the labour market and vice versa. We forget that we are dealing with a new labour target group and the business community is not prepared for this either! Also, then companies have access to well-trained and motivated young professionals. This can lead to a dynamic and innovative region where talent and businesses flourish. A concrete example is already the Dutch Innovation Park in Zoetermeer, where students, startups and established companies work together on innovative projects. This centre can serve as an incubator for new ideas and a place where knowledge and experience are shared. Through this cooperation, we can strengthen the region’s competitive position and create an attractive business climate for both national and international companies.
Entrepreneurial The Hague gathered at the Fokker Terminal on Thursday 13 June for a dose of inspiration during The Hague Inspires! Entrepreneurs and employers took a joint look at the future of the city and joined forces. Networking and inspiration were the focus throughout the afternoon during the event organised by the Economic Board The Hague and the municipality of The Hague.
Inspiration sessions
The afternoon started with in-depth inspiration sessions. These included discussions with the top of The Hague’s business community and various sessions focusing on specific topics, such as circular business operations, labour market shortages, AI & marketing and IT talent.
Plenary programme
After the inspiration session, the plenary programme started, led by host Jörgen Raymann. Five inspiring seven-minute talks were on the programme. The five speakers were all nominated by the aldermen of the municipality of The Hague.
For instance, Dominique Schreinemachers, military pilot and behavioural influence psychologist, spoke about mental strength and working in teams. Urban planner Hilde Blank, spoke about building and spatial development in The Hague. Ron Steenkuijl, board member ADG dienstengroep, then took the audience on building social social bridges. Yvette Watson took over and inspired the audience on sustainable entrepreneurship and the transition to a circular economy. Harry de Bruijn, director of ROC Mondriaan, closed the presentations with his story on the labour market and getting everyone involved.
Haagse Parel
Finally, the ‘Haagse Parels’ 2024 were awarded. Alderman Nur Icar presented the Hague Entrepreneur Award to the winners Tuincentrum Ockenburgh, in the Exceptional Contribution category, and Circular Green in the Impactful Circular Enterprise category.
Den Haag Inspireert is an annual event organised by the Economic Board The Hague and the municipality of The Hague. In cooperation with VNO-NCW region The Hague, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland The Hague, MKB The Hague, Stichting Bedrijventerreinen Haaglanden and Rabobank.
Watch the aftermovie
Come to Den Haag Inspireert!
Are you an entrepreneur or employer? Then come to the inspiration and networking event Den Haag Inspireert! on Thursday 13 June at the Fokker Terminal.
From SMEs to multinationals, everyone is welcome to explore the future together with the city and region. We will challenge you with different themes, encourage collaboration and emphasise expanding your network.
The programme is packed with inspiring seven-minute talks where we share ideas and visions of the future on topical issues. You can also sign up for workshops that can help you move forward with your business. And, of course, the presentation of the ‘Haagse Parel’!
Will you be there? Register, because full = full via https://denhaaginspireert2024.we-invite.eu/ Get inspired and invest in your network!
Den Haag Inspireert is made possible by Economic Board The Hague, Gemeente Den Haag, VNO-NCW regio Den Haag, Koninklijke Horeca Nederland Den Haag, MKB Den Haag, Stichting Bedrijventerreinen Haaglanden and Rabobank.
Through this letter to the informants Dijkgraaf, Van Zwol, and the negotiators, the major employers from The Hague, united in The Hague Connected, request attention to be given to the international train accessibility of the city. The Hague must be included as a full-fledged destination in the international train services. ‘Missing the train’ will have long-term consequences for The Hague’s attractiveness as a business location.
On Thursday the 13th of June, the municipality of The Hague and the Economic Board The Hague organize Den Haag Inspireert! This inspiration and networking event is tailored for entrepreneurs and employers from our city and the surrounding region.
The program kicks off with thought-provoking inspiration sessions, followed by a plenary program featuring high energy ‘seven-minute talks’ by inspiring speakers, who will share their ideas and future visions on current topics. Additionally, the prestigious “Haagse Parel” award will be handed out during the event.
Details:
| What: | Den Haag Inspireert! |
| When: | Thursday juni 13th 2024 |
| Location: | Fokker Terminal, Den Haag |
| Walk-in inspiration sessions | 13:15 – 13:45 |
| Inspiration session | 13:45 – 14:30 |
| Walk-in plenary program | 14:30 – 15:15 |
| Plenary program | 15:15 – 17:00 |
| Networking and drinks | 17:00 – 18:30 |
The afternoon will conclude with an informal networking session and a chance to participate in a networking quiz. This will provide ample opportunity to establish new connections, foster collaboration, and promote entrepreneurial endeavours.
Do you want to be inspired in one afternoon about entrepreneurship and topics relevant to The Hague while connecting with fellow entrepreneurs? Please note the date in your calendar using this link.
More information, along with the registration link, will be provided by the end of April 2024. We look forward to welcoming you on Thursday June 13th at the Fokker Terminal. See you there!
Den Haag Inspireert! is an initiative of the Economic Board The Hague and the municipality of The Hague in collaboration with VNO-NCW regio Den Haag, MKB Den Haag, Koninklijke Horeca Den Haag, Stichting Bedrijven Terreinen Haaglanden and Rabobank.
In collaboration with the municipality of The Hague, a meeting will be organized on Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 4:00 PM about future work, accessibility and the zero-emission zones in the city.
A lot of work is planned in The Hague and surrounding areas in the coming years. This may cause inconvenience and may affect you, your suppliers, employees and visitors from next year until well beyond 2030. Fortunately, there are mobility solutions, such as the mobility scan, that identify alternatives. The following planned activities are on the agenda:
– Hofzichtlaan (near Mariahoeve)
– Mercuriusweg (Binkhorst area)
– Sijtwende tunnel (near N14)
The municipality of The Hague is organizing this information meeting together with Zuid–Holland Bereikbaar, VNO NCW The Hague region, MKB The Hague, Stichting Bedrijventerreinen Haaglanden and the Economic Board The Hague.
Date: Thursday February 8, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM (incl. networking drinks)
Location: The Hague Humanity Hub, Fluwelen Burgwal 58, 2511 CJ The Hague
For up-to-date information about upcoming work in the region, please visit www.zuidhollandbereikbaar.nl or for information about The Hague visit www.bereikbarestad.denhaag.nl.
About 200,000 more homes will be built in the coming years and many roads, bridges and tunnels are in urgent need of major maintenance. This leads to extra crowds. If we do nothing, we will stand still even more often in South Holland. That is why the Ministry of Infrastructure & Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat, the province of South Holland, the Rotterdam The Hague Metropolitan Region, the municipality of The Hague, the municipality of Rotterdam, ProRail and the Port of Rotterdam are joining forces in the cooperation organization Zuid-Holland Bereikbaar.
On December 11, Anil Soekhoe was a guest in the Hague Hub Podcast. In addition to his role as a board member of the Economic Board The Hague, Anil is the owner of Hop and Stork. He started his business nine years ago and now has two branches, one in The Hague and one in Utrecht. “Entrepreneurship is the best thing there is!”
In addition to his own company, Anil is actively committed to other entrepreneurs in the city, he has various positions, including as a board member of Koninklijke Horeca Nederland The Hague, chairman of the Association of De Passage Belangen, board member at Binnenstad in Bedrijf The Hague and therefore as board member of the EBTH.
The podcast is about the trial and error of entrepreneurs, some just a little harder than others. You will also hear where the origin of the name ‘Haagse Hopjes’ lies and how he combines entrepreneurship with various management positions. You can listen and/or watch the podcast via the links below:
https://lnkd.in/erZiCAvZ
https://lnkd.in/ejQXaJVR
https://lnkd.in/emTDCbt5
