Starting Monday 12 May, the interactive game YOUR TURN will be visiting the Inholland locations. Organised by Inholland in collaboration with Art Partner, this event invites you to pause and reflect on your own choices, beliefs, and the world around you — in a playful and accessible way.

• Play with cards, dice, and curiosity.
• Discover patterns, spark conversations, or just join in for fun.
• On your own or with others - it's up to you.

YOUR TURN invites you to explore, connect, and reflect. Because creating a safe, inclusive learning and working environment is something we do together – step by step, roll by roll.

Everyone is welcome! Drop by anytime between 10.00 and 15.00:

• Haarlem – Monday 12 May 
• The Hague – Wednesday 14 May 
• Amsterdam – Monday 19 May 
• Delft – Tuesday 20 May 
• Alkmaar – Wednesday 21 May
• Rotterdam - Thursday 22 May 

Student buddies, a student counsellor,  a student coach, and the SSC coordinators will be available to answer questions and provide advice to students about:

• Studying 
• Finding your way within Inholland and the city of The Hague
• Study skills
• Study stress and anxiety
• Study delays
• Personal and family circumstances
• Disabilities
• Mental health

You are very welcome, even if you just need a listening ear!

How do we make international students feel at home at Inholland University of Applied Sciences? This was the theme at the most recent Community of Practice (CoP) for Diversity on 30 January. Many international students find it difficult to find their way in the Netherlands and at Inholland. This lack of a sense of belonging can have a negative effect on their well-being and even lead to them dropping out. The CoP focused on initiatives that contribute to a smoother transition to – and a stronger sense of belonging at – Inholland. 

One inspirational initiative was suggested by Imani Hooi, an International Creative Business student and founder of Caribbean United in The Hague. Two years ago, she founded this community to bring together students of Caribbean descent or with an affinity for Caribbean culture. ‘Putting accommodation issues aside, I noticed that many Caribbean students are often treated like Dutch students. This in spite of the fact that they often encounter specific challenges, such as uncertainty about correct language use and unfamiliarity with practical issues.’ 

Cultural recognition 
Caribbean United organises low-threshold events for students to meet and share experiences. ‘We want to give students a sense of home, among other things with Caribbean food and music.’ In addition, Imani is completing a graduation research project on how to provide better support to Caribbean students. ‘A key finding was that cultural recognition is crucial. There are also differences within the Caribbean community. It is essential to be mindful of this as a university of applied sciences’, Imani explains.  

Another speaker at the CoP was Sheovan Deira, founder of the Surinamese student community SUHolland in Amsterdam. She recognises the challenges faced by international students, having moved to the Netherlands to study herself in 2022. As she speaks the language and has family here, she thought she was well prepared. ‘Although I started making preparations well ahead of time, I still faced many challenges, from applying for a citizen service number and opening a bank account to finding work. Companies actually had to apply for a work permit to hire me, and many didn’t want to. Many processes are unfamiliar to international students, which makes matters difficult.’ 

Workshops and guidance  
Her own experiences prompted Sheovan to take action. ‘I saw that many students were facing the same obstacles. If we share information earlier, we can make it easier for everyone.’ Thus was born SUHolland, a community where students can find practical information as well as conviviality and recognition. ‘Not only do we organise cultural events, like Keti Koti and Surinamese Christmas celebrations, but we also offer workshops and guidance. Our goal is for students to feel at home.’ 
 
Community building coordinator 
Jurio Maduro, lecturer in Social Work in The Hague and recently appointed as community building coordinator at Inholland, is equally aware of the problems that international students face. He himself came to the Netherlands from Aruba when he was 19. ‘It was exciting and new, but also a culture shock. Everything was different, from the education system and public transport to the way people interacted. I was lucky to have family here, but many students are on their own.’ 

His own experiences made him aware of the challenges awaiting international students. ‘I see students going through the same things as I did back then and running into the same problems. I often ask myself: what guidance would I have wanted when I was a student? How can we support these students?’ 

Jurio’s new position is all about building a community. ‘A community means not just a group of students who seek each other out, but an environment where they feel welcome. At Inholland, we want to create an ecosystem where students feel recognised and supported, and where they can and are allowed to be themselves.’ 

Why take part in the CoP? 
Both Imani and Sheovan stress the importance of meetings such as the CoP. ‘We often work in our own bubbles, but by coming together, we can learn from each other and strengthen each other’, says Sheovan. ‘At SUHolland, for example, we learned how important it is to contact students coming to the Netherlands in advance. This is already being done for Caribbean students, but not yet for Surinamese students. That’s something we have to address.’ 

Collective responsibility 
In addition, Jurio sees a broader responsibility: ‘A sense of belonging should be at the core of how we support international students. The figures don’t lie: since 2010, only 9% of Caribbean and Surinamese students have graduated. That means we have a collective responsibility as a university of applied sciences to improve this.’ 

The CoP provides a valuable platform to share knowledge and experiences and to seek solutions together. Would you like to contribute to a more inclusive environment for students and colleagues as well? Make sure you attend the next CoP! 

Contact
If you have any questions and/or ideas on how we can support Caribbean or Surinamese students, please contact Jurio at jurio.maduro@inholland.nl or call  06 1527 9398.

Last Monday evening, five promising DJs, all students from The Hague, gave their best show at the Paardcafé for the audience and a professional jury, including programmers from event venues and organizers such as Paard, Danzig, Clubhopping, and Stappen in The Hague. Ikram participated in the DJ Contest last year but was not chosen at that time. This year, she delivered a performance that blew everyone away!

Unique style that crosses cultural boundaries
Ikram, born in Madrid and of Moroccan descent, grew up with electronic beats, Arabic music from her mother, and Latin rhythms, which sparked her love for diverse music styles. A trip to underground raves in Germany strengthened her connection to music and laid the foundation for her own unique style. Her sound is a fusion of influences that crosses cultural boundaries.

Festival performances
In the coming months, you can see Ikram performing at various festivals in The Hague, including the Liberation Festival on May 5th at the Malieveld, where she will perform on the Sena Performers Stage (18.45) . The other finalists, including another Inholland student (Kevin Sewnarain), will perform at the Liberation Festival on the HI The Hague Student Experience.

Real-world impact
The videos will play a significant role in BBR's outreach efforts, helping to attract new volunteers, board members, and employees to the area. By combining research, creative storytelling, and video production skills, the students crafted compelling narratives that align with BBR’s goals of promoting Rijswijk as a vibrant and enjoyable place for work and leisure.  Here you can watch one of the videos.

Valuable collaboration
Christel van de Reijt, who wears two hats as a board member of BBR and Workspace Manager at TUI Nederland, was highly impressed by the students' creativity and professionalism. Her feedback highlighted the value of this collaboration in bringing fresh perspectives to local community projects. For the ICB program, it is very valuable that companies and organizations give our students the opportunity to carry out 'real' assignments to gain practical experience. This project demonstrates how powerful the collaboration between education and practice can be in achieving positive changes in society.

• February 15 and 16 - no train traffic to and from The Hague Central Station 
• February 17 to 21 - no trains to Laan van NOI 
• February 22 - no train traffic to and from The Hague Central Station 
• February 23 - no trains to The Hague Laan van NOI 
• February 24 to 28 - no trains to The Hague Laan van NOI, fewer trains from The Hague Central Station 
• March 1 and 2 - no train traffic to and from The Hague Central Station 
• March 12 to 27 - no train traffic between Delft Campus and Rotterdam Central Station 
• March 15 and 16 - no train traffic to The Hague HS

We advise you to check the most up-to-date travel information before your departure: https://www.ns.nl/en/travel-information/better-journey/werkzaamheden-rotterdam-den-haag.html

The first week of academic year 2024-2025 had a festive start in The Hague. The Welcome Week from 2-6 September focused on getting to know each other and getting acquainted with the services of Inholland and the city of The Hague.

In100 program
The Welcome Week is part of the In100 The Hague. With this In100 program, the location and the Student Success Centre organizes activities for students during the first 100 days of their studies.  These activities focus on getting acquainted and developing and improving study skills.

In100program - what to expect in September?

For all activities, check out the online portal of the Student Success Centre.

Augustin Ravidat (23) is an International Creative Business student in Den Haag and moved to the Netherlands from France. He started his own content creation agency and is a songwriter and rapper.

Half work is not an option
“People will know me as a hardworking, optimistic and creative guy who has a lot of ideas and the capabilities to create and finish creative projects. Half work is not an option for me. And I think that I will bring that mentality to the table in new projects. I bring stability and commitment to the team. I was born in the south of France and grew up in Pays de Gex just near Switzerland. I started working when I was sixteen years old in the hospitality industry. After high school I went to Lyon, but I just did not like it. It did not match my expectations. I had a friend living in Den Haag, who studied International Creative Business. He told me that the study was interesting and would give you a lot of directions to go to. He invited me to come over and I stayed.”

Best professional experience ever
“During the first two years, me and this friend, stayed together and in my third year I got an internship in Thailand. Another friend from high school lived there. He just started his online business and he needed help for launching his YouTube channel. Going there was my best professional experience ever. We worked a lot in Thailand. In the beginning I worked on his online business which is creating content about dropshipping for the French market. But from the start we wanted to make videos. We kept on discussing what would work and what wouldn’t. I gave him ideas and edited the videos. I liked it so much that this was the start of my own business as well.”

I speed up creative projects
“I want to help content creators put out the best possible content they can make. I give them innovative ideas and relieve their pain if it comes to video editing, data analytics and algorithms. My talent is to help creators find success in their journey but above all I’ll make sure that the creative projects are getting finished right on time. I know how creative brains work. You get excited, you start creating and then your head is already busy with the next project. Here is where I come in. I would say: let me cover that part, so the creators can stay creative in their own way. It is a win-win. Clients know me as a reliable, nice person to work with and as a fast-working editor. I speed up creative projects in ways where it is usually lacking time. I am proud of that.”

Great way to express my thoughts
“Next to my study and content creating agency, I’m into music. The friend that got me in Den Haag is a great musician. I started writing lyrics in the summer of 2020. For almost four years now, I’m writing once a week. Not a full song, but I try to stay consistent with it. I don’t know how to play an instrument, but I know how to rap and put words on the tempo. And honestly, I love it! The first time I tried it, I felt the vibe immediately. It’s a great way to express my thoughts. I knew how to express myself back then, but music helped me open up even more than before. I have a lot of friends who are, comparing to me, more into music and want to be out there. I just want to help musicians with good lyrics, creative ideas or structures so they can focus on the music. You can find my published music on Soundcloud and in the near future I will be releasing on Spotify with another friend. Sounds good right?”

You can’t fail if you don’t give up
“I joined the Start program at Start Up Campus Haarlem. I met people with the same mindset, with all diverse backgrounds and it gave me exactly the environment where I want to be in. It gave me a lot of other perspectives. You know, every person is unique. For students who are considering starting their own business, I would say: don’t stop! If you think that your idea is good. Just start and never stop. At some point it will work. My friend from Thailand always says: You can’t fail if you don’t give up. So, never give up!”

Amber Straathof (20) is a second-year International Creative Business student in The Hague and makes custom sneakers with her own company 'Customizies'. She has already made more than 200 custom sneakers.

‘Everywhere I go, I see opportunities’
'I am creative and driven. Everywhere I go, I see opportunities. And ten new business ideas pop into my head every year. Yes, I am an entrepreneur. 

Although I like to take the initiative in a project, I can also move along with a team. The most important thing for me is that we achieve a result in good cooperation. In a group I bring positive energy and always that creative angle. That is my strength.

I am also a bit impatient and quick. Then I sometimes say to myself: 'Tone it down, Amber'. Haha! The funny thing is, when I started my own business, I went into it with full focus. Then, I am very precise about it. I won't stop until it's perfect.'

Hague Skyline for the Alderman
‘With my company Customizies, I specialize in customizing sneakers. I buy the sneakers and paint them on commission. It is customization. There are endless possibilities, examples are Pink Blossom, Rick and Morty cartoons, Lion King, and Feyenoord sneakers. I have already done over 200 commissions. One of the nicest assignments was a pair of sneakers for Hilbert Bredemeijer, the Alderman for Education, Youth, Sports, and Services of The Hague. National Vitality Day in September 2022 was the Hague Sneaker Day. On the sneakers, I drew the Hague Skyline. I was invited to the city hall and got to hand this pair to him myself (photo). It is so cool that I allow others to express themselves through their sneakers. They are unique messages. This is also how I am found around gender reveal parties and weddings. That I can be a part of that, I find very special.’

There is a market for this
'At sixteen, during corona time, everyone started picking up old hobbies. I started a new one! That's how I started. With a pair of sneakers, paint, and a video on TikTok. That immediately had over 100k views. Then my entrepreneurial brain went on: 'There's a market in this'.

It wasn't immediately perfect, it was just fun. I experimented a lot. Different paint, different sneakers, more complex designs. At first, I only shared this with my friends and family. But social media pushed my videos well. Then my friend said, 'If you want to do something with this, you need to invest in professional materials.' And that's what I did then. I follow trends closely. At one point, brown shades were in. They were not for sale in stores, but I could make them very quickly. I make what my generation wants. That catches on.

I work on a personal product. That includes a personal process. Think about listening carefully to the client's wishes and coordinating and sending photos in between. I want them to experience a sense of pride and joy when they have the sneakers on. I want my clients to feel confident in their shoes. Literally and figuratively. That's also what makes my job so much fun.'

Equal sparring partners
'In September I started the Growth program at Start Up Campus Haarlem. The monthly workshops give me lots of practical information as well as lots of ideas. That is so valuable to me. The group is full of equal sparring partners. When I ask a question or have a challenge, immediately everyone starts thinking about me. Everyone wants to help. Every time, I go home motivated and inspired. That helps me so much.'

Everyone starts somewhere
'To anyone considering entrepreneurship, I would say: do what you love. If you're doing something you enjoy, it doesn't feel like you're working. I often experience people who are afraid to present themselves. In entrepreneurship, you have to. Remember: Everyone starts somewhere. Start small, and then don't be ashamed of it. Social media is a perfect tool to go public with your business. It has done so much for me.

Experiential learning is paramount to understanding what is conceptually and creatively possible within XR. Students' positive feedback underlines XR's role in professional and career development. The XR Production Lab is a hub for collaborative learning, soft skill development, and an innovative teaching approach, making education more interactive and impactful.

Students gain insights, conceptualize ideas and develop prototypes
During an intensive week, twelve groups of students gained insights into conceptual frameworks and practical case studies, then conceptualized an idea, and finally developed their own prototype. The projects covered diverse topics like cultural exploration, mental health, community engagement, and career exploration. Utilizing tools such as Blockade Labs, Luma AI, Blender, and Unreal Engine, students with limited prior knowledge were able to create prototypes, which they pitched on the last day.

Best XR ideas
Four finalists presented their XR projects to a panel of diverse judges and were being assessed on value, applicability, and innovativeness.

• AR Scavenger Hunt App by Adelina Baranauskaite, Sophie de Bruin, Lisa van der Heijden, and Afanaisa Richardson: An AR app like Pokémon Go, designed for introduction week at Inholland. It features a themed quiz, chat function, and leaderboard to enhance student interaction and campus engagement.
   
• Inholland Support App by Simeon Mavrov, Vila van Dijk, Mirte Bosgraaf, and Lily Taroenodikromo: An AR digital companion app named 'Holly' that offers emotional support to students, particularly those studying abroad, encouraging them to share experiences and engage in activities.
   
• VR Emotional Expression Space by Devante Abhelakh, Udai Alsadi, Tessza Laszip, Rick Riemersma, and Feline Top: A VR project creating an underwater rage room where students can express emotions in a safe, private space, helping them manage stress.
   
• Virtual 360-Degree Campus Tour by Mylene Trippenzee, Zuzanna Dziedzic, Anna Kedlicka, and Annemijn Repelear van Driel: A solution for international students, providing a virtual 360-degree interactive tour of our campus in The Hague, mimicking the experience of an open day visit.

The jury awarded the “Inholland Support App” with the grand prize of tickets to the Immersive Tech Week Rotterdam and the possibility to further develop and execute the project. 

Explore the virtual exhibition of the students’ projects here.

These exhibitions were inspired by how advocacy campaigns use visual communication to make often invisible challenges like privacy, equality, and freedom of expression more relatable. Last week  the students showed the exhibition in the main lobby of Inholland The Hague.

The Hague, August 30, 2023 – The Sustainable Media Lab at Inholland University is bringing attention to the crucial topic of digital rights right in the heart of The Hague. The Digital Rights Expo, led by three student project groups, sheds light on the importance of safeguarding citizens' digital rights, particularly within The Hague's Morgenstond neighborhood.

Last semester, students dug into the impact of digital rights on the lives of Morgenstond residents through conversations and engagement. Building on these insights, the three student groups have created prototypes that each showcase a different aspect of digital rights. In collaboration with Digital Rights House, this initiative aims to increase awareness and open discussions about this important issue.

Event Details

Date: September 11th - 22nd
Location: The Hague City Hall, Atrium Spui
Admission: Free

For more details, read the full article about the Digital Rights Expo in The Hague city newspaper at Newspaper Link. If you can't make it to the exhibition in person, you can explore the digital version of the exhibition here: Digital Exhibition Link.

Susannah Montgomery, Deputy Director of the Sustainable Media Lab, explains the students' approach: "Our students come from different creative backgrounds within our institution. We challenged them to use their creativity to find playful, participatory, and portable ways to get every day citizens thinking about what a responsible digital society means. Their exhibits, from funny comics to touching true stories, thoughtfully explore how technology in our digital age affects the quality of peoples’ lives."

The Digital Rights Expo demonstrates the power of innovation and teamwork in sparking conversations about the significant impact of digital rights on our lives today. Ready to join the conversation? Stop by for an informal Q&A about the exhibition, featuring current and past students along with our partners at The Hague City Hall on Monday, September 18th, from 15:30 to 16:30.

This project is part of the larger Inholland Digital Rights Research initiative, co-founded by Professors Wina Smeenk, Ander de Keijzer, and Ben Wagner. To learn more about their research, visit Research Link.

Inclusive place
A goal of the board is to have open hours about two days each week the upoming academic year. As the board members themselves are diverse, Edgar Dale’s is an inclusive place. ‘We have two people on our staff who are queer and we are culturally diverse’,  says Loren. ‘It’s a judgment-free safe space’.

As of 3 p.m. code orange has been announced in South Holland by KNMI due to heavy thunderstorms. The thunderstorms are likely to cause damage and danger. KNMI is warning of flooding, large hailstones, falling trees, flying objects and lightning strikes.

Inholland University of Applied Sciences therefore advises students and staff to exercise caution when travelling to and from school. We also advise you to follow instructions from authorized bodies. In addition, keep a close eye on your e-mail for information on the possible cancellation of classes and/or tests. Finally, if necessary, leave home on time. Be careful if you do have to go out!

It is with extreme sadness and a heavy heart that we have to announce that Mina Milusheva, one of our first year International Creative Business students from The Hague, unexpectedly passed away on Friday June 9^th. 

Since receiving this distressing news, Maurice Kemper (team leader) and Barış Altınöz (Mina’s PD coach) have been to see some of Mina’s closest friends on Saturday and have met with Mina’s parents on Sunday.

Mina was a part of our student community and her hobbies and interests included music, singing, psychology, poetry, and fencing. She was originally from Bulgaria with her family residing in Dubai. Her presence added to the diversity of our campus and Mina will be sorely missed. Losing Mina is a blow for both her fellow students and our teaching and support staff.

Memorial gathering
We plan to hold a memorial gathering for Mina in the Mauritszaal at Inholland The Hague on Tuesday June 13^th from 13.00 to 14.00 pm, both students and teachers are invited to attend. This will be a moment for us to come together and remember Mina. Following the memorial gathering, a book of condolences and a remembrance “corner” will be set up outside of Crea Lab 2-012 to leave your message for Mina’s family, boyfriend and friends.

We extend our condolences to Mina's family and friends, and to anyone who knew her at our university. If you have any memories or stories about Mina that you would like to share, we welcome you to do so.
Please know that we are there for both students and teachers alike and our door is always open if you need help or someone to talk to.

Management, lecturers and staff of (International) Creative Business The Hague

HI The Hague Student Experience
The ‘Hi The Hague Student Experience’ is created for all visitors who want to taste the atmosphere of The Hague as a student city. You can dance the whole day to music performed by student DJs who participated in the DJ contest.  And you can participate in all kinds of fun sports and game activities planned by the students of The Hague.

Participation Inholland
Multiple Inholland students collaborate for the Liberation Festival. International Creative Business students work on an assignment to explore how to properly communicate the message of 5 May to young people. Students of our Student Success Centre came up with different game activities for the Student Experience area. The Inholland Wheel of Fortune decides what game you will play. You spin the wheel, participate in the game and win a fun prize. 

Find out what else you can do at the student area on studyinthehague.com.  

Attendance of mayor and the executive board of higher education institutions
During the Liberation Festival,  there will be a special welcome in the afternoon for mayor Jan van Zanen and members of the executive board of the participating higher education institutions. From Inholland, Marije Deutekom will be present at the ‘Hi The Hague Student Experience’ to meet students and other board members.

ICB-student winner DJ contest
The winner of the student DJ contest in The Hague is our own ICB student Florian Wessiepe. As the winner, he is allowed to play on 5 May, at 19:00, on the main stage of the Liberation Festival. Will you come and support him?

Opening hours of the festival  
The ‘HI The Hague Student Experience’ is located directly to the left of the entrance of the Liberation Festival and is open from 12:00-20:00. The festival site itself opens at 12:00 until 23:00.

Come celebrate freedom with us!

Aftermovie Liberation Festival 2022
Find out what  the festival was like last year, filmed by Creative Business student Mikki Toirkens.

Initiator Caribbean community
Imani Hooi is a third-year International Creative Business student. She has a Caribbean-Dutch background and is the initiator of the community Caribbean United The Hague. The community was created to fulfill the need of Caribbean students to connect with fellow students.  

Joining Caribbean United The Hague 
The first informal meeting was successful and certainly shows a desire for more. Soon there will be more fun and informative gatherings. In addition to informal gatherings, the community will also focus on growth, knowledge transfer, and personal development.  

Do you want to join Caribbean United and be the first to know about upcoming gatherings?  Please join the WhatsApp group and follow the community on Instagram.

As a student you are looking for pleasant, affordable and safe housing in the city where you study. This may sound simple, but things are different in practice. If you want to get your own room in your student city, you are often dealing with waiting times, high rents and (too) small rooms at locations you would actually prefer not to live. The student housing providers want to do something about this. They are going to build affordable student housing in your city, taking your housing needs into account. To do so, they need your input. 

Survey 
We are conducting a survey to find out how many students will be living in your city in the coming years and how these students want to live. This knowledge will be used to build enough student housing to meetstudents' needs. This research is carried out by student housing providers in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Universities of Applied Sciences and Research Universities. If you really want to make a difference in housing for students, please participate in this survey. 

Participation 
To participate, please click on the following link: www.wonenalsstudent.nl 

The survey consists of about 40 questions and takes around 10 minutes to complete. You can fill in the questionnaire using your smartphone, tablet or computer. The questionnaire will remain active until April 22.  Your answers will then be processed anonymously. 

How do I stay informed of the results? 
Results will be available on the website after the summer.

Showcased projects
Curious to know what kind of projects were showcased? Here are a few examples!

The Star Dust student team developed a media kit about the importance of safe digital storage for journalists in conflict areas. During the community day, visitors participated in a quiz and an interactive VR experience to build awareness and empathy among our learning network.

The Social Media and Justice League student team developed educational materials to help teach young students media literacy skills. During the community day, this team created a playful gamified journey for visitors to test their own skills with identifying fact from fiction.

The Pop-up Podcast student team launched their investigative podcast about current trends in Sustainable Media. You can listen here to the first episodes on Misinformation and Algorithmic Bias.

Interested in learning more about our Sustainable Media Lab or joining us for future events? Reach out to: sustainablemedialab@inholland.nl.

Take a look at the activities we organized for our students from September until December.  Special thanks to Creative Business student Ieva Galginaitė, who produced the film!

The students of the Sustainable Media Lab have made creative and experiential media products to help you understand how and why media can shape, nurture, and impede justice in our society.  The Sustainable Media Lab will be hosting the Community Day on Friday, January 13th from 14:00-17:00 in the Mauritszaal at Inholland The Hague. 

The projects of the Sustainable Media Lab were made possible thanks to partnerships with Sound & Vision The Hague, Municipality of and The Hague Humanity Hub.