Final Bog: 13!

I was very nice to write this blog for you. I hope you liked it as well. I learned a lot about The Hague as international city of Peace and Justice. In marketing terms I learned it is very interesting for a city to use such a profile. It is attractive for foreign companies to be in the city together with the national government, to be in a the city where the Queen lives and work and to be in a city with institutions from the United Nations and the European Union.

It is far bigger than I  knew before I started this blog. Next to this all The Hague also has a deputy mayor for City Marketing. It will take a few more blogs to tell you about it but I accomplish my assignment with this last blog  J

So, I hope you enjoyed reading my blog and I hope to welcome you soon to my city:

THE HAGUE, International City of Peace and Justice!!!

Kind regards,

Jonathan Moges

January 2011

Blog 12: Decisio Report

The marketing report that was released in February 2009 showed that international organizations and companies are responsible for 77,000 jobs in greater The Hague area. It employs approximately 63,000 people directly employed by international organizations and companies. Examples are the International Court of Justice, Shell and the European Patent Office. Approximately 13,000 jobs are filled by expatriates.

Since there are another 14,000 people indirectly employed, mainly because of the presence of international organizations. These jobs are for people with higher or lower educational background. 

The international firms together accounted for approximately 11% of employment in and around The Hague. International organizations provide 4,3% of jobs in the Hague area. Already in the city of The Hague is the total 6,4%.

Approximately 49 companies surveyed in 2006 have moved, removed or were no longer international. Direct employment in 316 international companies in early 2008 was about 49,000 jobs, representing approximately 11% of total employment in Haaglanden. 6% rather 2.899 employees are expatriates.

Most foreign investors come from the U.S., Germany and United Kingdom. Other branches of international companies are based in Rijswijk, Zoetermeer and Delft.

Research has shown that international companies had plans for a 20% expansion in the organization. Most companies want to stay in The Hague.

In 2005 a total of 72 international organizations known in the Hague region offers a total of 12.000 jobs. These organizations had participated in the survey, the number of persons employed increased by more than 900 jobs. That's a growth of 7,6% in 3 years time.

These are some of the economic effects produced by the consultancy Decisio.

Blog 11: Xpats Experience

On my previous training (MBO Marketing & Communications) I had an internship at different companies and I came into contact with expatriates. As examples I give TV West & TV Studio A (Daughter Board Clingendael Media Group ').

TV WEST

On TV West I worked in the marketing / communications department and went looking for foreign companies and often I came in contact with people from municipality of The Hague. In one of the meetings I attended as a marketing assistant for TV West in the New ADO Den Haag stadium. A new English program was presented called International Business For Foreign Companies. Several English entrepreneurs and businesses tell about their business and vision.

I thought this was wonderful and interesting to watch and I learned a lot. Since I was busy with ''Young Entrepreneurs'' myself on the Mondrian school in those days it was of course very useful to see. After launching the program, we offered the Xpat Desk 40 copies of the program, which they handed over to their external relations and business relationships.

Studio A

In Studio A I worked in the marketing department. We did a program about hairdressing-salons at home and abroad. We were offered a contract to participate in a new program called WEST INTERNATIONAL. Of course I recognized the people who I had worked with before. Two weeks it became a huge success and many people watched the program. It was broadcasted all over The Hague region and also put on internet.

Blog 10 Xpats

For this blog I spoke to one of the information officers working at the Xpat Desk. He told me their service is way behind municipal matters. In the pyramid of Maslov you will find the needs of persons in any situation. This theory is also applicable for expats. People want housing, food, drinks, security at the basic. Things like yoga, religion and self-development come in a later stadium. After the necessary administration they also want to find internet, sport and cultural events. This information is also given by the Xpat Desk.

In The Hague the Xpat Desk is working together with the expat volunteer organization ACCESS. A volunteer organization for and operated by internationals. This people already experienced the process of relocation himself or herself.  It is easy for them to identify with the problems expats face in their relocation process.

New in The Hague is the service or registration in municipal database records (GBA) for high skilled knowledge migrants. This particular group gets their working permit, residence permit, municipal registration and tax number in one visit. It is all arranged by their company. It makes a  big different in the world. This people can choose where to work and live due to their skills. With this special procedure it makes it easy to settle in The Hague.

Knowing it takes a long time to get a working internet connection the municipality hands out welcome packages to new residents. All the information is available on the internet but a physical information package is still appreciated by new arrivals.

They also created a “welcome to The Hague program”. This is a nice program starting with a welcome by the deputy mayor. An introduction of the service given by the Xpat Desk and includes a guided tour in the old part of the city centre. This program helps expats to settle and meet other internationals as well.

Blog 9 Xpats

An expatriate (in abbreviated form, expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing or legal residence. The word comes from the Latin term expatriātus from ex ("out of") and patriā the ablative case of patria ("country, fatherland").

With my blogs I have tried to give you an impression about international The Hague.  The many international organization of the United Nations, the European Union, the commercial companies and the Corps Diplomatique. For a city (municipality) like The Hague these international residents are important because they are over 10% of there residents! They calculated about 35.000 expats living in The Hague and about 50.000 expats in the greater The Hague area.

What is The Hague doing about it?

The Hague started their Xpat desk already in March 2006, as part of the Hague Hospitality Centre.  It was the first Xpat Desk in the Netherlands. In the beginning they focused on international media but fast they became more involved in serving the international community. In 2011 you find about 12 expat desks al over The Netherlands. Any city with industry, hospitals, universities have an Xpat desk today.

An Xpat desk is serving the international community. The Xpat Desk of  The Hague is situated in the atrium of the City Hall. For 40 hours a week people are helping expats with all sort of question about their relocation and settling. They revieve questions from people before arrival, at entrance and during their stay. Even when people leave the city or country.Amazing fact; all service is for free! Their municipal website www.thehague.com is completly in English.

Blog 8 International Education

Lycee François Vincent van Gogh
In The Hague, you have also the French Lycee school called Vincent van Gogh, they are also located in Amsterdam. In The Hague there are located in Wassenaarseweg.  

Deutsche Internationale Schule Den Haag (DISDH)
The German school caters for about 600 children. The school operates on a German education module that is different to the Dutch and International system. They are located in van Bleiswijkstraat 125 The Hague. 

Polish School in The Hague
In The Hague you also have the Polish International School. They are located at the van der Spiegelstraat.

Local Dutch Schools with bilingual streams 

The Hague University & In Holland
At The Hague University and In Holland there are several studies that you can follow in English, which naturally is attractive to international students in English.  
There are also foreign exchange students who study at The Hague or In Holland.  
These studies available are: 

• International European Law
• International Communication Management
• Facilities  Management

Mondriaan International Hotel of Management (MIHM)
Mondriaan Education Group offers 4 years of international hotel education in English, mainly in the field of Hospitality and Business. This is a form of vocational training in the the specialised filed and upon graduation, the student are awarded MBO diploma.

The school has 4 of operating restaurants and a 4 star hotel with 5 bedrooms. 
The Mondriaan hotel school  is located at the Koningin Marialaan  and Helena and Helena in The Hague.

In Future 

A University comes to The Hague!
In 1999, a branch of University of Leiden opened its Campus the Hague. The campus is expanding and if everything goes according to plan, The University of Leiden-The Hague will be of established in the city.

It will nice for The Hague profile, to Leiden include  a University of a good reputation,  nationally and internationally , besides the peace, security and justice.

Blog 7 International Education

In The Hague there are over 6,000 students at international schools and 3,500 students in Dutch bilingual school. The Hague offers the largest amount of international education in The Netherlands.
Below are some examples of the International Schools 
British School of the Netherlands (BSN)
The British school has 4 offices in The Hague and one in Assen, which are based on age and study of the child. Below is the list of the offices. The BSN has students from 80 different nationalities.

• Junior Schools Vlaskamp (JSV)
• Junior School Diamanthorst (JSD)
• Junior School Leidschenveen (JSL), with day care school for babies and toddlers
• Senior School in Voorschoten
• Senior School, Assen

The Junior School are for the children aged between 7 and 13. Students join the Senior School when they are at least 11 years old and can complete their education at the age 16 or 18.  

The academic programme at the Senior School is based on Key Stages 3 & 4 of the British National Curriculum, culminating in the internationally recognized qualifications of GCSEs and A Levels or the IB Diploma.

The International school of The Hague (ISH)

The international school of The Hague offers an English International recognised education to young people at primary and secondary level. The ISH is proud to be the first school in the world to be accredited at the highest possible level by the International Primary Curriculum (ICP).

The ISH is  part of a Dutch national educational foundation, subsidised by the Dutch government. This subsidy allows the school to offer  international education at reasonable price .  the Haagsche Schoolvereeniging. ISH is located in Wijndaelerduin 1. 

American School of The Hague (ASH)
At Ash has over 1000 students from different origins. 10% at the ASH study of Dutch descent. 30% American and 60% will come from different countries. This school offers various studies and has 3 levels. 

• Elementary school
• Middle school
• High School

The ASH offers several sports during and after school time. 

The Haagsche Schoolvereeniging  (HSV)
The Haagsche Schoolvereeniging (HSV) is a Dutch International Primary School located at several locations in  The Hague. The HSV caters for children with all types of needs, including children who are dyslexic or children who require private or special educational and training. HSV Headquarters is located at Nassau Avenue & Queen Sophie Street. 

Blog 6 International Business / organizations

In business, The Hague is not as big as Rotterdam or Amsterdam; however Royal Dutch Shell decided to base their head office in the city. For this reasons the shut down their office in the United Kingdom.

SHELL

Royal Dutch Shell plc, known as just Shell is a global oil and gas company.  The headquarter is in The Hague, Netherlands, it is the largest energy company in the country  and the second largest company in the world in terms of  revenues and it  is one of the six oil and gas ‘’super majors’’. Shell has got 2.894 employees in The Hague.

ING

ING is a financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking, insurance and asset management services. ING is an abbreviation of International Netherlands Group. ING employs 1.300 people in The Hague.

Siemens

Siemens AG is a German engineering conglomerate that is the largest in Europe and has active in The Netherlands since 1879. Siemens has two International headquarters located in The Netherlands and Germany.

The main business sectors are:

–      Industry

–      Energy

–      Healthcare

Siemens The Hague employs 1.250 people

KPN

KPN is a Dutch landline and mobile telecommunications company. KPN is located in The Hague and has got 4.500 employees.

ABB Lummens

ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies that enables utility and industry to its customers in the petro-chemical sector to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. ABB operates in more than 100 countries and has offices in 87 countries. Abb Lumnens in The Hague has got 897 employees

AEGON

AEGON’s businesses focus on life insurance, pensions, savings and investment products. The group is also hav limited banking activities. AEGON has got 1.500 employees in The Hague.

HCL Technologies

HCLT is one of India’s leading global IT Services companies, providing software-led IT solutions, remote infrastructure management services and BPO. HCL Technologies has got 120 employees in The Hague.

TMNS

TMNS is a European Service Provider with offices in The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. Since the start of TMNS in 2002, the company has focused on supporting customers in the pragmatic application of complex and state-of-the-art Integration Technology. 93 people are employed at TMNS in The Hague.

Blog 5 International Organizations (European Union, NGO’s and CD)

NGO’S:

The NATO Consultation, Command and Control Agency (NC3A) is a non-profit and is 100% customer-funded organization. The Agency is an alliance of NATO, it is responsible for delivering high quality technology in support of missions NATO' and its partners.

HCCH The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) is the oldest international organization based in The Hague, it exists since 1893. The mission of HCCH is that cooperation between individuals and corporate legal way to understand each other. The first International World Peace Conference was held in The Hague In 1899.

The Centre for International Legal Cooperation (CILC) is a Dutch-based non-profit organization that designs and implements rule of law programmers and projects. CILC operates worldwide. CILC is being supported by representatives of the professional organizations of judges, lawyers and notaries. 

In Information and communication technology (IID) is a non-profit foundation that specializes in information and communication technology as a tool for development. IICD is active in Africa and Latin America where bring we about technical and social innovations that create and enhance development opportunities in education. 

ECCP, The European Centre for Conflict Prevention (ECCP) is a non-governmental organization (NGO). ECCP was dealing with effective conflict prevention and peace building strategies.  The ECCP was established in 1997 and was set up in The Hague in  April 2006 it.

ECCP envisions the participation of the local population in peace building and function as a neutral information source and network organization. As of 1^st January 2011 the ECCP changed its name to the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC).

Global Human Rights Defence (GHRD) is an International human rights organization. GHRD has the aim to specifically address those areas and populations of the world where severe and extensive human rights violations of certain ethnic and religious minorities have taken place for long periods. GHRD has projects in: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, Suriname and Sri Lanka.

The Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) is an independent nonprofit institution. IHJR works with educational and public policy institutions to organize and sponsor historical discourse in pursuit of acknowledgement, and the resolution of historical disputes. The vision of IHJR is that many ethnic and nationalist conflicts are rooted in unresolved historical disputes and injustices.

CD: Corps Diplomatic:  Embassies & Consulates

The Netherlands maintains diplomatic relations with 175 states, 115 of which are represented in The Hague with an embassy or consulate. In The Hague there are over 131 international organizations and international politics. Diplomatic residences are also situated in the neighbouring municipality of Wassenaar. 

Blog 4 International Organizations (European Union, NGO’s and CD)

With major international organizations, former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill praised The Hague and European unity in 1948.

In 1952 the Netherlands was one of six co-founding members of the European Union (EU), with the 27 EU countries, including former Central and Eastern European countries. The association of 27 European countries at all levels of international, national and local changes. The Hague is an important city of the European Union, particularly hosting a number of European organizations and international organizations.

EU: 

Eurojust is a network of judicial authorities to support the EU Member States in dealing with serious cross-border and organized crime. Eurojust's mission is to develop Europe-wide collaboration to strength the field of criminal matters. Since December 2002 is Eurojust established in The Hague.

Europol works in close cooperation with the authorities in all 27 EU Member States. It also supports the Member States by facilitating the exchange of information to achieve an effective fight against organised crime and terrorism. The Europol keeps track deals with various issues such action against organized crime and terrorism, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and trafficking networks. 

The Montesquieu Institute (MI) for the study comparative European Parliamentary history and constitutional development was launched in the summer of 2007. Projects in 2008 included  the scientific research, symposia and seminars, permanent and refresher courses and knowledge exchange programmes. 

 

Blog 3 International Organizations (United Nations and world organisation’s)

The Hague is home to over 250 international organizations (including NGOs) working in the field of peace, justice and security as a result of its rich legacy in international politics. The Hague is the only city outside New York with a key UN body and is home to almost every international organization in the field of peaceful administration. In 1998,the former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, described in The Hague as the legal capital of the world. World famous examples are the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Court.

In 1903, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie gave $ 1.5 million to the Netherlands for the construction of the Peace Palace and the establishment of the Carnegie Foundation. The Hague Academy of International Law was founded on July 14, 1923 in accordance with the ideas of the Second Hague Peace Conference of 1907.  

Here some examples:

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established in 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and installed in April 1946 in the Peace Palace. The ICJ is composed of 15 judges chosen by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council for a term of nine years. Authorised Nations organs and specialised agencies can also refer legal questions to the ICJ for advisory opinions.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration was founded in 1899 as a result of the first Hague Peace Conference, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) was the world's first international to facilitate arbitration and other forms of dispute resolution between states. Since 1913 it has been housed in the Peace Palace.

In 1913 the Peace Palace Library (PPL) was opened as the world's first single library on international, comparative and foreign national law. The library has one of the world's largest collections in the field of international law, public, private law and foreign national law, as well as an extensive collection on international political and diplomatic history and the history of peace movements.  

After the Chemical Weapons Convention was signed in Paris in 1993, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) established in 1997 to implement the Chemical Weapons Convention.

The Iran-United States Claims Tribunal (IUSCT) was established to  address and to resolve relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America.

The International Centre for Terrorism - The Hague (ICCT) is an independent research centre that focuses on creating, collecting and disseminating information regarding the preventive and legal aspects of international terrorism. 

The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) was established in 1993 by the United Nations Security Council Resolution to the serious violations of international humanitarian law committed in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991 to tackle. The ICTY is responsible for bringing to trial persons charged with violations of international humanitarian law, to render justice to their victims, to deter further violation of the law and to help restore peace by reconciliation. 

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) is an international UN tribunal and  to try all those who are alleged responsible for the attack of 14 February 2005 in Beirut that killed the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others.

  

International Criminal Court (ICC) is a fully independent organization with 108 member countries. It represents all major legal traditions of the world and judges crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. 

  

Blog 2: History of The Hague

The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice.

Blog 2:  History of The Hague
The Hague started as a small village around 1230 with the building of the Knight Hall.

In 1899 there were hundreds of delegates from 26 countries met for three months at Huis ten Bosch (the royal residence) for the First Peace Conference. An attempt to set standards for resolving conflicts between nations, gave birth to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The conference was originally summoned at the urging of Mikhail Nikolayevich Muravyov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, followed by an even larger Second Peace Conference in The Hague in 1907.

The world-famous Peace Palace in The Hague, was officially opened in 1913 on the eve of the First World War, it was funded by Andrew Carnegie. It is the home to the Permanent Court of Arbitration, it welcomed the Permanent Court of International Justice (under the League of Nations) in 1922. The International Court of Justice is seen as the judicial organ of the United Nations. In 1998, The Hague's 750th birthday celebrated with a grand memorial, and the city international community was well recognized.

The Hague had many special people and celebrities who visited the city of The Hague. The Russian Tsar Peter the Great of Russia visited The Hague in 1697 and 1717, he received a royal welcome. The Italian adventurer Giacomo Casanova visited The Hague in 1759 and fought a duel on the Malieveld. Other famous visitors and residents were Van Gogh, Descartes, Spinoza, Erasmus, Hugo Grotius and Mozart. 

Today The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands with a population of ca.463.754 inhabitants. The Hague has always been a city of storks, the stork is on the arms and the logo of the municipality.

Blog 1: Introduction and welcome to my blog

The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice.

Blog 1: Introduction and welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog! My name is Jonathan Moges, I study Business Economics Marketing & Sales at The Hague University of applied science. In this blog I will tell you a bit more about myself. I’m 24 years old, I am very fond of sports, especially football which  I have been playing football for more  than 17 years, I also play tennis, I love running and  basketball. Apart from sports I also love to travel and see  different cities, I have had the opportunity  to travel several European countries, it is great to experience other cultures and meet different people. In my spare time I work in catering industry and for relaxation I like to spend time with my family and friends.

For my studies in Business Communication, I have to write a professional blog about a subject which is related to my study program. I  have chosen  to write about:

The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice.

Because,  I live in the city of The Hague and proud that The Hague is such an important city for the Netherlands. It is interesting for me to learn about The Hague and what The Hague is doing as an international city of Peace and justice.  But I will also show you the marketing and economic side of this international The Hague. I mainly want to focus on the international arm of The Hague and the various organizations which are located here. I will start with some brief history and a short tour passing over 40 international organisations of the United Nations, the European Union and Multinationals like SHELL. I will also inform you about the more than 110 consulates and embassies, the 80 Non Governmental organisations (NGOS’s) and the many international schools in The Hague region. This group composes about 50.000 people from the international community (“expats”).

In this blog I will also inform you what the city administration is doing for this international community and of course most important about the marketing and economical effects of this profile as international city of peace and justice.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog!