DutchbuzZ Podcasts

Amare is the new cultural center in the heart of the city with the mission to reach diverse communities with high-quality performances, projects, festivals, and other programs. Lily Anne Stroobach was there to find out more about the urban projects and the feeling inside this new space that aspires to become a cultural hub for the citizens of The Hague.

The UIT Festival: theatre, song and dance in The Hague:

It’s curtains up for the performing arts in The Hague this weekend! After more than a year of COVID lockdowns and restrictions, audiences are being invited back to see plays, listen to concerts and view live performances again. The annual UIT Festival marks the opening of the season by giving you a taste of what’s to come in the city of Peace, Justice AND entertainment. DutchbuzZ caught up with local actor, Patricia Cardona to hear about upcoming performances.

Dutchbuzz speaks with Thomas Verfuss, the Hague representative of Journalists For Justice.

“Wool for Warmth is not only about keeping the Hague’s homeless people warm in the winter but also about giving something back to our volunteers.” Cathy Delhanty has a talent for attracting treasure, both in terms of volunteers and in terms of donated items. Her unique model is to use the hidden talents of her volunteers to boost the value of the items they sell, thus bringing visibility to some undiscovered artists while raising money to support the homeless.

People working from home and kids toiling away behind their screens instead of attending school. For some of us the learning curve in digital communication has been steep, while most kids have taken to it like ducks to water. Of course, it can't replace our social contacts, but without digital communication we would have been truly isolated and even out of a job! Visual communication specialist and corporate storyteller Fiona Passantino has never been busier. Resident in The Hague with her international family, she has brought out a Post Covid Handbook that is proving to be very timely. Lily-Anne Stroobach recently added her to our String of Pearls and spoke to her on DutchbuzZ...

Dominique Fontaine moved to The Hague 30 years ago and despite a busy corporate job she has always been involved in initiatives to support the French community in The Hague. As President of the Alliance Française, she started the language school for those wanting to improve their French and since retiring she has been the force behind a number of initiatives to promote small businesses run by French and Francophone residents of the Netherlands. These include a directory of small businesses and a think tank to reflect on current affairs affecting internationals. In the context of the French consular elections, Dominique tells DutchbuzZ why it is so important to stay connected to the community.

A year ago, 5 experienced surfers lost their lives in a surfing tragedy near the harbour mouth in Scheveningen. Although a massive rescue and search operation was launched immediately, only one of the surfers survived. Dutchbuzz spoke to two members of the rescue team who this week received medals for their service and courage...

"Dutch people are open and receptive about looking at aspects of perceived racism in their culture," so says the author of 'Black and Abroad', Carolyn Vines. In this inspiring The Hague Pearl interview, Carolyn opens up to DutchbuzZ's Olivia Nelson about the joys and challenges of building a life and career as a Black American woman in The Netherlands.

From her dream of helping others as a life coach to dealing with Dutch traditions that clash with her ideals, Carolyn tells us how she navigates this experience and how family is central to everything.

The Walk of Hope Challenge got off to a great start at the Peace Palace in The Hague at the weekend. Students from the International School of The Hague kicked off this year's individual 'virtual' walk - in line with Covid regulations - on Sunday to support the walk's message of Unity and Solidarity and will be raising funds for a charity school in India. The campaign that runs till 2 May, was launched by the Director of the Peace Palace, Eric de Baedts. Lily-Anne Stroobach was there for DutchbuzZ...

Inspiring beach walk to chase away the blues and extra kilos!

Covid measures may have eased a little in the Netherlands, but the infection rate remains daunting in The Hague and surroundings. Someone who thinks that sitting it out at home is not an option is international coach and mentor Andy Chaleff who recently walked the entire Dutch coastline. In this interview for DutchbuzZ, he spoke to Lily-Anne Stroobach in Scheveningen…