Night of the Volunteer

Not everyone wants to spend their volunteer hours in meetings or behind a desk. If you would rather roll up your sleeves and see the results of your effort right away, you're in luck. Practical volunteering is everywhere, and most of it needs no special qualifications, only willingness. Fix it. Do you like tinkering? Repair cafés are community events where volunteers mend bikes, toasters, lamps, and clothes for neighbors. They are very common in the Netherlands. You keep things out of the landfill and often chat with interesting people while you work. No expert skills? Many cafés welcome helpers who simply hold the screwdriver or make the coffee. Get behind the wheel. If you have a driving licence, many organizations need volunteer drivers to take people with mobility issues to medical appointments, shops, or social events. It can be the difference between a lonely week and a meaningful outing for someone. Other groups need drivers to collect and deliver donated furniture, clothes, or groceries to people who need them. Sort and organize. Food banks, charity shops, and donation centers rely on volunteers to sort, pack, and shelve goods. It's repetitive in the best way: put on some music, meet your fellow volunteers, and watch the boxes fill. Cook and garden. Community kitchens often need extra hands to prepare meals for people in need, while community gardens welcome anyone happy to dig, plant, and water. You'll get fresh air, new friends, and sometimes a bag of vegetables to take home. Knit with purpose. Prefer a quiet evening on the sofa? Knit scarves and blankets for people experiencing homelessness. Many projects let you personalize them with colors or a small handwritten note, which makes the gift feel seen and accepted. The best way to start is to pick one activity that matches your interests and search for a local group. Small actions add up, and your hands might be exactly what your city needs. Look up vacancies on the Volunteer The Hague platform to plan your next volunteer role!

This special screening of The Sharp Edge of Peace, directed by Roya Sadat, is organised as part of the Gender Justice in International Law Conference, taking place in The Hague on 6–7 October 2026. The event is organised by The Hague Humanity Hub and Art Works Projects, with the support the Gender Justice in International Law Conference. The screening will include a viewing of the exhibition ‘Women Between Peace and War: Afghanistan’and will be followed by a conversation bringing together Afghan, legal, humanitarian and advocacy perspectives to reflect on the situation of women in Afghanistan today and explore the role of international law, diplomacy, civil society and storytelling in keeping their rights and voices on the international agenda. About the event In 2021, four Afghan women — Fatima Gailani, Fawzia Koofi, Habiba Sarabi and Sharifa Zurmati — sat across the negotiating table from the Taliban as members of the Afghan government negotiating team. They entered the talks as political actors and representatives of their country, seeking a path towards peace while defending rights that Afghan women had fought for over decades. The Sharp Edge of Peace, directed by groundbreaking Afghan filmmaker Roya Sadat, takes audiences behind the scenes of these negotiations and follows the women as they navigate political pressure, personal risk and profound uncertainty about Afghanistan’s future. Five years after the Taliban returned to power, the film provides a starting point for a wider conversation: where do the struggle for Afghan women’s rights and international efforts towards justice and accountability stand today — and what role can the international community still play? Following the screening, we will bring together perspectives from international law, humanitarian and development organisations, Afghan women’s rights and peacebuilding, and documentary storytelling. The conversation will explore the legal and diplomatic avenues being pursued to address violations of women’s rights; current debates around the concept of gender apartheid; the challenges of supporting Afghan women without reinforcing or legitimising Taliban rule; and the initiatives that continue to protect women’s education, leadership and civic participation. We will also ask a broader question particularly relevant to The Hague: how can international institutions, governments, civil society, practitioners and citizens contribute to sustaining attention, accountability and meaningful support when a crisis risks disappearing from international focus? The panel speakers will be announced soon. About the film The Sharp Edge of PeaceDirected by Roya SadatProduced by MIRA Studios and Roya Film HouseDocumentary | 2024 | 60 minutes Programme 18:00 Doors open, drinks and snacks & exhibition viewing 18:30 Welcome and introduction 18:40 Screening of The Sharp Edge of Peace 19:40 Panel conversation and audience Q&A 20:30 Networking drinks 21:30 End of event Part of the Gender Justice in International Law Conference This special Just Peace Movie Night forms part of the wider programme around the Gender Justice in International Law Conference, taking place in The Hague on 6–7 October 2026. The conference brings together practitioners, scholars, activists, survivors and policymakers working on gender justice, international law and accountability. By opening the conversation to a wider public audience, this Movie Night creates a bridge between specialist discussions taking place during the conference and the people, experiences and realities at the heart of them. Who is this event for? The event is open to everyone. We particularly welcome conference participants, legal professionals, civil society organisations, humanitarian and development practitioners, peacebuilders, researchers, students and anyone interested in Afghanistan, women’s rights, gender justice, peacebuilding and international accountability. Admission is free, but registration is required. Organised by Art Works Projects and The Hague Humanity Hub, with the support of Cordaid, the Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice and the German Embassy to the Netherlands. About Just Peace Movie Nights Just Peace Movie Nights is a public engagement initiative of The Hague Humanity Hub using film as a starting point for dialogue on pressing peace and justice issues. Combining documentary storytelling with conversations involving practitioners, researchers, advocates and people with lived experience, the series creates an accessible space for audiences in The Hague to engage with complex global issues, encounter different perspectives and connect with people working towards change.

Are you new to The Hague and curious to meet other newcomers? Join us for our Welcome to the Hague event on 26 November 2026 for an enlightening and engaging evening! This is the perfect opportunity to connect with other newcomers while receiving practical information about life in The Hague. This edition will take place at The Fiddler, a traditional English pub and the perfect setting for a fun pub quiz! Organised together with our partner At Home Abroad, you'll test your knowledge of life in the Netherlands while meeting fellow internationals. As the event falls on 'Praat Nederlands Day', you can also expect a Dutch-language challenge or two along the way! Snacks and drinks are on us. Please register to join with the form below and mark your calendars for this playful and enriching event that will equip you with the knowledge and connections to thrive in our beautiful city and country. For catering purposes, we kindly ask you to register every person that will be attending, including children. We look forward to welcoming you to The Hague! When? Thursday, 26 November 2026 Doors open at 17:30 hrs (CET) The event starts at 18:00 hrs, and ends at 20:30 hrs Where? The Fiddler Riviervismarkt 1, 2513AM Den Haag