Game & Connect: Playing our way to belonging in The hague
Written by Karla Jácome
On September 28th, the historic Grote Kerk in The Hague opened its doors for Game & Connect, a Samen Hier event where newcomers and local residents came together to play, learn, and build connections. The event was organised by participants of The Hague Changemakers, part of the Move 4 Human Rights initiative, in collaboration with Samen Hier and Justice & Peace Netherlands.
That Sunday, Yíjūn* got up early because she didn’t want to be late. She’d been looking forward to the event since she came across the infographic last week at the library. Her friend Ajoba, whom she had met months earlier, was waiting for her at the entrance of the Grote Kerk, a church in the center of The Hague that, as I would later learn, now hosts cultural and community events. They entered the place together with intrigue and curiosity, hoping to meet people who, like them, were starting a new life in The Hague.
I arrived a little early too, hoping to meet the participants of The Hague Changemakers – Omar, Daniella, Eva, and Mari-Luz – who were the organizers of the event and had spent months preparing every detail as part of the Move 4 Human Rights trajectory. They were busy and excited, running from one place to another. I introduced myself and asked if there was something I could help with. Before I knew it, I was blowing up balloons, looking for a ladder, and making coffee with the coffee machine. I could feel the rush of excitement too.
Where New Connections Begin
One by one, people started to arrive: friends, a married couple, newcomers, students, and a few others who came on their own. “You have to be brave to come to these places alone,” said Imane, who had recently moved to The Hague and wanted to meet others who, like her, were learning Dutch.
The room felt warm and cozy, decorated with small colorful flags. On the tables were snacks, sweets, and stacks of board games including a bingo set that would soon be used as an icebreaker. Around the space, colorful infographics introduced the organisation Justice & Peace and the initiative Samen Hier. Nearby, a small Bibliotheek stand shared information about Taalhuis, a program that supports newcomers find connection through Dutch language learning and community activities.
The afternoon unfolded with laughter, games, and conversation. At one table, someone was acting out a movie during charades; at another, a voice shouted “UNO!” followed by a collective “ahhh” from the group that had just lost. Between all the excitement, I noticed others who weren’t playing but were chatting, exchanging phone numbers and Instagram handles while nibbling on Kaas stengels.
Game & Connect Samen Hier – The Hague Changemakers (2025)
An Afternoon That Feels Like Home
Curious, I joined some of their conversations. I wanted to know what had brought them here, to spend a Sunday afternoon with new people. Some were more reserved and simply said they wanted to meet others who, like them, were still learning to call this city home. Others, like Maara and Hassan, shared how moving to the Netherlands ten years ago had shaped their lives, and how community gatherings like this one made all the difference between feeling welcome and feeling invisible. Their stories unfolded like small confessions of what it means to start over. It struck me how these ordinary gatherings could hold something extraordinary: the fragile beginnings of a feeling called home.
Before leaving, after the bingo prizes had been handed out, I found Yíjūn again to say goodbye. We talked about the day, what she had enjoyed, and what she was taking with her. She said the organization made her feel seen – that her need to connect with new people was understood and valued. At that meeting, she was able to share her thoughts and listen to experiences that, whether similar or not, she understood. Before parting ways, I asked, “What do you think of when you hear the word community?” She paused for a moment before replying, “Community… for me, it’s where I live, the people I see, the shops around me. For me, community is Den Haag.”
In the end, community is what protects us, cares for us, and helps us find direction when we lose our way.
Her words stayed with me. Seeing her so at ease after just three months in the city made me realize how vital it is that initiatives like Samen Hier not only exist but remain alive. In the end, community is what protects us, cares for us, and helps us find direction when we lose our way. That September afternoon, I understood that community is not just another word, it’s a quiet act of resistance, a living reminder that warmth still exists in a world that too often forgets it.
*For privacy reasons, all names used here have been changed.
The event was organized by participants of The Hague Changemakers – Omar, Daniella, Eva, and Mari-Luz – as part of the Move 4 Human Rights initiative.