The employer partnership The Hague Connected is expanding with two leading The Hague-based organisations: Haaglanden Medical Centre (HMC) and The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS). With their addition, the network now comprises eight major employers committed to working together towards better and more sustainable accessibility of The Hague.
The Hague Connected is dedicated to strengthening the city’s business climate by jointly addressing mobility challenges and taking concrete steps towards an accessible and future-proof The Hague. The partnership currently consists of ANWB, NN Group, PostNL, Siemens, Odido and Shell, and is now further reinforced by HMC and THUAS.
Ingrid Wolf, Chair of the Executive Board of HMC:
“HMC is proud to be the first healthcare organisation to join the The Hague Connected collective. Good accessibility is vital for delivering high-quality care, particularly as HMC operates one of the largest Accident & Emergency departments in the Netherlands and serves as a regional Level 1 trauma centre. As a major healthcare provider located in the heart of The Hague, we believe it is essential that the city remains easily accessible for our patients, colleagues and visitors. In close collaboration with the other employers, we are pleased to contribute to this important initiative.”
Accessibility as a strategic theme
For The Hague University of Applied Sciences, participation in The Hague Connected is a logical step. As a knowledge institution and a major employer, the university aims to actively contribute to the joint dialogue on accessibility and the international positioning of The Hague.
“From our role as a knowledge institution in the city and as a major employer, we consider it important to strengthen the shared conversation about accessibility and the international positioning of The Hague,” said Hans Nederlof, member of the Executive Board of The Hague University of Applied Sciences. “Through our daily practice – as an employer and in education and research – we contribute knowledge, experience and insights in the fields of mobility, sustainability and urban development where appropriate, and align ourselves with the shared narrative of The Hague.”
Accessibility is of crucial importance to the university. For THUAS, The Hague is not only its home base, but also an international meeting place for education and research. To remain an attractive European knowledge city, strong physical connections with (European) cities are essential to enable students, staff and partners to participate, collaborate and meet.
Accessibility as a prerequisite for healthcare
For HMC, good accessibility of the city is equally essential. As a large hospital with three locations in The Hague, accessibility plays a direct role in the continuity of care.
“As a major hospital in The Hague, we believe it is important that the city remains accessible for our patients, colleagues and visitors,” said Ingrid Wolf, Chair of the Executive Board of HMC. “Together with other large employers in the city, we are keen to help think through and realise effective plans.”
For HMC, accessibility can even be a matter of life and death. The hospital operates one of the largest Accident & Emergency departments in the Netherlands and is a regional Level 1 trauma centre. “Our emergency services must be able to reach us quickly and efficiently when every second counts.”
Commitment and courage in mobility policy
From the perspective of sustainability, health and accessibility, HMC encourages employees to travel by public transport, bicycle or on foot. Reimbursements for these modes of travel exceed those set out in the collective labour agreement, making sustainable transport more attractive. The Hague University of Applied Sciences also pursues a mobility policy in which sustainable travel is the norm. For commuting, a green travel allowance scheme encourages staff to opt for cleaner and healthier forms of transport.
Working together towards an accessible The Hague
With the addition of HMC and The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Hague Connected is further strengthened as a platform in which major employers take responsibility for the city’s accessibility. By pooling knowledge, experience and influence, the participating organisations are taking concrete steps to ensure that The Hague remains accessible, sustainable and internationally attractive.
