Hoody

We would like to improve the stigmatized image of Schilderswijk by promoting local businesses in a place that would appeal to the people outside of Schilderswijk.

Schilderswijk is an area of the city center of The Hague that always had a bad reputation in the media coverage and in general. A lot of citizens in The Hague are afraid to visit or go through the area. We would like to reduce the stigma and the negative association attached to Schilderswijk by introducing the multiculturalism and the hospitality of the neighborhood. The team behind Hoody try to create social cohesion by having this hip and cool place in Schilderswijk for people to visit. When people will actually visit our place they will realize that the neighborhood is just another area and not this scary place they imagined. At Hoody, we also try to make people more accepting of others by connecting people through food and food for thought.

Hoody is a food hall/social happening in the neighborhood called Schilderswijk in The Hague which functions as a buffer zone. At Hoody, we try to create an inclusive place where people can go after work to drink a beer and eat some multicultural food made by local businesses. We will also organize art exhibitions, performances, and workshops by people from the area to really engage the neighborhood and the people from outside the area. We hope to educate people about the different cultures existing together in The Hague and more importantly about accepting each other.

Aleksandra Zakrzewska

Leiden University, International Studies

“During my studies, for almost the entire time I have been living in Schilderswijk. I was shocked when I heard that it is perceived as a very dangerous neighborhood. To me, the area is full of life and different cultures and I find it very unjust that people have only negative connotations with it. In order to make Schilderswijk closer to people from outside, Hoody seems like a nice and comfortable place to get to know and experience other cultures and also the Schilderswijk itself. “

Randy Ramli

Leiden University, Biology

“Growing up in The Hague I always had to pass through Schilderswijk to get to the city center. Me and my friends never had any problems with being there so I think the fear of people for the neighbourhood is unfair. I want to show people that this place is just like any other place. understanding people will reduce inequalities and I think that with Hoody we can come a long way.”

Dorottya Gazsi

Leiden University, International Studies

“Hoody started as a fun idea in our group but eventually turned out to be something much more than that. I have been studying about social problems and inequalities for the past three years but I never had the chance to actually do something about it. With Hoody, I hope to have an impact on a pressing social problem and hopefully, on the long-run, it can be implemented in different places as well.”

Special thanks to:

Eszter Zetelaki

Gyorgy Racz

Balazs Kadosa-Kiss

Pieter Slaman