'Haagse Tribune' (high school students visit political The Hague for a day)

De Haagse Tribune is successfully running for the second year now. It has been developed especially for secondary schools. Each day two or three classes from across the country visit The Hague to participate in this project. During the day they become in an active and involved way familiar with the Dutch political system, the constitutional monarchy.

Schools can choose between the political and the historical program, both available at basic and advanced level. All programs contain a visit to the Dutch Parliament, where the students can sit at the public gallery of the plenary hall. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays they witness a real plenary session here. Another element in all programs is a visit to the historical museum of The Hague. This museum focuses on the main events in the history of the Netherlands. By answering questions, the students come across all these different historical highlights.
Apart from the two standard elements of the project, both the political and the historical program contain various other elements. The political program, for example, includes a 30-minutes interview with a Member of Parliament and watching a DVD about the Dutch democratic system. Depending on the level of the students the day ends either with a role-play that simulates a debate in Parliament or a search for important buildings and statues in the 'Inner Court', the heart of Dutch democracy. The historical program includes a DVD that explains de Dutch political history, a visit to the Senate of the Dutch Parliament and a search for important historical buildings in and around the afore mentioned 'Inner Court'. All programs end with an ‘official vote’ with a ballot-paper and a ballot-box.

The aim of the project is to have each student visit The Hague at least once in his or her school career. So far almost 5000 students have visited The Hague by participating in De Haagse Tribune. Because of the large numbers of schools applying the IPP is expanding this project. As of March 2008 De Haagse Tribune welcomes up to 90 students per day.

This article was published in Politeia Newsletter 48 - February 2008