Kristiaan, driving impact through research in the Netherlands

From local stories to systemic change

Kristiaan joined the Impact through Research trajectory of The Hague Changemakers to discover how academic research can drive meaningful social change. Building on his background in political science and migration justice, he collaborated with others to uncover the lived experiences of migrants and contribute to reshaping narratives around inclusion and social cohesion. This was a decision that would leave a lasting mark on both him and the communities he worked with.

“I wanted to be part of something international, established, and grounded in real action. When I saw the call from Justice & Peace, I immediately thought: this is it.”

His motivations are rooted in a commitment to human rights, including a strong desire for justice in Palestine and an end to the ongoing genocide and apartheid. For Kristiaan, these global struggles are always linked to concrete efforts to create more just and inclusive societies at the local level.

A path rooted in migration justice

Kristiaan’s connection to migration challenges runs deep. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked for his provincial Ministry of Immigration in Quebec, Canada, fast-tracking permanent residency applications for refugee healthcare workers, as well as working on humanitarian immigration files more broadly. Later, he transitioned into roles supporting family reunification and education equivalency evaluation, followed by research on online violence against queer people and programme management at a national LGBTQ+ non-profit.

This breadth of experience gave him a grounded and intersectional understanding of inclusion and migration – knowledge he brought with him to The Hague. “My journey with migration started during the pandemic. I saw firsthand how deeply policy affects real people, and I knew I wanted to stay in this field,” he shares.

Choosing research with real impact

Kristiaan chose the Impact through Research trajectory – a trajectory that not only builds participants’ research skills but connects their findings directly to social justice initiatives in the city. “I love research, but what really drew me was the ‘impact’ part – being able to turn findings into something tangible. It’s rare to do research and actually see it lead to real change.” Together with his group, Kristiaan initially set out to study how people with a migration background in the Laakkwartier neighbourhood in The Hague experience social cohesion. But as conversations unfolded, the project took on a new direction.

“We thought we’d be analyzing cohesion as a concept. Instead, we found ourselves part of it – building trust, sharing stories, and becoming part of the community we were studying.”

This shift led to an unexpected but powerful result: a collaboration with Wijkz, a community organization, in the context of Ways of Europe, a European-Commission funded initiative aiming to increase civic participation and bring local community members’ voices to the forefront. Kristiaan and his team then produced a report capturing the lived experiences of migrants and their vision for their neighbourhood, which was shared with the European Commission to amplify their voices beyond The Hague.

Research on social cohesion in Laakkwartier

The project aimed to understand how social cohesion is experienced by migrants in Laakkwartier, a diverse neighbourhood in The Hague. Kristiaan and his group defined social cohesion as a measure of how strong community members’ relationships are with each other and with institutions, involving “high levels of trust and low levels of fear,” but soon realized that the concept was deeply linked to personal migration stories.

“Many participants told us they didn’t care about legal restrictions –they just wanted to contribute and be part of society.

The group organized three main workshops:

• Youth workshop: With kids aged 10 to 14, held at the VISL centre, exploring their feelings about key neighbourhood spaces like school, home, and online. The children, despite their young age, showed a strong awareness of international issues and expressed concerns about economic struggles and safety, including their worries about the ongoing genocide in Palestine and a distrust of local authorities.
• Women’s workshop: Women from Egypt, Afghanistan, Syria, and Ireland created “river of life” drawings to trace their migration and life journeys. These stories revealed how migration intersects with gender-based challenges, including experiences of domestic violence and barriers to democratic participation, education, and employment. One particularly telling example came from an Afghan teacher who continued to give online lessons to family members after the Taliban banned girls from schools.
• General community workshop: Focused on gathering broader perspectives, this workshop highlighted bureaucratic hurdles faced by migrants, including asylum suspensions and restrictions on working or volunteering due to legal statuses.

Impact beyond expectations

For Kristiaan, the most meaningful part of the experience was learning to trust both himself and others, and embracing the unpredictable nature of collaboration. “You have to believe you can make a difference and be willing to take initiative. If you don’t, you’re already losing,” he reflects.

He also highlights the profound impact of connecting with people who face challenges so different from his own. “One evening, we came together to share stories. Hearing everyone speak so openly about their journeys of strength, hope and resilience left a lasting impression. It felt very honest and powerful, and it reminded me of the challenges and strength that can be found in our communities.”

Kristiaan emphasizes how local actions ripple outward: “What happens in a small neighbourhood can impact so many places and lives. That’s why small-scale initiatives matter – they’re global in effect.”

We thank Kristiaan for sharing his story, for contributing to shedding more light on the lived realities of migrants, and for opening up spaces for humanity and dignity.