Published by the Royal Academy of Art

HOW TO
SURVIVE
THE HAGUE
Published by the
Royal Academy of Art
E HAGU
And there you go you’ve just been caught
holding this little book...
No matter if you are a curious
Dutchie or a helpless foreigner
you are welcome at The Royal
Academy of Art in The Hague.
If you are a foreigner there’s a
big chance you’ve never heard
how the Dutch language sounds.
It might take a while to get used
to it. Despite the small size of
the country it has quite some
regional accents and above
them all - Royal Dutch.
Learning Dutch is a very good
idea. But you are not lost,
because Dutch people are
very good in foreign languages.
Before you get into the
embarrassing situation that
I was in while having a chat
about art - “Fan Khokh”
is actually Van Gogh.
There’s something about
these two letters, the
“G” and the “H”...
The Hague is a city that changes
very fast. Buildings or even
blocks of neighbourhoods are
being torn down and new ones
are being constructed.
Moving to a new house is
nothing special.
Be prepared to get stuck at
least once in the tram tracks
while biking. You also might
miss your train because of
standing on the wrong end of
the train platform or get to a
wrong destination because of
travelling in the wrong part of
the train. Be aware, learn fast
and “Dutchify” your
daily life habits.
In this Survival
Guide you will find
13 chapters covering
the most important
information that you
should know to avoid
confusing situations
1 / p.8
How to get to
The Hague and
to the Royal Academy of
Art (KABK)
A route description that leads
you right to the door of your
future school, the KABK, from
the two train stations in The
Hague - Den Haag Centraal and
Hollands Spoor.
2 / p.10
The Royal Academy
of Art: some
historical facts
The KABK is approaching it’s 330
years anniversary so you should
learn about it’s secret of existing
for so long...
3 / p.13
Practical information
about the KABK
The building of our school is
quite complex and confusing
so it might take you a while to
discover all the goodies if you
wander around on your own.
This is a guide that tells you
about where, what time and how
- the facilities that the school has
to offer to you.
4 / p.22
Public transport
You will find some tips and the
most important information
about transport and tickets here.
5 / p.28
How to find a house
The KABK DOES NOT HAVE A
CAMPUS that’s why this chapter
will tell you where to find youth
hostels in The Hague and will
give you the best websites and
other advertising spots to look
for a more permanent place.
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7
9 / p.46
How to arrange
your health &
medical care
Gives the basic information
about health care arrangements.
10 / p.50
How to be
reachable by phone
6 / p.33
How to find a job
A few tips on how to deal with
mobile phone companies.
This chapter tells you about job
contracts, mentions some job
agency websites and gives a tip
how to get a little job in your
own school.
11 / p.52
How to explore
The Hague: going out
7 / p.36
How to arrange finances
This is one of the most important
chapters – definitely on your “to
do” list! It will give you the order
of approach for arranging your
finances and it will explain your
rights as a student.
8 / p.42
How to arrange your
bureaucratic stuff
The most exiting chapter of this
book. NOT. But some things
simply have to be done.
You came here to study art and
there are quite a number of
museums, galleries and theatres
to visit in The Hague. Find what
best suits your interests.
12 / p.62
How to explore
The Hague: leisure time
Look here for some information
about shopping, eating,
sporting...
13 / p.74
Last but not least
This is a running check list - your
final test to see if you’ve actually
read the book! You’ll find here
key words, abbreviations, do’s
and don’ts of the city and the
most important websites.
1
How to get to
�e Hague and to the
Royal Academy of Art
►
9
How to get to Den Haag
The best way to reach Den Haag/ The Hague is by train.
There are two train stations, which can be confusing but
also handy. Den Haag Centraal Station (CS) is located very
close to school, and has the best connection with Utrecht
and places closer to Den Haag - Voorburg for example. Den
Haag Hollands Spoor (HS) is also not that far from our
school (about 15-20 minutes walking distance) and has far
better connections to Rotterdam, Amsterdam and Belgium
for example. If you are planning to follow courses in Leiden
it does not matter which station you choose, since it’s about
a 10-minute trip.
How to get to the Royal Academy of Art
On foot: from Den Haag Centraal Station
From the main entrance, walk straight ahead
and cross the tram rails to the left. Cross the
bridge and take the first right along the canal.
Opposite you will see the building of the
Royal Academy, Prinsessegracht 4.
By tram: from Den Haag Hollands Spoor
If you arrive at railway station Den Haag
Hollands Spoor and you would like to go to
the Royal Academy, it’s easiest to take tram
9, 16 or 17 which will bring you to Den Haag
Central Station in just a few stops. During
rush hour tram 10 is an option as well.
2
�e Royal Academy of Art:
some historical facts…
►
11
The Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague is
the oldest art academy in our country. In the 16th
century there was already mention of a Lucas guild
in the Hague. In 1656 there was a split within the
guild, which resulted in the Pictura Brotherhood. This
separation was intended to separate the true artists
from the members who were only craftsmen. In 1682
the Pictura Brotherhood established an academy
that was the foundation for our current academy. The
prime goal of this academy was to give the brotherhood members the opportunity to advance their skills
in drawing.
In the nineteenth century the academy acquired a new
building at the location where the present academy is now
located on the Prinsessegracht. It looked like a Greek temple. The academy was a combination of a school for drawing,
a training centre for painters and craftsmen, and a school for
architecture. In the twentieth century the academy changed
into a school for graphic design and furniture design in addition to the visual arts. The department for graphic design
was one of the first courses in the Netherlands inspired by
the ideas of Bauhaus. The building was changed into the
monument we see today at the Prinsessegracht: a modern
school for design.
Innovations in the last fifty years
In 1957 with its 275th anniversary, the academy received
the predicate ‘Royal’. In that year the academy and the HTS
(technical college) permanently separated. During the next
several years art education was to be modernised. Of course
the Royal Academy participated in these changes. In 1968 a
number of schools for arts and crafts officially became art
academies as institutes for higher education. In the 1980s,
several independent institutes merged into larger schools.
In the same manner the Royal Academy of Arts merged
with the MTS for Photography and Photonics. A year later
the Royal Academy and the Royal Conservatory (Dutch:
Koninklijk Conservatorium, KC) together became the Royal
Academy of Fine Arts, Design, Music and Dance.
The last phase of the renewal started in 2000 when the
building was reconstructed. All of the courses for expressive
arts and design could then fit into one building at the Prinsessegracht. Keeping in mind the original architecture of the
building, the architects at Mourik Vermeulen in The Hague
redesigned the building. The joint location was officially
opened on 29 March 2000 by her Majesty Queen Beatrix. In
the same year Jack Verduyn Lunel, a former alderman of The
Hague and a former managing director of he Federation of
Artists Societies, became the director.
In 2001 the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Design, Music and
Dance began to work with Leiden University, which resulted
in a new Faculty of Creative and Performing Arts. At this
faculty the KC and KABK work together with the university
to set up new research programmes and develop new study
methods. This was the first formalised co-operation between a university and an arts institute in the Netherlands.
From its inception, it has become an option for students
to study at the Academy of Arts and Leiden University at
the same time. In our programme of studies, the attention
given to new technologies and new media has expanded
drastically, resulting in new workshops, studios and other
facilities as well as new courses like ArtScience/Image and
Sound and Interactive/Media/Design.
KABK history written by Michael van Hoogenhuyze
Royal Conservatoire:
www.koncon.nl
Academy of Arts:
www.hum.leiden.edu/creative-performing-arts
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Pratical information on the
Royal Academy of Art
►
Opening hours of the KABK building
The KABK is open from Monday to Friday from 08.00 to
22.00, but there are also occasional extended opening hours,
that include KABK weekend courses. Please check school
opening hours at the reception desk. All facilities are open
to students and employees of the KABK. There are various
workshops, studios, specific shops and a beautiful library.
Reception desk
The reception desk, located at the entrance of the Prinsessegracht, manages all incoming phone calls and the lost
and found, and it has all keys to the academy classrooms.
The reception desk also provides information about
teachers’ absences. Visitors should first report to
the reception desk.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 77
E-mail: [email protected]
Student administration
The staff at the student administration are Nettie Aben and
Silvia van der Kist. They manage all student files in a digitalised student tracking system. As a student you can look into
your own file. Silvia and Nettie have general information on
study allowances. Please inform them if you change your
home or postal address, phone number or e-mail address.
There are important letters that are sent to your postal
address, such as application forms for the coming year of
courses.
Opening hours
Monday – Friday: 09.00 – 10.30, 12.00- 14.00, 15.30 – 16.30.
Wednesday evenings 19.00 –2100.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 45
E-mail: [email protected] and [email protected]
International office
The International Relations office stimulates international
student exchange and manages the international contacts. It
provides information on the various mobility programmes
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of the European Union (EU) and the Dutch government and
the available scholarships for students that take courses or
do an internship abroad. Most scholarships need to be applied for with the KABK.
Student consulting hours
Mondays and Thursdays, 12.00 – 13.00
Tuesdays, 16.00 – 17.00
E-mail: [email protected]
Telephone: (070) 3154 728
Dutch Language & Culture Coaching
The KABK offers a Dutch Language & Coaching
course for the international students of the KABK.
The course runs during both semesters and consists
of 12 lessons per course. A minimum of 12 students
is needed to start a course. The course fee is ¤70 per
semester. Note that following this course doesn’t
give you study points. More information and online
registration is available at www.kabk.nl
Student counsellor
You can meet student counsellor on Monday and Wednesday afternoon between 13.00 and 17.00 in the same office
where the International office is located. Don’t forget to
first make an appointment with the student counsellor via
e-mail: [email protected]
Library
The KABK has a well equipped (media) library. The book
collection consists of titles in fields such as Fine Arts, Architecture, Photography, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Philosophy, Art Observation, Fashion, History and Art/Cultural
History. There are also books with audio CDs to learn Dutch
in several levels! And you can also try spending some time
there just enjoying the interior of the library - it is special!
Opening hours
Mondays through Fridays, 09.15 to 16.30.
Also Mondays to Wednesdays 18.30 to 21.00.
You can reserve books in the library itself, but you can also
do it via email: [email protected]
or by phone: (070) 315 47 98
Studios and workshops
The KABK has professionally equipped studios and
workshops which are run by workshop assistants.
Workshop assistants are craftsmen who manage the
workshop or studio and are in charge of safety. They
also run the machines and can advise students about
materials. Learning to use equipment in a studio or
workshop is essential since students are required to
be able to work independently. If a student has not
had the proper instruction the workshop assistants
can prevent the student from working in the studio or
workshop. The workshop assistants’ role is to supervise students and offer advice. The opening hours
and workshop assistants’ names are displayed at the
entrance of each studio and workshop. The academy
strives for flexibility and extensive opening hours in
accordance with those of the academy itself. During
vacations and weekends studios and workshops are
closed, with some exceptions.
There are two workshop courses:
Introductory course (compulsory)
As mentioned earlier, students must be able to work
independently in the workshops. During the introductory
course you will be told how the workshops and studios
work in general and how to handle certain machinery. We
believe that you should know about the vast possibilities the
workshops and studios offer, which is why all functions are
covered in the course. You will also be informed on the rules
and regulations on using the workshops.
Certifying course
There are certain safety risks in handling workshop machin-
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ery. Furthermore, some machines can be destroyed if they
are used improperly. For this type of machinery a certifying
course for each workshop has been developed. Training is
provided by each workshop assistant and in most cases your
abilities to handle the machinery are tested before you can
receive the certificate. The course is given twice a year and
the certificate expires after a maximum period of two years.
For some machinery (e.g. machines that are substituted by a
different type) this period is shorter.
Textile and Fashion Workshop
This is the most colourful workshop in the entire school.
Here you can develop your garments and create your own
textile. You need to have specialised training to use the
equipment. Even if you are not from the Fashion and Textile
department you can use the workshop. Just make an appointment with one of the ladies working there. You will be
asked to pay a basic material fee. They have a fabric shop
where you can see, choose and buy materials at a friendly
price. You can pay only with your facility card. Note that
shop has different opening hours from the workshop!
Telephone: (070) 315 47 80
Carpentry Workshop
This workshop is noisy but smells very sweet. Just take a
whiff and it will make you want to work with wood. The Carpentry Workshop is on the ground floor. They have various
woodcutting, drilling and sanding machines. Manual tools
are also available. There is a wood material shop under the
workshop - their supply is quite large. You can buy material or borrow some tools only with your facility card. If you
need something more specific you might buy your material
somewhere else. But just keep in mind, that when buying
wood in construction shops you might be charged for some
services, for example cutting. At school they cut your wood
for free. In the basement of KABK there is also a storage
space for second-hand wood that was used by graduated
students. Contact the basement supervisor and you might
be able to buy that wood for a reduced price.
Whenever you go to the workshop, don’t expect to be helped
immediately. There are always more students around than there
are people who can help them. Workshop assistants are there
not only for safety but also for advice. Because they are more
experienced, it helps if you explain what exactly you are working
on. If you want to make a little sketch or try out your ideas, there
are also several leftover bins available.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 84
Metal Workshop
This workshop is located next to the Carpentry Workshop. The
rule Number 1 - as soon as you have entered the Metal Workshop
put on the safety shoes. They have them in many sizes.
Despite the grey colours and big, heavy cutting, drilling, welding
and bending machines the Metal Workshop guys have made this
place very cosy. You have to have a certificate before you can
work here. But even if you do, don’t be shy to say what you are
working on. These guys are very curious and they will recommend
you a tool that can simplify your work. After a long working day
you’ll definitely get the taste for metal. In the Metal Workshop
you can buy (with a Facility Card) materials but they have a limited supply. You can also get some scrap metal from the leftover
bin for free.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 85
Graphics Studios
The Graphics Studios are located in the Bleijenburg building and
offer the opportunity to do etchings, lithographs, screen printing
and wood and linocuts. The equipment necessary for various
techniques is available (presses, rinsing and drying machines).
Studios also function as classrooms for graphics teachers. All
materials can be purchased at shop “Goedman” in the academy’s
basement. Here you can pay with your bank card or cash.
Graphics Studios telephone: (070) 315 47 81 / (070) 315
47 82 Shop “Goedman” telephone: (070) 345 92 99/
cell phone: 06 18 54 87 81
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Printing Studio
The printing room is mainly used by Graphic Design students.
Type setting can be done by hand with various presses, and there
is also a darkroom where graphic films used for e.g. screen printing can be made.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 83
Photography Studios and Darkrooms
Throughout the Prinsessegracht building students will find various
small and one large photography studio. All the necessary equipment can be found there, such as cameras, lighting and backdrops.
The darkrooms are situated in Bleijenburg. Here students can
develop, print and enlarge black and white photographs. On the
same floor facilities for developing black and white and colour
negatives can be found.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 86
Photography Studio
In the Photography Studio students can experiment with photographic techniques such as historical photographic procedures,
photographic manipulation (toners, bleaching, colouring, etc.)- in
short, everything a student needs for personalising their photography.
Opening times: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
from 13:00 to 17:00. Mondays reserved for class.
Computer Workshop and Computer Classroom
The KABK has excellent ICT equipment, mainly Apple Mac, but
also PCs with Windows. The computer workshop also offers students the opportunity to work with various different programmes
for Graphic Design, Interior Design, digital image reworking, digital photography and pattern designing. There is also a computer
classroom which is used for (class) instruction in various software.
Here you can also use a printer. Ask the workshop assistants to
explain to you how to create a password and to log in and how the
payment system for printing works. They also sell blank CDs and
DVDs.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 88/(070) 315 47 89
Multimedia Studio
The Multimedia Studio is on the second floor of Bleijenburg. On
this floor there are such working spaces as a studio, a lab, a production studio and editing rooms for sound and for video. There’s
also a film editing table and a presentation space which is used to
realise audiovisual work. You can also rent multimedia equipment
here. You will need a Facility Card for that.
Telephone: (070) 315 47 91
Canteen
This is the place where everybody meets. The canteen is open
Monday through Friday from morning until evening. You can buy
food in the canteen or enjoy your own food from home. If you
stay late at school, it is good to know that from 17.00 the canteen
starts serving hot meals. There’s also an outside terrace attached
to it and a yard with many tables. On a sunny day you can spend
a very cosy lunch-break. You can only pay with cash in the canteen.
Bookings office
Individual and collective assessments are obligatory parts of
your course curriculum, and presentations are considered very
important. The collective assessments involve widespread use of
classrooms and halls throughout the academy and are co-ordinated by head teachers or department co-ordinators. You should
always book a space in advance at the Bookings Office through
[email protected]
Internet
When you want to use wireless internet at the KABK with
your own laptop use:
User: student
Password: kabk@air
Otherwise go to the computer room on the right before
the mirror corridor and ask for assistance there.
Five computers with free internet access are available in
the canteen:
User: kabk
Password: kabk
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KA-net
Ka-net is the KABK intranet, available for students, teachers,
employees and alumni of the Royal Academy of Art. Other people
can log in as guests with partial functionality.
Nieuwe K
‘De Nieuwe K’ is a publication of the Royal Academy of Art,
Design, Music and Dance and the Academy of Arts, Leiden. This
magazine contains information about new developments in the
field of research and education, minors, concerts, exhibitions,
events and all other kind of relevant issues in the field of the arts.
Suggestions can be sent to [email protected]
4
Public transport
►
23
On a national level trains are run by the NS (Nederlandse Spoorwegen). At the railway stations you will
find machines for train tickets. Some machines accept
cash but most of them use bank cards only! You can
choose a first-class or a second-class ticket. If you
have a second-class ticket, make sure that you enter
the train in the part where a big number ‘2’ is written.
These seats are second class. Business people mostly
travel first class.
Don’t be surprised if you can’t find a proper clock in the
station hall. Most of the time you will only see them at the
platforms.
The Hague has two railway stations:
‘Centraal Station’ and ‘Hollands Spoor’.
Take notice:
When going somewhere like Amsterdam for
the evening, remember that after 00.00 hours
the trains only go to Den Haag Centraal Station. Transport in The Hague at night is not
reliable so it is a good idea to have a bike if
you want to be mobile at anytime. When you
are planning to return to The Hague late at
night, it is best to park your bike at the Centraal Station.
NS reduction card (‘Voordeelurenkaart’)
If you expect to use the train system frequently or plan to go to
Amsterdam and back at least five times a year, it is worthwhile
purchasing the NS discount card (NS voordeelurenkaart) to
save some money. The card costs ¤55, and you need to bring a
passport, photograph and present your ID when you apply for it
at any railway station. You will get a temporary card on the same
day which is valid for three months. The real card will be sent to
your address after a few weeks. The card gives you a 40% discount
and the same discount to three other people that are travelling
with you. Your discount card is not valid from 04.00 to 09.00 on
weekdays (Mon.-Fri.) because of rush hour commute. You will
receive a letter after a year when your discount card is no longer
valid. If you wish, you can let them know that you would like to
have the card renewed for another year.
More information on: www.ns.nl
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OV chip student card
The OV chip (Openbaar Vervoer – Public Transport) student
card is a big treasure for Dutch students. If you are a working
student from another EU country and are getting study
financing from the Dutch government you’re also entitled
to an OV chip student card. It allows you to travel for free
by any form of public transport - train, tram, metro and
bus. When you apply for it you’ll have to decide if you want
to travel on the weekdays or weekends. Weekend means
Friday evening until Monday morning. Some Dutch holidays
make an exception in regular use of your OV chip student
card, so you should double check if on those days you are
actually travelling for free. Don’t forget that an OV chip
student card gives you a 40 % discount on the days you’re
not allowed to travel for free. Having an OV chip student
card will also allow you to have a maximum of three people
travelling with you with a 40% discount, they can travel with
your discount only if they buy a ticket (it is not possible for
them to get a discount using their own OV chip card).
Local public transport system in The Hague
At the local level we have buses and trams. There is no metro in
The Hague. Public transport in The Hague is provided by a company called the ‘HTM’ (Haagse Tramweg Maatschappij).
Always be prepared to show your OV chip card. If you are caught
without a valid ticket, you risk paying a fine of ¤37.40.
In some instances, however, an inspector might give you the opportunity to buy a ¤20 ‘control ticket’ instead of paying the fine.
OV chip card
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you can apply online for an automatic money transfer from your
bank account whenever your credit goes below 20 euros.
Once you enter or exit the train / metro/ tram/ bus you have to
scan your card. It will show a green light if there’s enough credit
on it. If not, the light will be red and conductor will ask you to buy
a ticket. The ticket you buy in the tram / bus costs 2.60 euros and
is valid for a trip of 1 hour, which means that travelling with OV
chip card is cheaper because the fare is based on the travelled
distance.
You have to decide for yourself how you think about the privacy
issue when you choose between an anonymous or personalised
card. But keep in mind that when losing a card with your name on
it there is at least a chance to have it returned to you.
Note:
You have to scan your OV chip card twice – at the
beginning and end of your trip! And with the OV
chip card it is no longer an option to pay the trip
for several passengers!
More information about the local
public transport system: www.htm.nl
If you are not entitled to study financing but you want to have an
OV chip card, you can purchase one at the station. You can even
choose between a personalised and anonymous OV chip card.
If you have purchased the NS discount card (55 euros) then you
automatically have an OV chip card. If you want to have an anonymous OV chip card, it costs ¤7,50 but it doesn’t give any discount.
This card functions similar to your bank card, except, in stead of
buying a ticket before getting on train (the card is valid in all types
of public transport) you only have to scan it.
You can upload money on your OV chip card (minimum 5 euros)
in various places – at the station and in some supermarkets – or
More information about the
OV chip card: www.ovchipkaart.nl
The best website to check on
how to travel is www.9292ov.nl
5
How to find a house
►
29
There are several ways to find a room, some tips:
Kamernet
When you are urgently looking for a room, www.kamernet.
nl might be an effective way of finding a room. It is in Dutch
but you don’t really need a translation for square meters and
euros. Take into account that August, September and October is the most difficult period to find a place but the end
of the academic year - May and June - offers you the largest
choices. The first few months abroad always mean spending
more money than expected and your first rent costs might
be a little too high. But as soon as you have a roof you can
look for a cheaper place.
This website is quite practical and simple. Choose your
preferences in price and place. A list of houses will pop
out, showing the main info: size of the room, price, city and
street (even a map). Sometimes the period of availability
of the room is also mentioned. You can buy (for a friendly
price) an amount of “reactions” to get a more detailed
information and the possibility to apply. Check the website
several times a day - things happen very fast there, especially
in the “hot season”. Seeking for a room sometimes also
means meeting weirdoes and lonely people but at least you
get a free cup of coffee... And this is also a good way to get
more familiar with the city.
Other common way of seeing a room is more party-like,
which is called “Kijkavond”. That means that all interested
people are invited at the same time to see the room. In this
case it’s up to you to impress your future house mates or
flatmates.
Important things about contracts:
Some landlords ask for a deposit (which is as
much as one or two months rent) and sometimes also for an approval of your and your
parents’ finances. Make sure that both parties
(you and your landlord) sign a contract, you
will need it!
Be always careful when looking for a place to live –
there are people who will try to cheat you out of
your money!!! Don’t transfer money to people you
haven’t met or for a room you haven’t visited!
You should also know about the housing rule that regards
safety. A house with more than four house mates has a special fire safety regulation. It means that each person living in
the house has to have at least 14m2 of living area. There are
landlords that ignore this rule. Be careful and take your time
in making decisions!
Check www.haagsekamervragen.nl to find out about rights
and obligations for renting a room in The Hague!
KABK notice board
Next to the computer workshop there is a notice board
which students use to advertise for and about housing. This
might give you a chance to live with one of your schoolmates. One important thing to know is that you do need a
legal address where you can register as a resident. Often
people rent a room in a house that they are renting from
someone else, and then registration is not possible. This
might be a good beginning solution for a temporary home
but not suitable to be your permanent address.
DUWO
The DUWO Foundation boasts the oldest student accommodation in The Netherlands and was founded in 1945.
At present, they rent and manage approximately 15,000
student houses, which can be found in Delft, Den Haag,
Leiden, Amsterdam, Amstelveen and Hoofddorp. For more
information, see www.duwo.nl.
City of The Hague
In The Hague homes for rent are advertised in the “Woonkrant”, a free weekly newspaper which is distributed across
the city.
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For more information and the rules and regulations, see
www.haaglanden.nl and choose the heading
“Wonen/Verordening”.
If one day you receive a Woonpas, you’d better keep it. If
you pay for it (approx 10 euros a year), you will be put on a
waiting list for a house. You will definitely wait for several
years but one day that will give you the chance to get a
proper house - apartment, which often turns out to be bigger and cheaper then a student room...
STROOM Den Haag
Stroom Den Haag is an active centre for visual arts and
architecture. Stroom also negotiates very cheap student
accommodation in ‘not so good’ neighbourhoods. The contract you sign with Stroom has an end date that mostly can
not be extended. Why does Stroom arrange such housing?
Because it gets these kind of projects from the city. Every
now and then the city of The Hague wants to completely
renovate certain neighbourhoods, usually not so nice areas
with old houses. In this in-between period where previous
inhabitants have left the house and house is waiting to be
torn down Stroom takes over the project. It is called antikraak (anti-break-in). Once you sign a contract with Stroom
you become the person that will prevent that house from
unwanted squatting. These houses are not in very good
shape but they are big enough for you to live in and to have
an extra space where you can work on your art. If you find
house mates they also have to sign a contract with Stroom.
Note that you can only ask questions about Stroom housing
on Fridays at the Stroom office (not at the KABK)! You can
also apply for their housing through their website.
See www.stroom.nl.
Hostels
If you haven’t found a house yet, book yourself a room
at Stay Okay, close to the city centre, or at Jorplace in
Scheveningen. Beach hostel Jorplace offers packages for a
semi-short stay, for example one month including breakfast,
tourist taxes and internet ¤450,-. Other options are possible
as well, and you are invited to negotiate with Jorplace!
JORPLACE BEACH HOSTEL
Keizerstraat 296
www.jorplace.nl
jorplacebeach.hyves.nl
T 070 338 32 70
M 06 11475230
E [email protected]
Free Architecture Surf Terrain (F.A.S.T.)
An excellent place in Scheveningen for students who are looking for a temporarily place
to stay. They offer hostel and camping facilities.
T +31 70 3586749
http://fastscheveningen.com
E [email protected]
STAYOKAY HOSTEL
Scheepmakersstraat 27
T 070 315 78 88
www.stayokay.com
E [email protected]
Other useful sites:
www.kamerhuren.nl
www.vestia.nl
www.staedion.nl
www.woonnet-haaglanden.nl
www.ikzithier.nl
www.haagwonen.nl
www.marktplaats.nl
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6
How to find a job
►
Well, we don’t really have an answer to this. You first
have to know how many hours you are allowed to
work a month. Non-EU citizens can work less than
citizens from the EU. It is better for you to have an
official job where taxes are being paid. Also with a
proper job contract you can apply for study financing.
A good start to finding a job is checking out and leaving an
announcement in supermarkets, on the message boards
in the KABK and the KC and also leaving and checking out
adds on http://www.expatriates.com/. It is quite common
to do some baby-sitting, cleaning, mailing, theatre or club
wardrobes, or working at call centres. Don’t be shy to ask in
bars and restaurants, but there they will prefer people that
speak Dutch and probably you won’t get a contract.
Notes:
Sometimes you can get a so called Zero
contract. In this case it very important
to collect your salary slips that prove the
amount of hours you have worked!
If you decide not to work for companies, you
will be paid black, in cash. Most often that
would be baby-sitting or cleaning. Often
people ask you to say your price per hour. It is
common to receive 5 to 10 euros an hour for
baby-sitting and for cleaning it is usually 10
euros an hour.
If you choose to work in a call-centre it is
very likely that they can not propose a fixed
hour contract to you because they work with
projects that have to be accomplished within
a certain period of time. So if you’ve been
hired because of your knowledge of an exotic
language it could be that you won’t be able to
collect the 32 working hours you need every
month for the study financing.
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On some occasions in the KABK they need students to
work for a few hours. You can contact the Studio. There are
two graphic designers, a production officer and a PR officer
working there. If you drop by, they write down your name
and telephone number and get back to you whenever they
have jobs. The Studio is in front of the Gipsenzaal.
Another option to apply for a job is registering yourself in a
job agency (‘Uitzendbureau’). There they will first ask you
to fill in an online CV, then they’ll have a talk with you and
try to help you in choosing the best suitable job. The good
thing about these places is that they pay you a weekly salary.
Uitzendbureau agents contact you via e-mail whenever they
have new job vacancies. Here are some websites of the
Uitzendbureaus:
www.studentenwerk.nl
www.studentalent.nl
http://denhaag.ikwerk.nl
http://www.uitzendbureau.nl/s-gravenhage
http://www.culturele-vacatures.nl/vacatures.html
7
How to arrange your finances
►
37
KABK Facility card
To use school facilities you need to purchase the Facility
Card. The card costs ¤10 and you can get it at the financial
desk. You can upload money in the copy room (at the entrance of KABK) by using coins, bills or your switch card. The
Facility Card is like a bank card but only for use in the school.
It is possible to make photocopies, to borrow equipment
(photo camera, laptop and video, sound and light equipment), and you can even make phone calls from the phone
in the copy room. You can also buy wood, metal and textile
materials with this card in the school workshops - they all are
on the ground floor. Remember that you cannot pay with
the Facility card in the canteen, at the “Goedman” shop and
at Marijn’s kiosk in the basement of the KABK.
DUO – IB Groep
This is a nice office to drop by. The DUO - IB Groep is a government institution for financial help and loans for students.
The main office is in Groningen but there’s also an office in
The Hague. It is very near the KABK. In this office they can
all speak English, so just be friendly and they’ll explain things
to you.
But here’s the basic idea:
A foreign (full-time) student from the EU (younger then 30
years old) that works 8 hours a week or 32 hours a month in
a legal job can apply for the study financing after 3 months
of work. Your employer has possibly heard about the study
financing, but still let your employer know that you need to
work at least 32 hours a month.
Collect your first three salary slips and your job contract
and go to DUO-IBG. They will give you a form to fill in. In a
while you’ll start receiving the study financing of approx. 250
euros a month of ‘basisbeurs’ + another 250 euros a month
of ‘aanvullende beurs’ if you can prove that your parents’
income is below a certain minimum to support your studies
(a special form will be sent to you about this matter and your
parents will have to fill it in and sign it). If you are entitled to
study financing you’ll also receive an OV chip card. This is a
nice thing to have. You collect it at the post office, bringing
your “invitation” (Afhaalbericht OV chip - studentenkaart)
and your photo. You’ll have to choose either a weekday or
a weekend OV chip card. With your OV chip student card
you’ll be able to use the public transport for free and travel
in the country.
Note that in the months where you didn’t work enough
hours (even if you worked 31 hours and 30 minutes) you are
not entitled to study financing and the OV chip student card.
For that time you won’t receive the financial support. They
can find out about it at the end of the year and then deduct
the money from your account. Approximately two months
before the end of each semester (end of October and end
of April) DUO-IBG sends out a letter saying that because
of your “nationality problem” you are not entitled to and
OV chip student card and study financing. This “nationality
problem” means that at the end of December you have to
submit your last three salary slips - for October, November
and December and at the end of June - salary slips for April,
May and June. This is their little control mechanism. We advise you to submit the salary slips in the Office in The Hague
instead of sending them to the main Office in Groningen. It
is the DUO-IBG stamp with the date that matters, and by
handing in papers personally you save some time and get
more security that your papers won’t get lost (it happens!!!).
DUO-IBG gives you money, but in return you get pulled into
a gigantic letter writing system.
Note:
if DUO-IBG tells you that your OV chip
student card is valid until a certain date (no
matter the date mentioned on the OV chip
student card itself), hand it in at the same post
office where you collected it (the one that they
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have chosen as the closest to your address).
Don’t miss the deadline! This fine will empty
your pockets!
Important thing after your graduation:
Once you have received your diploma, the
KABK notifies DUO-IBG about it, which
means you have no more rights to the study
financing and OV chip student card. Then you
have to return your OV chip student card at
the post office where you collected it earlier.
Make sure to keep your green post office
receipt for later reference. Note that in January
after your graduation DUO-IBG sends a letter
asking you to collect all your salary slips and
send them back together with a form filled in
by your employer. If you do this only partially
or after the deadline you will have to return all
the money that DUO-IBG paid you as study
financing. So for this reason you have to stick
around the address where you are registered
by the Municipality, or think of another way
to not to miss the letter if you have already left
the Netherlands!
In case if you haven’t finished your studies
within ten years, the money you have received
from DUO-IBG will turn into a loan that you’ll
have to pay back.
There’s also an option to ask DUO-IBG for a loan, which is
something different from the study financing. Students from
outside the EU can also apply for it.
www.ib-groep.nl
T 050 599 77 55
Koninginnegracht 12 B13
Scholarships
There are a few spots where you can look for scholarships:
www.grantfinder.nl, www.studyinholland.nl, www.nuffic.nl
Taxes
Once you are registered at your address, the city will be
hunting you with tax bills. One day you’ll receive letters from
‘Delfland’. Don’t panic! On the other side of the bill is a form
to fill in for people with a low income. Just ask a Dutch friend
to fill it in together with you. Send it back and then you’ll
get a letter from them that you don’t have to pay it. Often
bills have to be paid within two months, but you have only
ONE WEEK to disagree or to object. This is the reason why
you should always be registered at the right address since
otherwise you can miss your chance to avoid payment.
Banking
You might want to open a bank account to organise your
finances. You can go to any bank although some banks might
make it difficult. Lately it’s been quite an issue, so here’s
what you need to have in your pocket when opening your
student bank account: your ID / passport, rental agreement,
student card and statement of the Dutch authorities (collect
it at the student administration). Sometimes banks request
a so-called BSN number. Although you receive this number
automatically after your municipality registration, this may
take a while. Banks are not supposed to request this for student accounts! To be sure you are getting a student account
make an appointment with an English-speaking person and
collect a statement of the Dutch authorities at the student
administrator about this matter. There are cases where you
can not get a student account. There are regular costs to pay
for non-student accounts.
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41
Here are banks that you can find in The Hague:
SNS: www.snsbank.nl
ING: www.ing.nl
ABN-AMRO: www.abnamro.nl
ASN: www.asnbank.nl
RABOBANK: www.rabobank.nl
8
How to arrange your
bureaucratic stuff
►
43
BSN number (‘Burger Service Nummer’)
As soon as you start living in The Netherlands you are
entitled to a BSN number - social security number (used to
be called a So-Fi number). It may seem as if it has no use but
in official places they may ask for it. After your registration
in the Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie (GBA) you will get
the BSN number automatically. It is also handy to keep this
number in your mobile phone or in your note book - then
you will always have it when needed.
Municipality registration
(Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie registratie – GBA)
All international students who stay in The Netherlands
for longer than four months need to be registered at the
municipality they are living in. EU students can make an
appointment themselves. Please call 14070 and explain that
you would like to make an appointment for the GBA desk.
They will tell you what to bring with you:
- ID / passport
- health insurance card
- letter from school stating your inscription / student
card
- financial approval
- 2 passport photos of a Dutch document standard
(they know it in photo salons)
- Rental agreement of your Dutch housing
Address:
Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie
(Municipal Registry Office)
Stadhoudersplantsoen 24
2517 JL DEN HAAG
Office hours:
Monday-Friday, 08.00-14.00
How to get to the GBA?
Take tram no. 17 in the direction of “Statenkwartier” or bus
no. 24 in the direction of “Kijkduin” and get off the bus or
tram at stop “Gemeentemuseum/Museon”.
Non-EU students are invited to register at the GBA
automatically by the Immigration Office after they
have applied for their residence permit (VVR).
Visa information for Non-European students
To enter The Netherlands for study purposes, inhabitants
from most countries outside Europe need a visa. Once in the
Netherlands, a residence permit is often required. Here you
can find out which requirements apply to you and how you
go about arranging things. There are three factors that are
important in determining which procedures apply to you:
Your nationality, the length of your stay and your purpose
of stay.
Please check www.nuffic.nl/international-students -> preparation and stay -> visa and permits to check which procedure
applies to your situation.
An entry visa is a sticker placed in your passport at the Dutch
embassy or consulate in your own country, but it must be
applied for well in advance.
The Royal Academy of Art takes care of the application.
Please keep in mind that this procedure may take about 4-6
weeks in total. It is not allowed to travel to The Netherlands
without having this entry visa sticker! You will need this
sticker for the application for the residence permit as well
after your arrival in The Hague. The total costs for the entry
visa and your residence permit are ¤433,- which is on your
own account. The Royal Academy of Art pays this in advance
to the Dutch authorities. Once you arrive in The Netherlands you will receive an invoice.
You are advised to contact our student administration
([email protected] and [email protected]) for the applica-
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tion procedure of your entry visa. They will provide you with
all the necessary information.
Registration as a EU citizen in The Netherlands
After you have been registered at the municipality registration desk (GBA) it is possible to make an appointment with
the Immigration Office to get a sticker in your passport. This
sticker proves that you have legal status in The Netherlands
as an EU-student. It can be helpful on some official occasions, like getting study financing, a loan, a job etc. but is not
compulsory! If you would like to get this sticker please call
0900-1234561 and ask for the ‘afsprakenlijn’. Registration is
free of charge.
9
How to arrange your
health & medical care
►
47
Emergency numbers in The Netherlands
112 for a major emergency (all over Europe)
0900-8844 when there is less panic
Health insurance
You must have health insurance while you are studying in
The Netherlands. The kind of insurance you need depends
on your nationality, your age and the length of your stay.
More detailed information is available at the KABK office
for international relations. You can check which kind of insurance you need at
www.nuffic.nl/international-students/preparation-stay/
preparing-your-stay/insurance/health-insurance
Most international students are younger than 30 years old
and are studying here on a temporary basis. They may take
the private health insurance which is much cheaper than the
Dutch public healthcare insurance. The KABK recommends
using the private health insurance of IPS Lippmann.
Online registration: www.ips-lippmann.com
Medical care:
In case of illness, contact a general practitioner (in Dutch:
huisarts). He or she is your main link to any physician or
hospital. The KABK has made an arrangement for their
international students with:
Dr. Chin a Paw
Jozef Israëlsplein 2
2596 AS Den Haag
T 070 324 40 60
Consulting hours between 08.00 and 09.00
Independer Healthcare Centres Den Haag
Independer’s chain of healthcare centres offers innovative,
patient-friendly, high-quality care. Apart from GP primary
care they have an on-site pharmacy, where you can get your
prescription medicines. Also they offer the services of physi-
otherapists and psychologists. They have several centres
throughout the city. For more information and registration:
http://www.independer.nl/ gezondheidszorg/healthcentresdenhaag/intro.aspx
If you have caught a cold or have another
“little” health problem, you can buy some
medicine without paying a visit to a doctor.
You can find medical pills, creams and other
things at most supermarkets but also in shops
called Kruidvat, Trekpleister and Etos.
Hospitals
To be helped in a hospital you have to have a hospital card.
It is made for free in the hospital. You won’t be able to obtain the hospital card if you don’t have health insurance!
Rode Kruis
Ziekenhuis
Sportlaan 600
www.jkz-rkz.nl
T 070 312 62 00
Ziekenhuis
Leyenburg
Leyweg 275
www.leyenburg-ziekenhuis.nl
T 070 359 20 00
Medisch Centrum
Haaglanden
locatie Westeinde Ziekenhuis
Lijnbaan 32
www.mchaaglanden.nl
T 070 330 20 00
Bronovo Ziekenhuis
Bronovolaan 5
www.bronovo.ziekenhuis.nl
T 070 312 4 141
STI-Centre (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
The regional STI-centre of The Hague offers tests and checkups on STI free of charge. Referral by a general practitioner
(huisarts) is not needed. The centre focuses on people with
a higher risk of STI. It means that only people that have been
in a heightened risk situation in the last 3 to 6 months can
come and be tested.
www.soacentrumdenhaag.nl - website in Dutch
english.soacentrumdenhaag.nl - website in English
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Address and opening hours of the centre
The STI-centre is located at the Lijnbaan 32 in The Hague
near the Medical Centre Haaglanden (MCH). When entering the car park of the MCH, you will find the entrance to
the STI clinic on your left. Look for the pink and blue logo of
the clinic. The STI-centre is open Monday to Thursday from
08.30- 16.30 and Friday from 08.30-12.30
Walk-in clinic
Every working day at 08.30 hrs and at 13.00 hrs (except for
Friday afternoon) you can walk in without an appointment.
The door is open at 08.15 and 12.45 hrs. Make sure you are
there early, because they can only help a limited number of
people during the walk-in clinic hours. If this is full you may
make an appointment or walk in another day.
Making an appointment
You can also make an appointment by telephone:
070 3536688. It is closed on some days, you can look this up
on their website.
The tests at the STI-centre are free of charge
including the treatment of the most common
STI. If you are referred to a medical specialist,
medical care is not free of charge but can be
claimed on your regular health insurance.
Address: Lijnbaan 32
How to reach: tram 2 or 3 or buses 25, 123, 130, 135 and 136,
and step out in MCH Westeinde.
10
How to be reachable by phone
►
51
The first thing you should arrange is to be easy to reach. The
easiest way to do this is by buying a pre-paid simcard. It will
be expensive to have conversations with it, but that’s the
only solution for finding a room and arranging all the other
things. As soon as you have settled somewhere, you can
apply for a phone subscription.
Note:
You can keep you pre-paid number when signing a contract for a subscription. Just ask for it
(they’ll need about a week to fix that).
Most of the time you can sign a contract for 1 or 2 years.
Keep the contract end-date as a reminder. Telephone companies don’t remind you about it. Usually, after the end of
contract they continue providing you with their service but
your bill can change (if at the time you signed the contract it
was on a discount then after the contract end-date discount
is not valid anymore). Check with your telephone provider
how much in advance you have to announce contract cancellation if you don’t want to continue it. It can be between 1
and 3 months.
Most often, in order to get a subscription, you need to
provide the telephone company with your ID – passport,
one bank statement (to prove that you have a Dutch bank
account) and a proof of your address where you’re inscribed
from the City Hall. Knowing that, count on needing about a
month to be able to apply for a subscription.
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53
National Museum Card
How to explore �e Hague:
going out
►
It is highly advisable to purchase the National Museum Card.
If you are younger than 25 years old you pay the special fee
of ¤17.50 for one year. If you’re older than 25 years, you’ll
pay ¤35.00 a year. This card gives you free access to 400
museums in The Netherlands. The easiest way to obtain the
card is to visit one of the big museums in The Hague. Please
be aware of the fact that you can choose a card which is
valid for only one year or you can take a subscription which
extends your museum card automatically after one year.
More information:
www.museum.nl/index.cfm/musea-english/start
The Hague Student Card
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The KABK works closely with lots of theatres,
museums, cinemas and other cultural initiatives
and institutes. To name a few:
1646
1646 is an artists’ initiative/project-space in the centre of
The Hague, which promotes the exchange between local,
national and international artists and art spaces and works as
a platform for discussion, research, production and presentation of autonomous visual art.1646 is run by a Netherlandsbased group of practising visual artists.
www.enter1646.com
Address: Boekhorststraat 125
How to reach: tram 2, 3 ,6 stop Grote Markt
The Hague Student card is a free card for all students at
higher educational institutes in The Hague. The card provides discounts to sports venues, theatres, museums and
cinemas. This card was first presented in February 2010 and
at the start of the new academic year in September 2010, all
students registered at a university or college in The Hague
will receive a card. The municipality of The Hague wants
international students to feel at home here! Check regularly
for promotions and offers on The Hague Student Card
website! More information:
www.denhaag.nl/study-in-the-hague.htm
Crossing Border
Crossing Border is the festival where literature, music, film
and the visual arts combine to take centre stage. As well as
courting the biggest names from the international worlds
of literature and music, the festival pays a lot of attention
to (as yet) undiscovered artists. One of Crossing Border’s
objectives is to highlight new developments in literature and
music and their interconnection with other arts.
www.crossingborder.nl
Crossing Border is on location.
Check the website for more details.
De Besturing
Cultural Breeding ground De Besturing is located in the industrial area of The Hague, in the Binckhorst. It was founded
in 1996 in an old factory for steering components for ships.
De Besturing not only provides working spaces for professional artists, designers and architects but also runs two big
project spaces that have been used throughout the years
by several cultural initiatives, such as GEM, Korzo theatre,
KABK, Villanuts, Todays Art festival, Shoot-Me film festival
and Dutch and international artists.
www.debesturing.nl / Address: Saturnusstraat 91
GEM & Hague Museum of Photography
GEM is a new museum of contemporary art set up to show
work by artists from The Hague, the Netherlands and the
world at large side by side. It features a wide variety of disciplines: video and other installations, painting and sculpture,
multimedia, performance art, film, photography, drawings,
digital art, design, etc. In addition to the exhibitions, there is
a programme of activities including talks, discussions, performances, film shows and book presentations. The same
building houses the Hague Museum of Photography.
www.gem-online.com
www.fotomuseumdenhaag.nl
Address: Stadhouderslaan 43
How to reach: bus 24 or tram 17 direction Statenkwartier,
stop Stadhouderslaan
Filmhuis Den Haag
Filmhuis Den Haag runs on tender loving care for authentic
films and film history, which is expressed in films that one
would normally not be able to view in commercial cinemas.
The films shown in the Filmhuis originate from all over the
world, reflecting a wide range of cultures and language. A
first-class opportunity to see a film from your own country,
spoken in your own language. Occasionally they show films
with English subtitles instead of Dutch. These films are announced on the website.
www.filmhuisdenhaag.nl
Address: Spui 191
How to get there: tram 1, 2, 3 , 9, 15 en 16, stop Spui
bus 5, 22, 24 en N5, stop Spui-Stadhuis
Theater a/h Spui
Their programme is so wildly varied that we bet you’ll find
something you like. Have drink afterwards in the cool bar.
www.theateraanhetspui.nl
Address: Spui 187
How to get there: tram 1, 2, 3 , 9, 15 en 16, stop Spui
bus 5, 22, 24 en N5, stop Spui-Stadhuis
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OpTrek Transvaal
In the summer of 2002 this temporary (non-profit) organisation of artists moved into the multicultural district, Transvaal,
close to the city centre in The Hague. In the course of the
next few years, the municipality of The Hague plans to
demolish and radically restructure this neighbourhood as
part of an urban development plan. OpTrek is concerned
about the many all-embracing social and spatial changes and
their consequences for the neighbourhood and its residents.
OpTrek is interested in the political background and wider
context in which these developments will take place.
www.optrektransvaal.nl
Address: Vaalrivierstraat 61D, see sticker ‘hotel transvaal’
How to reach: bus 25, stop Schalkenburgerstraat
Panorama Mesdag
Panorama Mesdag is a panorama made by Hendrik Willem
Mesdag. Housed in a purpose-built museum in The Hague,
the panorama is a cylindrical painting (also known as a Cyclorama) more than 14 meters high and about 40 meters in diameter (120 meters in circumference). From an observation
gallery in the centre of the room the cylindrical perspective
creates the illusion that the viewer is on a high sand dune
overlooking the sea, beaches and village of Scheveningen in
the late 19th century. A foreground of fake terrain around
the viewing gallery hides the base of the painting and makes
the illusion more convincing. The panorama is now the
oldest surviving panorama in its original location.
www.panorama-mesdag.nl
Address: Zeestraat 65
How to reach: Bus 22 direction Noorderstrand,
stop Mauritskade
Tram 17 direction Statenkwartier, stop Lange Vijverberg
Stroom Den Haag
Stroom Den Haag (an independent foundation founded
in 1989) is an active centre for visual arts and architecture.
Stroom has an active policy for artists from The Hague and
also initiates a large number of (international) activities in
the fields of visual arts, art in public space, architecture and
design in the broadest sense of the word. Stroom organises
exhibitions, manifestations and lectures, makes publications,
has a library on its premises and develops special projects in
the field of art in public space and architecture.
www.stroom.nl
Address: Hogewal 1-9
How to get there: tram 17 direction Statenkwartier stop
Noordwal tram 1 stop Mauritskade
bus 5, 22, 24 stop Mauritskade
<> TAG
<>TAG is a platform for contemporary audio and visual
art, based in The Hague and Amsterdam. The organisation
aims to create an environment in which young professionals from different backgrounds can meet to exchange ideas
and initiate new projects, thus creating a network to share
knowledge, experience and expertise.
www.tag004.nl
Address: Stille Veerkade 19
How to reach: tram 1,9,15,16, stop Spui-Stadhuis
bus 18, stop Amsterdamse Veerkade
TodaysArt Festival
Two nights and days stuffed with creativity, music (electronic, hiphop, dubstep, baile funk, noise and so on), visual
arts, modern dance, concerts, parties, surprises, artist talks
at several (in/outdoor) in the city centre of The Hague.
www.todaysart.nl
TodaysArt is on location. Check the website for more details.
VillaNuts
The VillaNuts foundation is a platform for young artists and
serves as a meeting point for students and graduates from
various art programmes and like-minded. VillaNuts offers
young artists the possibility to gain experience where it
comes to requesting subsidies, networking, submitting a
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concrete plan of work, budgeting, designing an exposition
and the actual presentation of the artists’ work.
www.villanuts.nl
Address: Anna Paulownastraat 70c
GEMAK
Gemak is a platform for art, politics and debates that mainly
focuses on a theme in contemporary society. Gemak is
only few steps away from the Grote Markt. Just pass by
this gallery, peak through their huge window and visit their
exhibitions!
www.gemak.org
Address: Paviljoensgracht 20-45
Theater Zeebelt
Theater Zeebelt offers artists in The Hague the atelier DCR
and a podium. The atelier is the space where art projects can
be conceived and created; the podium is the space where
these theatre productions, demonstrations, readings and
manifestations take place. Zeebelt accommodates a variety
of artistic expressions and tries to stimulate and present
new forms of imaginative creativity. The performances and
projects are created in various ways. For example, Zeebelt
commissions artists and works together with artists on plans
that they themselves have suggested.
www.zeebelt.nl
Address: de Constant Rebecqueplein 20A
and the artist atelier complex De DCR
www.dedcr.nl
Address: De Constant Rebecqueplein 20b
How to reach: tram 11 direction Scheveningen, stop Conradkade/Weimarstraat
tram 3 direction Loosduinen, stop Waldeck Pyrmontkade/
Elandstraat
Theater De Regentes
Theater De Regentes is a very special theatre... well it is
a former swimming pool – the biggest roofed swimming
pool in Europe. It was built in 1920 in Art Deco style. Even
though the entrance of the building looks shy and small, this
theatre has 5 spaces of which the biggest one can hold over
300 people in the audience. It is worthwhile to check their
diverse cultural program, visit an exhibition on the bottom
of the swimming pool and later have a drink in the bar that
has shelves that used to be the swimming pool’s ladders.
Theater De Regentes collaborates with various festivals,
such as Holland Dance Festival, Dag in de Branding, Cadance
Festival and the Wereld Muziektheater Festival.
www.deregentes.nl
Address: Weimarstraat 63
Paard van Troje
The Paard van Troje is known for its eclectic programming
featuring: Pop, Rock Hiphop, Jazz, Blues, Americana, worldmusic, stand-up comedy and dancing.…sometimes even on
the same evening. All that right in the middle of The Hague!
Don’t be fooled by the classic exterior of Paard van Troje,
(which you have probably guessed means Trojan Horse in
English). The building was totally gutted a few years ago
and was re-built to the exacting standards of the masterarchitect Rem Koolhaas. Past performers have included:
Solomon Burke, Bløf, De Dijk, Kane, Jools Holland, Fun Lovin’
Criminals, Within Temptation, and DJ’s like Junkie XL, Jeff
Mills & Deep Dish acte de présence and many, many more.
http://paard.nl
Address: Prinsegracht 12
ACKU
ACKU Cultuurburo was established in 2002 with the mission of making the city of The Hague more attractive to its
students by organizing cultural events, going out and helping
you organize your own project.
The services of ACKU are intended for all students within
the city including the Haagse Hogeschool, Hogeschool
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INHolland, Hotelschool, KABK, Koninklijk Conservatorium
and Institute of Social Studies. ACKU offices are located at
The Haagse Hogeschool and INHolland Hogeschool.
Together with you, they organize intercultural interesting
activities. They can support your own initiatives for projects
and help you realize them, they can inform you about what’s
happening in the city, or just take you out for dinner and a
show for only 7,50 !
More information: www.acku.nl (click on ‘English’)
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How to explore �e Hague:
leisure time
►
63
Bars and lunchrooms
Tourists and newcomers usually end up at ‘De Grote
Markt’ or ‘Het Plein’. Nothing wrong with that, but
there is so much more to explore in The Hague. We
wrote down our favourite lunchrooms and restaurants.
Boosty
Thoughtful food is their slogan. You make
your own sandwiches or pick some nice
ones from the menu. They also have a
juice bar.
www.boosty.nl
Frederik Hendriklaan 294
T 070 404 9610
/
Frederikstraat 967
T 070 360 0695
Crunch cafe
One of our favourite lunchrooms. It has
a cosy and warm atmosphere. They offer
breakfast, lunch and dinner (until 20.00)
with fresh, original and tasty options. The
service is friendly but it can take a while
to be served if it’s busy and it does get a
little bit difficult to manoeuvre around
the corners and crannies when it’s full
too. Overall, a perfect place to chat with
friends, read a magazine over a cuppa or
enjoy a bite to eat.
www.crunchcafe.nl
Piet Heinstraat 108a
T 070 364 05 52
De Haagse Lente
Another cosy lunchroom in the same nice
Piet Hein shopping street. The name of
this place translates as The Spring of The
Hague. Here you can enjoy your cup of
special coffee or tea while heaving your
breakfast or lunch. This lunchroom is
open 7 days a week, on week days until 17,
during week-ends until 18.
www.haagselente.com
Piet Heinstraat 78
T 070-3560361
Scallywags
Freshly prepared dishes like soup, sandwiches, bacon and eggs, quiches and a
vegetarian menu. Do not hesitate to also
try the tasty salads with a very special
dressing. If you feel ‘sweety darling’ they
have scones and a variety of home-made
pies on the list, such as apple & plum
and apple & chocolate. They have an
extensive selection of special teas. There
is also a restaurant just a few steps away
in the same street.
www.scallywagsrestaurants.com
Wagenstraat 117 en 144
T 070 363 34048
De Paas
This bar has an amazing amount of beers
from different countries. It is quite
expensive but once you’ll go there you’ll
never forget it!
www.depaas.nl
Dunne Bierkade 16A
T 070 360 00 19
Florencia
Florencia is the cutest ice-cream place
in the centre of The Hague. It has a very
big outside terrace where you can sit and
enjoy the nice weather, eat tasty Italian
ice-cream or have a cup of coffee with
a cake or sandwich. And all that for very
modest prices. The Florencia ice-cream
cafe already exists since 1932 and it was
founded by Eduardo Talamini. This cafe is
open 7 days a week, Monday throughout
Friday already at 7.30, Saturday and
Sunday at 8.00, and no matter what day
of the week it is you can have your iceacream served until 23.30.
People of any age come to this place kids, young couples that have just fallen
in-love, families, friends. If the weather
is cold, have your ice-cream inside! The
interior definitely is not the latest fashion
but it surely tells its story from back in
the days.
www.florenciaijs.nl
Torenstraat 55
T 070 36 30 214
Restaurants
Since The Hague isn’t a real student city
it is hard to find a cheap restaurant. Still
we would like to give you some tips of
some of our favourite ones (from cheap
to expensive):
Water en Brood
This famous eating place Water en
Brood, formerly run by the De Blauwe
Aanslag has now found its residence in
Scheveningen in the squat ‘De vloek van
Scheveningen’. W&B serves vegan &
biologic food for a nice price.
Hellingweg 127
T 070 39 97 455
Hagedis
In this former school building you can eat
vegetarian food with biologic products.
Good food and not expensive. The
cheese fondues are especially recommended.
www.restauranthagedis.nl
Waldeck Pyrmontkade 116
T 070 364 04 56
Mi Vida
“La vida es un carnaval” is the motto of
this restaurant, just one street away from
the KABK. In this Cuban restaurant you
can eat nice tapas and have some mojitos
and sangría while el commandante Che is
watching you. Try the ‘ossenhaaspuntjes’
and the stuffed paprika’s.
www.mivida.nu
Lange Houtstraat 25
T 070 34 65 63
Lung Fung
Maybe not for a romantic diner, but if
you taste roasted chicken (lo’s foroe) you
don’t want anything else.
www.lungfung.nl
Prinsegracht 2
T 070 360 63 57 of 06-54765011
Schlemmer
Students and teachers of the KABK often
meet here. It’s a bar and restaurant. It
has a nice atmosphere and the food is
reasonably priced. Nothing really special,
but very nearby the KABK.
www.schlemmer.nl
Lange Houtstraat 17
T 070 360 90 00
De Pakschuit
Cosy cafe where you can eat delicious
tapas. If the weather is nice, you can eat
on the terrace boat outside.
Dunne Bierkade 21
Den Haag
T 070 427 47 13
Strandtent de Fuut
Between Kijkduin en Scheveningen you
will find Het Zuiderstrand, one of the
nicest beaches of The Hague. Here you
can find beach houses like La Cantina, De
Kwartel, Zuid and de Fuut. There’s always
something to do in Het Zuiderstrandpaviljoen. Check out the site of the Fuut.
www.defuut.nl
Zuiderstrand 6
T 070 354 90 74
Oni
Loungy Japanese ‘must go’ in a tight
outfit with bamboo and changing lights.
Fancy yourself in London, NY or Tokyo
with absolutely delicious sushi and
sashimi.
www.oni-restaurant.nl
Prinsestraat 35
T 070 364 52 40
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Raar
Raar means strange. Well, nothing
strange about it. It’s a hip spot in
Scheveningen. Not cheap, but if you
have something to celebrate, this is the
right place.
www.raar.nl
Dr. Lelykade 33-37
Scheveningen
T 070 338 95 88
Little V
If you like Asian food, check out the
Rabbijn Maarsenplein. Here you can
find Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese
restaurants. Our favourite is Little V, the
Vietnamese one. They have a big range of
fresh prepared food. Be aware of the two
shifts they have: one at 18.00 and one at
20.00. It’s always crowded, so make sure
to reserve on time!
www.littlev.nl
Rabbijn Maarsenplein 21
T 070 3921230
Festivals
As from April on until Autumn many festivals take
place in the city. There are too many to inform you in
detail, so just a list with the names and their websites
to check them out yourselves:
Movies that matter, www.moviesthatmatter.nl
Koninginnenach, www.koninginnenach.nl
Liberation day festival, www.5meifestival.nl
The Hague Jazz, www.thehaguejazz.nl
Holland Dance Festival, www.hollanddancefestival.com
Zeehelden Festival, www.zeeheldenfestival.nl
The Hague Festivals, www.thehaguefestivals.com
Todays Art Festival, www.todaysart.nl
Shoot me Film Festival, www.shoot-me.nl
Parkpop, www.parkpop.nl
Kaderock, www.musicon.nl
Summertime Festival, www.popunie.nl
Crossing Border Festival, www.crossingborder.nl
De Parade, www.deparade.nl
Sports programmes
The Haagse Hogeschool Sport Office
The Haagse Hogeschool Sport Office (Bureau Hogeschoolsport) welcomes international students for their sports
programme. In their own sports facilities as well in sports
facilities in and outside of The Hague, they offer a varied and
extensive programme of sports activities. Besides the weekly programme you can also participate in a lot of courses
and events throughout the year. To participate in this varied
sports programme you have to purchase a sports and/or a
fitness card. You can apply at the HHS Sports Office, ground
floor, room 0.72 in the Central Hall of the Haagse Hogeschool, Johanna Westerdijkplein 75 in The Hague.
You can reach the Sports Office 24 hours a day by
phone 070 445 78 70; fax: 070 445 88 39
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67
You can also send an e-mail to: [email protected]
Together with a subscription form you have to bring:
A recent passport photo, Student card or certificate of
enrolment
English sports programme brochure: http://portal.hhs.nl/
xmsp/xms_itm_p.download_file?p_itm_id=17786
www.hhs.nl
Address: Johanna Westerdijkplein 75
(located nearby the railway station ‘Holland Spoor’)
Swimming pools
It is very common among students to go swimming. There
are five swimming pools in The Hague. They are all state
pools so their price list is identical. One admission ticket
costs 2.95 euros. You can also purchase a pass of 12 tickets
for 29.50 euros or a pass of 25 tickets for 59.00 euros. This
pass allows you to go to any of the pools. When applying for
a pass you are asked to pay an extra 5 euros for the safety
deposit, which you get back when returning the pass. In
every swimming pool they have different size lockers (0.50
euros) or open hangers that you can use for free. There are
individual changing cubicles and changing rooms for groups,
and open showers only.
Check what discounts you can get with
The Hague Student card!
www.denhaag.nl/zwemmen
T 070 353 72 72
E [email protected]
Swimming pool addresses
Sport- en recreatiecentrum De Blinkerd
Seinpoststraat 150
2586 HC Den Haag
T 070 352 12 22
tram 1 and 9, or bus 14 and 23
Sport- en recreatiecentrum De Houtzagerij
Hobbemastraat 93
2526 JG Den Haag
T 070 389 04 04
tram 2 and 6, RR (tram that travels between cities) 3 and 4
or bus 25
Sport- en recreatiecentrum Overbosch
Vlaskamp 3
2592 AA Den Haag
T 070 347 46 92
tram 6 and bus 24
Zwembad De Waterthor
Thorbeckelaan 350
2564 BZ Den Haag
T 070 323 51 41
RandstadRail (RR) 3, bus 14 and 23
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Food
It is worthwhile to visit the open market in Transvaal
in The Hague to find a great variety of fruits, vegetables, exotic ingredients and other stuff. It’s open on
Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from
09.00 to 16.00.
Cheap supermarkets are Aldi and Lidl of which several
branch-shops can be found in the city. Other supermarkets
are Jumbo, Albert Heijn, Digros, C1000, Plus, Coop. If you
hang out in the centre you will mostly see only the Albert
Heijn supermarkets. If you shop at Albert Heijn you should
definitely get the ‘bonus card’. This card is for free and will
entitle you to a discount for ‘bonus’ products.
Whenever you get bored of broodje pindakaas
or filet americain, you could try your luck in
these bio and international food shops.
Zwembad Zuiderpark
Mr. P. Droogleever Fortuynweg 59
2533 SP Den Haag
T 070 367 94 63
tram 9, 16 and bus 23
Food shops
Biological food, Ekoplaza, Grote Marktstraat 115
Natuur winkel, Torenstraat 140
Biological food open market
Hofplaats (next to Binnenhof) Wednesdays as from 11 am till 6 pm
Shops
In every city there’s a shopping night when shops are open
longer. In Dutch it is called ‘koopavond’. In The Hague it is
on Thursdays, when shops are open until 21.00.
British Food
Thomas Green
Frederik Hendriklaan 71
Note:
At the checkout prices are rounded to 5 cent.
Except for the Post Office, the Dutch don’t use
1- cent and 2- cent coins.
Polish Food
Kamilsky
Zoutmanstraat 26B
Russian Food
Alaska
Jacob van der Doesstraat 2
Russian shop
Anna Paulownastraat 30a
Italian specialties
Italy
Piet Heinstraat 20
Italian Traiteur & Delicatessen That’s Amore
Laan van Meerdervoort 188a
Oriental food shops
Wah Nam Hong Supermarket
Gedempte Burgwal 8
Oriental supermarket
Grote Marktstraat 113
International food
Kelly’s Expat Shopping
Piet Heinstraat 105
www.kellys-expat-shopping.com
Balkan food
Dukat Trading
Piet Heinstraat 99
Shops
Shops for your artistic inspiration
Professional shops (for instance RU58) are open only
on weekdays during working hours, do-it-yourself
shops (Praxis, Gamma, Karwei) are mostly open
throughout the
whole week until pretty late at night, but more specific shops can have “shifted weekends” (Sunday &
Monday closed). Check the websites to be sure.
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PRAXIS (tools, building
materials, paint)
Verheeskade 287
T 070 381 80 81
www.praxis.nl
Uitenhagestraat 87
2571 PV Den Haag-Haagse
Markt
T 070 345 17 02
www.karwei.nl
Megastore
Van der Kunstraat 123
KOKKELINK B.V (metal
materials)
www.kokkelink.nl
Van der Kunstraat 112
T 070 38 93 555
Hornbach
(a gigantic do-it-yourself shop
They really have everything
there, closed on sundays and
the closest one is still far away.
In Wateringen, which is over
30min by tram)
www.hornbach.nl
‘s-Gravenzandseweg 71-72
GAMMA (tools, building
materials, paint, gardening
stuff)
Van der Kunstraat 130
T 070 388 66 22
Dr. Lelykade 220
T 070 3384988
www.gamma.com
Fixet (tools, parts and materials to fix broken things)
Laan van NOI 78-84
T 070 385 05 12
www.fixet.nl
KARWEI (tools, building
materials)
Binckhorstlaan 176
T 070 385 35 08
RU 58 (plastic materials)
www.ru58.nl / www.bouwplastics.nl (webshop)
Zichtenburglaan 15
T 070 364 99 24
RADIO TWENTHE (electronics shop)
Stille Veerkade 11
T 070 346 92 00
www.radiotwenthe.nl
STUUT & BRUIN (electronics
shop)
Prinsegracht 34
T 070 360 49 93
www.stuutenbruin.com
ARTIFAC (for painting and
drawing)
Noordwal 17,
T 070 346 18 00
www.artifac.nl
Goedman
Molenstraat 43
Prins Hendrikstraat 51
T 070 345 13 24
V&D basement
Spui 3
T 0900-2358363
PIPOOS (art and creation)
www.pipoos.nl
Dagelijkse Groenmarkt 33
T 070 392 22 44
Books
There is a bookshop around the corner of the KABK, Van
Stockum, where they have a nice selection of (photo)
graphic books.
You can also buy books at second-hand bookshops.
You’ll notice these shops because of the book piles
outside them. Check there for a cheap Dutch dictionary. Also the bookshop ‘De Slegte’ sells secondhand books. De Slegte is somewhere in the middle
of the main shopping street: Vlamingstraat.
The American Bookstore is also a great shop. Books there
are quite expensive but the good thing is that you can also
order books you can’t find anywhere else. As a student
(showing your student card) you get a 10% discount. There,
on the 1st floor, you’ll find books at a discount which for you
as a student are being sold at a double discount.
Clothing
Cheap clothing shops are Zeeman, Wibra, Hema, H&M. But
check also second hand clothing shops in Piet Heinstraat 133
and Piet Heinstraat 25.
Furniture / Accessories
You might need to buy some things for your house. Check
Wibra, Zeeman, Xenos, Hema or Ikea (Delft) for basic
things like towels, bed sheets, candles, plates etc. If there is
no furniture in your house you might find something useful
in second hand shops. Some addresses:
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Kringloop Holland
Piet Heinstraat 69
Weimarstraat 364
Prins Willemstraat 14
Kringloop de
Spullenwinkel
Weimarstraat 81-83
Kringloop Den Haag
Melkwegstraat 8
Cash converters
Loosduinsekade 156
Bikes
Buying a bike is a great idea because it is a very common
form of transport. There are a few bike shops around, and
keep your eyes open in second-hand shops. Buying a stolen
one from a junky is illegal, you might get into trouble if you
take this risk, and it’s not necessary because a second-hand
bike doesn’t have to be expensive. But an important rule is:
cheap bike and expensive lock - then your transport will last
long. And don’t forget to buy bike lights. No need to go to a
bike shop for that, since you can also find them at the Hema.
www.marktplaats.nl is a good website to check out when
buying anything. It is in Dutch but most of the time stuff on
sale also has an additional photo. But just to know how to
look for a bike, the Dutch word is ‘fiets’.
Another nice thing to know if you want to move something
big and to do it the cheap way is a ‘bakfiets’ – a bike that has
a box on wheels attached. Count on needing extra time to
learn to bike on it. You can rent a bakfiets at the Hollands
Spoor station, check www.rijwielshop-hollands-spoor.nl
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Last but not least
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75
Forbidden fruits of The Hague, do’s and don’ts
Even though The Netherlands is known as a country
where people enjoy lots of freedom by having Coffee
Shops and legalising gay marriage, there are still few
situations where you can get a fine:
Not having a ticket in the train / tram / bus /
metro or having a wrong ticket.
Drinking beer at any station, in the parks
and on the boulevard of the beach in
Scheveningen.
Not picking up the poo of your dog.
Putting out your garbage bag on street on the
wrong day and before 22:00 (even if it is the
garbage day). They can dig into the garbage
bags and find any paper with your name on
it... Check ‘de huisvuilkalender’
(the rubbish calendar).
Not having bike lights in front (white) and on
the back (red) when biking in the dark.
Biking through the streets “for pedestrians
only”. Police here might be walking, biking or
riding a horse (and not picking up the poo...)
Note that a non-smoking law has been accepted in all bars and even in coffee shops.
WARNING:
The closer you get to the crowded places of the city
the bigger the chance that a person with a note book
will come towards you and speak fast and smile - they
want you to donate some money to a good cause and
will ask for your bank account but not tell you that
the amount of money you have agreed to pay will be
deducted from your bank account every month. Well,
that’s all up to you, but it is also possible only when
you have got a Dutch bank account.
Drugs policy
In the Netherlands we have a ‘gedoogbeleid´, which means
you can use soft drugs, but under controlled circumstances.
You can buy soft drugs in coffee shops if you are at least 18
years old. These shops are allowed to sell a maximum of five
grams of hash or marihuana to a person.
Recycling
- You can recycle some plastic and glass bottles in
supermarkets and get back your deposit
- There are paper and glass recycling containers in many
places in the city
- If you want to get rid of a good piece of furniture, call this
number: 070-3351155, and they will pick it up from your
house for free.
- If you have big trash, call this number: 070-3660808. They
will set a date when you can put it on the street and they’ll
instruct you about how to wrap it correctly.
Checklist of things you have to arrange:
Get a Dutch mobile phone number
Get a letter of registration from the KABK
Get a house with a contract and the possibility
of registering yourself at that address
Get a (student) bank account (ask the student
administration for a statement)
Register yourself in the Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie (GBA)
Get The Hague Student card
Fix your residence permit at the Immigration Office
Get a small job and apply for the study financing
Get a bike and bike lights
Arrange the OV chip card (if you have to travel often by local
public transport) or arrange the NS discount card (if you
have to travel by train often)
Get health insurance
Enjoy the sunny days outside (they are nice but quite rare)
Don’t use an umbrella during the storm
And don’t forget to party - everybody needs friends!
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Abbreviations and Key words:
KABK / Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende
Kunsten - Royal Academy of Art
KC / Koninklijk Conservatorium Royal Conservatoire
CS / Den Haag Centraal Station The Hague Central Station
HS / Den Haag Hollands Spoor The Hague Hollands Spoor
EU / Europese Unie - European Union
NS / Nederlandse Spoorwegen Dutch Railways
OV / Openbaar Vervoer Public Transport
HTM / Haagsche Tramweg Maatschappij The Hague Public Transport Company
IBG / Informatie Beheer Groep
BSN / Burgerservicenummer Social Fiscal / Tax Number
GBA / Gemeentelijke Basis Administratie Municipal Registry Office
VVR - Residence Permit
SOA / Seksueel Overdraagbare Aandoeningen - Sexually Transmitted Infections
MCH / Medisch centrum Haaglanden Medical Center Haaglanden
Kringloop Holland - Second Hand Stores
Studiefinanciering - Study Financing
Immigratie Kantoor - Immigration Office
Kijkavond - ‘Check out the house’ evening
Woonpas - Housing card
Koopavond - Shopping night
Delfland - Water management institution
in the region of The Hague
Stroom - Centre for Visual Arts and
Architecture in the Hague
The Hague Student Card - a card that
provides a range of benefits and discounts
Nicest words in Dutch
Gratis - for free
Lekker - tasty
(but weather can also be lekker)
Gezellig - cozy
(something even better than that)
Aanbieding - discount
Useful internet addresses:
www.kabk.nl – this is the website of your school
www.denhaag.nl/en/expats-and-students.htm
www.denhaagstudentenstad.nl/en/home –
website about The Hague for international student
www.nuffic.nl – useful website for international students
www.ib-groep.nl/International_visitors - everything you need to know
about Dutch studyfinance system
www.minbuza.nl/cccd – website with all addresses of Embassies in The Hague
www.just-landed.com – useful website for foreigners
www.9292ov.nl – website about public transport in the Netherlands
www.jorplace.nl – website of a hostel in The Hague
http://fastscheveningen.com – website of a hostel in The Hague
www.stayokay.com – website of a hostel chain in The Netherlands
www.ips-lippmann.com – website about insurance for international students
THE HAGUE
We would like to thank:
Good luck
settling down
Michael van Hoogenhuyze
for writing about the history
of the KABK
You can
do it within
a few weeks!
Nanda Milbreta
Eric Parren
for fixing our imperfections
in English
Colophon
Marleen Groen
Judith van Doorn
Graphic design
Susan Meinen & Thijs Molenaar
StudioKABK 09/10
Special Typeface
LudwigsburgLight08
Fritz Grögel
If you have tips to improve How to survive The
Hague, please send an email to: [email protected]
Royal Academy of Art /
Koninklijke Academie van Beeldende Kunsten (KABK)
www.kabk.nl