Impact Economy - Doing good and doing business in The Hague

The Hague a Future-Proof City

The Hague forms a unique junction for private corporations, international governmental organisations, social investors and hundreds of NGOs that focus on global social challenges in the area of climate change, humanitarian aid, innovation in the food sector and renewable energy. Add a constant influx of dynamic impact entrepreneurs and you have the ideal ecosystem for putting the motto ‘doing good & doing business’ into practice. This ambition was set out in one of the economic spearheads adopted by the Municipal Executive in 2015, when it began to build a competitive start-up and scale-up infrastructure. Five years on, many of the goals set at the time have been realised. The new Municipal Executive has reaffirmed the Impact Economy’s importance for a future-proof city – entirely in line with The Hague’s status as International City of Peace and Justice. It is also another means by which The Hague can contribute to the realisation of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

Stimulate the Impact Economy

The Municipality of The Hague wants to stimulate the Impact Economy by creating a very favourable business climate for young entrepreneurs and by making as many targeted investments as possible in people, locations, experiments and ideas. Over the past few years, The Hague has strengthened the start-up hub in the Binckhaven industrial area with thousands of extra metres of space for innovative entrepreneurs. In addition, the Municipality has taken major strides when it comes to facilitating access to networks, capital, talent and markets.

The Hague - connecting minds to work on global challenges

In The Hague people have been working for over a century on global challenges. With figureheads like the Peace Palace, the International Court of Justice, Europol and the International Criminal Court, The Hague is worldwide known as the international city of peace and justice. The Hague is the city for entrepreneurs who want to build a better world.

As a diving board into Europe and the rest of the world, The Hague’s local and at the same time unique international network connects NGOs, knowledge institutes, creative entrepreneurs and leading companies who want to make a difference. The city offers a wide range of possibilities to dynamic impact entrepreneurs - start-ups and scale-ups - from all over the world.

The Hague is a frontrunner in key industries such as Cyber Security, Peace and Justice, IT & Tech, Oil & Gas and renewable energy. This immense knowledge structure, paired with an entrepreneurial spirit, makes The Hague the perfect event destination for an event with a focus on the impact economy.

First ImpactCity in the world

We are proud to be the frontrunner on an international scale when it comes down to join forces for entrepreneurship and impact to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (UN). In fact, The Hague is the first ImpactCity in the world. It is the hotspot for (international) Startups and Scaleups that focus on innovations for a better world. 

Read the recent stories and news on Impact in The Hague.

Impact Fest: Event with focus on Impact Economy

One of the events initiated in The Hague itself is the annual flagship event ImpactFest:

• At the annual Impact Fest, socially engaged purpose-driven entrepreneurs from all corners of the world are given a platform to present their business, pitch their ideas to investors, share experiences to scale together and enjoy coaching support.
• An initiative of the Municipality of The Hague, it only took Impact Fest three years to grow into the largest impact event with international start-ups in the Netherlands.
• Within four years it has become the biggest impact event with international Startups in Europe.
• ImpactFest had almost 2000 participants in 2019 and is one of the “must-attend” events of the year in The Hague, where key change-makers come every year to network and find high impact solutions.

EVPA anniversary in The Hague

In 2019, EVPA (a network of European venture philanthropists) joined Impact Fest in The Hague, attracted by the city's reputation for impact initiatives. The event, in partnership with ESADE Business School, focused on financial sector developments and impact investing guidelines. EVPA convened over 1,000 global investors to celebrate its anniversary. Attendees discussed achievements over 15 years and collaborated on 'doing good & doing business' initiatives. The event facilitated connections between socially engaged financiers and ImpactCity entrepreneurs, fostering knowledge exchange and expanding impact networks. Notably, the event highlighted successes in Asia by EVPA's sister organization, AVPN, and emerging initiatives in Africa and South America.

Discover why the Hague has the right infrastructure, impact network and atmosphere to host the diverse demands of Impact events. 

Growing hub of entrepreneurs

The Hague is a growing hub for innovation and entrepreneurship with a growing number of start-ups, scale-ups and dynamic small and medium-sized businesses. Please refer to the page of our partner organisation The Hague Business Agency for the overview of relevant impact innovation hubs.

Role of The Hague Convention Bureau (THCB)

THCB not only facilitates access to the best event infrastructure the city has to offer but functions as a connector between event planners and local experts, such as the ImpactCity.

• ImpactCity is the startup and scale-up community of The Hague that helps innovative entrepreneurs to successfully start and scale their business here. 
• This impact economy encapsulates economic success going hand in hand with solutions for a better world. 

THCB can also assist in sourcing inspiring keynote speakers and help organisers partner local organisations to put together an impactful side programme as well as engaging educational fam trips.