The Hague International City of Peace and Justice

The Hague
International
City of Peace
and Justice
denhaag.com
Colophon:
Published by:
City of The Hague, Telephone 14 070
(If you are calling from abroad, please call +31 70 353 3000)
Produced by:
Department of Information and External Relations
P.O. Box 12600, 2500 DJ The Hague
Visitors’ address: Spui 70
Layout:
Berg Kleijn Communicatie
Print:
Tuijtel
Photographie:Theo Bos, Frans Jan Fortunati, D-Vorm Leidschendam,
Architectenbureau Benthem Crouwel
Translation:
Alan Parfitt
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Foreword
The Hague. For many people in the Netherlands, the name of our city is synonymous with
government, politics and parliament. This is hardly surprising. After all, The Hague has
been the seat of government in the Netherlands since the sixteenth century. And The
Hague has also been a royal residence for many centuries.
During recent decades, The Hague has developed into a home for many illustrious
international organisations and multinational companies. The Hague is now the world’s
second UN city, and as such, it vibrates to a characteristic international rhythm.
The Hague is a city that provides a unique sense of space, due to its numerous large
parks. And on one side The Hague borders on Europe’s largest area of natural diversity:
the North Sea.
The Hague offers extremely varied housing options, ranging from spaciously designed
new suburbs and bustling urban neighbourhoods to exclusive residential areas. All these
districts are connected to each other and to the city centre by a closely woven and
extremely efficient public transport network.
Jozias van Aartsen,
Mayor of The Hague
The Hague is a city of youth, too. Culture and creativity abound in a vibrant, bubbling
melting pot of influences. Thousands of young people study here. And The Hague has
always excelled in the fields of graphic design, modern dance and music.
The Hague is an amazingly versatile city. Although this brochure will give you some idea of
its many facets, I warmly recommend you to come and taste The Hague for yourself. I am
convinced that once you have experienced the tremendous diversity of our city, you will be
enchanted by all that The Hague has to offer!
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The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
The Hague
International City of Peace and Justice
The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice. It is a proud title, and justly worn.
The Hague is home to no less than 131 international institutes and agencies, employing
14.000 servants of peace. After New York, The Hague is the United Nations’ second city.
The Hague stands for hope in places as diverse as Sarajevo, Nairobi and Kabul. Hope for
millions of citizens, hope that the crimes inflicted on them will not remain unpunished.
Hope for a peaceful future.
Decisions taken in The Hague affect the entire world and all of humanity. The Peace Palace has
grown into an icon of international justice. But there is more. The Hague’s international orientation
makes it an attractive location for all manner of businesses and other organisations. And so,
Greater The Hague currently hosts not only many organisations dedicated to peace and justice, but
also more than 300 international businesses. The likes of Shell, Siemens and Nationale Nederlanden
have even chosen The Hague for their headquarters. Tens of thousands of people from all over the
world have moved to The Hague, to live and work in a uniquely international entourage.
The Hague has a powerful magnetism when it comes to
attracting international business. Shell, Siemens, Aegon,
T-Mobile and KPN are just some of the big names who chose
The Hague for their corporate headquarters. And this makes
perfect sense. The city is incredibly well connected by land,
sea and air. The Hague is part of Europe’s high speed train
network.The international airports of Amsterdam and
Rotterdam-The Hague are easily reached in minutes rather
than hours. And by sea too, The Hague is open for business
as it has been for centuries . Once in the city, travel is easy
and relaxed by one of our many tram lines. Or take the
ultramodern Randstadrail urban network. Or why not do as
the locals do: jump on your typically Dutch bicycle.
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Of the coastal cities in North Western Europe, The Hague is
one of the largest. Located on the edge of the North Sea, the
beaches are wide and impressive. And nowhere more so than
in Scheveningen, a picturesque, historical fishing village with
its own harbour and promenade, targeted by millions of
visitors each year. The coming year, a major renovation of the
promenade is scheduled to the design of the famous Spanish
architect Manuel de Sola-Morales. His concept focuses on
the needs of a contemporary seaside resort and includes
trendy café’s, restaurants, facilities for beach sports and all
the comforts needed for a brisk walk in a westerly breeze. In
addition, the promenade offers protection against storms and
the dangers of globally rising sea levels.
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The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
Together they form an international community that impacts strongly on the local economy and regional job market.
comes to attracting legal knowledge and
know-how. Specialists in law, (re-)development
and security come from all corners of the
earth to evaluate and share their experiences.
Looking ahead
A city of such international stature must face
the challenges that come with ambition. And
so, The Hague is investing heavily in stateof-the-art infrastructural facilities, high-grade
living accommodation, varied employment
opportunities and a stimulating intellectual
climate.
Unparalelled Global Justice capabilities
The municipal authorities of The Hague have
earmarked millions for further developing the
city’s global justice abilities and capabilities.
Partnering with all parties concerned, including the Universities of Leiden and Delft,
The Hague is the strongest magnet when it
A safe haven
International organisations and their employees are very particular when it comes to
choosing their places of work. The Hague
recognises their needs. The new headquarters for Europol in the International Zone
around World Forum is a case in point, as is
the permanent accommodation currently under construction for the International Criminal
Court –located both attractively and securely
on the edge of the sand dunes in nearby
Scheveningen. The ever-growing international community employed by such agencies
are attracted to charming new residential
areas in the green zone around Westlandse
No international city is complete without international
education facilities. Students come from all over the world to
study music at the Royal Conservatorium or art at the Royal
Academy. Then there’s the Institute for Social Studies,
Europe’s premier centre for societal development.
Or the internationally renowned Hotel School (linked to the
Hogeschool). Many expats in The Hague send their offspring
to the American School, British School or French School to
retain continuity in their education. In addition, The Hague
co-operates with the University of Leiden –Holland’s oldest
university– in Campus The Hague where special curricula
focusing on politics, international affairs and law are offered.
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According to the New York Times, it might be the world’s most
beautiful museum: the Hague’s Mauritshuis. Located in the
heart of historical The Hague, the museum is home to world
famous works including Vermeer’s ‘Girl with pearl’, Rembrandt’s
‘Anatomical lesson’ and Paulus Potter’s ‘The Bull’.
But The Hague has more in store for art lovers. Mesdag’s
‘Panorama of Scheveningen’ is the oldest panorama in the
world still displayed in its original location. And admittedly, at
120 meters long and 14 meters high, it could prove hard to
move. Smaller but equally impressive treasures are the works of
Piet Mondriaan on display in the Hague’s Municipal Museum:
just one of the many prominent Dutch art galleries, and one that
features a fine collection of modern art and photography.
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The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
Zoom. And catering to the needs of less
permanent visitors, The Hague is home to
an ever-increasing number of five-star, fullyfeatured hotels.
In such an international context, security is
a concern shared by inhabitants, institutions
and businesses alike. Together with the
University of Leiden, the applied research
institute TNO and The Hague Centre for
Strategic Studies, the ‘Secure Haven’
blueprint is under development to provide the
highest levels of security and sustainability
without compromising quality of life.
Fully connected
The broad arterial highways, high-capacity
railway routes and richly varied air connections available to and from both Amsterdam
and Rotterdam -The Hague international air-
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ports make connections to The Hague better
than ever. And in the years before us, they
will improve further. The Hague’s brand-new
Central Station connects directly not only to
the rest of the Netherlands, but also to the
heart of Europe. The Hubertus Tunnel provides simple access by car to the International
Zone of the city. And the municipal public
transport facilities are of a consistently high
order.
Attractive and lively
In recent years, The Hague has undergone
nothing less than metamorphosis. A quiet
revolution has restored the old city centre to
former glory, while adding attractive new
suburbs and refurbishing the older residential
areas to a contemporary standard. The skyline has drastically changed and has still not
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found its definitive form. Classy new architecture co-exists in harmony with history and
heritage, as Holland’s most future-oriented
city embraces a past in which royalty and
democracy have always featured strongly
–and continue to do so.
A brief history
‘It’s the legal capital of the world.’ These are
not our words, but those used by former
Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Boutros Boutros Ghali, to characterise The
Hague’s unique role in the global community.
And he did not choose his words lightly.
Because The Hague’s international profile
goes way, way back.
The study of law has always been an intellectual feature of The Hague. Indeed, it was
one of the reasons, way back in the sixteenth
century, for the United Provinces, as the
Republic of the Netherlands then called itself,
to choose The Hague as her capital. Ever
since, foreign diplomats have felt at home in
this most cosmopolitan of cities.
The renowned legal innovator Hugo de Groot
–known in his time as Grotius– wrote his
definitive work Mare Liberum in The Hague.
The year was 1609, and four centuries later
this magnum opus still forms the basis under
international law. Later, the famous humanist
philosopher Baruch Spinoza spent the last
years of his life in The Hague, developing and
perfecting his classic, innovative theories on
peace, liberty and human rights. So, the Dutch
Supreme Court of Justice knew exactly what
it was doing when it selected The Hague as
its base in 1838.
In an elegant street in the centre of The Hague, Queen
Beatrix’s official offices in Palace Noordeinde are to be found.
As a centre of government, the city has always maintained
close ties to the monarchy. Every year, in the mediaeval
Ridderzaal located on the magnificent Binnenhof, the Queen
opens parliament by reading out loud the government’s plans
for the coming twelve months. All Dutch government
ministries are based in The Hague, making it a true legislative
capital. Binnenhof is the beating heart of Dutch politics,
home to the Senate and major political parties. Immediately
adjoing, there’s a brand new location for the House of
Representatives designed by Dutch Architect Pi de Bruyn.
This is where the daily business of democracy takes place.
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The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
The Peace Palace
The current chapter of history began in 1893,
when the Nobel Prize Laureate-to-be Tobias
Asser founded The Hague Conference on
Private International Law. Today, this remains
the oldest international organisation within
The Hague. A mere six years later, Czar
Nicholas II took the
initiative, the young Dutch queen Wilhelmina
offered hospitality and the first Peace Conference was a fact. In The Hague, of course.
And this conference was not just talk. It founded an organisation called the Permanent
Court of Arbitration that was to handle disputes between nations. It was soon offered an
impressive headquarters, now known as the
Peace Palace. Largely funded by steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie,
building began during the Second Peace
Conference in 1907 and was completed,
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ironically, just one year before the outbreak of
the first World War. From the outset, the
Peace Palace Library was established here
to bring together all there is to know about
international law. After the Armistice, the
Permanent Court of Justice -the legal arm of
the League of Nations, the precursors of the
United Nations- also took up residence in the
Peace Palace.
A second home for the United Nations
After World War Two, The International Court
of Justice was established in 1946 as the
highest legal authority within the United
Nations. It too is based in the Peace Palace.
The Court remains the only major United
Nations agency outside New York, hence
The Hague’s claim to the number 2 spot in
the hierarchy of UN cities.
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Poplovers recognise The Hague as the hometown of Golden
Earring and Anouk. More classically oriented visitors may
prefer the Residentie Orchestra, one of Holland’s premier
symphony orchestra’s. And then there’s the bi-annual Holland
Dance Festival, the nation’s number one international festival
of dance. In The Hague, of course, where the National
Theatre Company is also based: in the Royal Theatre.
Modern architecture abounds, forming a fine counterpoint to
the historical city centre. Buildings by Hans Kolhoff, Rem
Koolhaas and Richard Meyer are key features in the city’s
quest to be appointed Cultural Capital of Europe in 2018.
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The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
The Hague is, from many directions, hidden from view behind
an impressive array of sand dunes. In fact, the city lies on the
edge of one of Western Europe’s finest and most extensive
system of coastal dunes. And the city herself appears,
according to some, to breathe green air. Zuiderpark is a large
recreational area that annually hosts Europe’s largest free
open air pop festival: Parkpop. The Forest of The Hague,
sometimes known as Queen Beatrix’s back yard due to the
location of her residential Huis ten Bosch palace, is a huge
and publicly accessible natural feature. And then there’s
Clingendael estate, one of the the finest Japanese garden
outside of Japan To complete the picture, the streets of
The Hague are lined by more than 70.000 trees.
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Wherever you look: international
organisations abound
In the early nineties, after the end of the Cold
War, international co-operation in the area of
security and justice acquired a new lease of
life. In less than a decade a plethora of new
and innovative international institutions blossomed in The Hague. The best known are
the International Criminal Tribunal for Former
Yugoslavia (est. 1993), Europol (est. 1994),
the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (est. 1997) and the International
Criminal Court (est. 2002). All belong to the
international institutional community of Greater
The Hague that now numbers 131 agencies.
International centre of expertise
Hosting such distinguished organisations,
The Hague could not help developing into a
global centre of expertise for peace and
justice. The T.M.C. Asser Institute, Clingendael Institute, The Hague Academy of
International Law and the Institute of Social
Studies helped provide a solid base on which
others could refine such expertise. These
others include The Hague Institute for the
Internationalisation of Law, and Campus The
Hague –originally a spin-off created by the
world-famous University of Leiden that is
starting as a University College in 2010.
Uniquely qualified
So much knowledge of international law and
cross-border co-operation. So much practical experience in applying the underlying
concepts to real-life situations. It is only natural that The Hague should claim her position
as city of peace and justice. Experience
and expertise operating in tandem are what
uniquely qualifies The Hague for a global role.
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The Hague International City of Peace and Justice
A role that has not escaped the attention of
the business community. In and around
The Hague more than 300 international
corporations have established what are at
least footholds and at most –as in the case of
Shell, Siemens and Nationale Nederlandenheadquarters with more than a national perspective.
The Hague is proud to play her part in
building a more peaceful and just world.
A world where disagreements are battled out
in court rather than in streets or trenches.
The Hague works in service of a future world
without chemical weapons, without ethnic
cleansing, without the supremacy of the law
of the jungle. A world were reason and truth
combine in providing justice for all, and where
those who attempt to disrespect international
justice do so at their peril. They will face
judgement –in The Hague.
Of the citizens of The Hague, nearly half have foreign roots.
They provide the city with colour. If the typically Dutch fare
of cheese rolls or eel sandwiches should ever fail to please,
there are plenty of alternatives. The Hague has the largest
open-air street market in Europe, offering foodstuffs from all
corners of the globe. In Chinatown, the taste of the exotic is
easy to find. The city is home to more than 100 nationalities
and their presence is felt everywhere: in restaurants and
shops, but also during ‘Milan’, Europe’s premier open air
Hindustani event, held annually in Zuiderpark.
Or during the world’s largest Eurasian festival Tong Tong
that attracts 100.000 visitors and has been part of the local
heritage for half a century.
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The Hague
facts and figures
General facts and figures
-Number of inhabitants of The Hague: 482,510
(Dutch natives: 249,834)
-Culture: 30 theatres, 26 cinemas, 45 museums,
4,211 shops, 7 markets, 64 hotels, 490 restaurants
and 363 cafés
-Green city by the sea: 70,000 trees along the roads,
11 kilometres of coast line, 1/3 of The Hague is green,
Direct employment at international
organisations in The Hague region
-Of the 14,000 direct international jobs, European
international organisations were responsible for 40% of
this direct employment.
-About 3,900 of these jobs were filled by Dutch workers
(28%), about 10,200 by foreign employees (72%).
-2/3 of the workforce has completed higher education:
1,200 mooring places for pleasure boats, 250
67% (about 9,500 jobs). About 4,700 of the employees
kilometres of bicycle lanes
at international organisations have not completed
higher education (skilled and unskilled labour).
International The Hague
-Number of international organisations: 131.
-About 87% of the employees at international
organisations live in The Hague region.
-Number of international businesses: 316 (responsible
for 49,000 jobs).
-Number of embassies and consulates: 107
(102 embassies and 5 consulates).
Expat The Hague
-International schools: International School of The
Hague, British School in the Netherlands, The American
School of The Hague, The German School, The Lycée
Economic impact of international
organisations in The Hague region in 2007
Français Vincent van Gogh, The Indonesian School in
-Total employment related to international organisations
Polish School in The Hague.
was about 28,000 jobs:
the Netherlands, The Iranian Community School, The
-The Administrative Committee to Coordinate English-
- 14,000 jobs at the organisations themselves;
speaking Services (ACCESS), Accueil des
-a
bout 14,000 indirect jobs due to expenditure of
francophones de la Haye, Alliance Française de la
international organisations and their employees.
-These 28,000 jobs account for about 6.4% of The
Haye, Anglo-American Theatre Group, British Choir,
The Hague International Network, Holland Handbook,
Hague’s employment and 4.3% of the region’s
Expats Magazine, Xpat Journal, The Hague Hospitality
employment1.
Center: The Hague Finder, Expatmeetings, Welcome to
-Share of foreign employees at international
The Hague, Holland Horizon Magazine, Roundabout,
organisations (about 10,200) of the total jobs generated
www.thehagueonline.com, www.denhaag.com and
by international organisations is about 36%.
West International.
-The proportion of the total added value in the Gross
Product related to international organisations is 6.4% in
The Hague and 3.9% in the region.
These facts are a compilation of the recent research of
Decisio up-date of 2008 and information from the City of
The Hague. All available by the City of The Hague, BSD.
1
The Hague region consists of The Hague, Rijswijk, Delft, Wassenaar, Zoetermeer, Westland, Midden-Delfland, Leidschendam-Voorburg,
Pijnacker-Nootdorp and the agglomeration Leiden/Bollenstreek.
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