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Encounters between people of different cultures and of different generations all make up part of The Hagues’programmes of intercultural dialogue. Ces journées à La Haye sont l’occasion de rencontres et d’échanges aussi bien entre les cultures que les générations différentes.
The Mescidi Aksa Mosque was originally built as a synagogue in 1844 and served as such until 1975 when the Jewish community was no longer of sufficient size and the building became a religious and community centre for the Turkish Islamic community in The Hague.Two minarets were later added to the façade. La Mosquée Mescidi Aksa construite en 1844 comme synagogue. En 1975, la communauté juive, devenue trop peu importante, cède le lieu à la communauté Islamique turque de La Haye. Deux minarets sont alors ajoutés à la façade.
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diverse African churches. The itinerary also includes secular amenities which express the diversity of our city, such as a hammam (Islamic bathhouse) and exotic restaurants. At each of these sites visitors are given an introductory talk and tour within the theme of that year. This year, the theme of the day was “Music”, with participating organisations showing the role of music in their culture and religion. Everyone responds to music on an emotional level even if the words being sung are not understood. The World journey is a unique and undemanding way for all residents of The Hague to meet each other. The event obviously meets a need because about 12.000 people participate each year. For many in The Hague, going on this trip is the first time, or the first time in years, that they have visited a district with a multicultural population and have engaged in dialogue with fellow citizens from different cultures. In October 2007, a children’s “Journey round the World” was organised involving an exchange programme between primary schools in multicultural districts and those in primarily Dutch districts. The children related their experiences in a separate “Journey round the World” newspaper. Another event celebrated each year in The Hague is the Haagse Ontmoeting or “The Hague Encounter”, a week in September when a variety of activities is organised to stimulate contact between different cultures and generations. Here too there is a theme: this year it was “The Hague Mosaic City”, in 2007 it was “Young and Old”. Activities included a special naturalisation ceremony, social sofas along a central park, the Hofvijver, the presentation of the Haagse Burgerschapsprijs (The Hague Citizenship Prize) and a huge banquet. Each of the eight city districts hosted exhibitions and organised activities. With over 500 people professionals and volunteers - involved in the preparations this year, participation far exceeded the more
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than 13,500 people who took part in the only one day long 2007 Haagse Ontmoeting. The Citizenship prize is given for the best initiative from The Hague residents for building bridges between cultures. An independent jury chooses three top projects from those submitted and the citizens of The Hague vote on the prize winner. The first Citizenship prize, in 2007, went to a project submitted by a residents’ association in the Laak city district, where a whole week was devoted to introducing all 3100 children in the twelve primary schools of this multicultural district to different kinds of western and non-western art and culture. This year the prize has