Storytelling, art, and solidarity in the Hague: Justice & Peace events in June 2025
Photo credits: Holland Park Media
This June, we are proud to be part of several inspiring events and activities spread across The Hague inviting you to a city-wide exchange on themes surrounding peace and justice. From outdoor exhibitions to engaging films and dynamic lectures, The Hague becomes a platform for open dialogue, activism, and stories of hope for the future.
Events overview
“Hello World!” Outdoor exhibition
From 10-20 June, portraits of ten residents of The Hague will be displayed at the Lange Vijverberg with a message for the world. In light of the upcoming NATO summit, the exhibition Hello World! (Hallo Wereld!) held by BeHague touches upon the global landscape, offering local perspectives on peace and security. Among the residents is Maral Khajeh, the coordinator of our Human Rights Defenders & Security programme who shares her message and expertise on the topic.
“Lately, there has been extensive talk about the threat of war and how we should prepare for it. War language and war rhetoric create fear and silence the conversation about peace. Human rights defenders around the world work for peace and freedom every day. Political leaders and NATO could really learn something from them.”
Photo: Irma Gachechiladze
This exhibition is a reminder that human rights work isn’t abstract — it’s grounded in real people, real lives, and the communities we form together.
While The Hague prepares for the arrival of the NATO summit on 24-25 June, a Hague-peripheral programme is taking place in the run-up to it. The Road to Summit programme comprises numerous activities for everyone in the city of Peace and Justice – including space for dialogue, reflection, creation, and imagination. The agenda is part of a larger collective effort to ask: “How do we build a just and peaceful world — not only at negotiation tables, but in our communities, streets, and minds?”
The events are part of the Just Peace Festival 2025 – a two-week celebration of peace, justice, and civic engagement in The Hague.
Movie night: Stranger in Paradise
“Where do rules and justice collide – and where do they find each other?”
The UNESCO Youth Commission is joining forces with the Hague Humanity Hub and Filmhuis Den Haag June 20. Kicking off the event, a panel discussion among director Guido Hendrikx, our Migration & Human Rights programme officer, Elias Faour, and activist and storyteller Dima Kadri will unfold the tension between policy and humanity in European migration policy.
Following that, the screening further explores the central question of the evening brutally exposing the clash between human hope and European reality. The evening will conclude with drinks.
Humanity in Times of Tension: Art exhibition, performance, and workshop
It can be challenging to maintain hope in a world flooded by conflict, injustice, and environmental degradation. This exhibition curated by NGO Dei, Human Rights in the Picture, and The Hague Humanity Hub offers a space for hope between 16-26 June at Amare, The Hague. Be part of a bold experience showcasing creative and solidarity responses to arisen crises. Voices of resistance, resilience, and imagination are ever-present and will be highlighted through compelling art, photography, and participatory installations.
“Mutation” by Yves Kulondwa (Kayene), Exhibition For Earth
In collaboration with Human Rights in the Picture, Justice & Peace is exhibiting evocative works by former participants of our Artists’ Safe Haven initiative, Abecor, A.G., and Yves Kulondwa. By openly addressing grassroots peacebuilding initiatives and immersing the visitor in their experience, the event demonstrates that our future belongs to us.
Visitors can support the artists and their endeavours by purchasing the artwork or donating. Admission for the event is free and no registration is required.
Party 4 Peace
Music and movement have always played a key role in resistance. A drumbeat, a dance, or a chant sparked some of the most revolutionary political moments in history. Drawing upon the power of music to disrupt, challenge, and inspire action, on June 20, The Hague Humanity Hub and Holland Park Media invite DJs, performers, activists, and human rights supporters to take the stage at PAARD. A memorable event that places real people and their lived experiences at the heart of the public sphere in a blend of protest and clubbing.
In collaboration with Holland Park Media, Justice & Peace will present the activating videos of Yves Kulondwa and Willie Oeba, human rights defenders and Artists’ Safe Haven alumna, who stand up for peace in Kenya and the DRC in their own unique approach. Your presence and perspective matter! Don’t miss out on an opportunity to express, confront, and connect. You can reserve your ticket below.
Our participation in these events isn’t just symbolic — it’s a direct extension of our mission: to promote and protect human rights by supporting those who defend them and effect change from the ground up. Through our initiatives, we work side by side with individuals who seek safety and solidarity networks and are often threatened because of their human rights advocacy. Being present in these public, accessible spaces in The Hague helps bridge the gap between their stories and the wider community, facilitate common grounds for fruitful engagement, and connect the global to the local.