At the Koekamp, near The Hague Central Station, StreetLevel meets people gathering around the soup bus. Every evening, warm meals are distributed here and sometimes, hope as well.
Tonight, something goes wrong. A woman suddenly feels pain in her chest and arm. Ed and Lidia act immediately: they call the street doctor, and soon after, an ambulance arrives. While the paramedics examine her, her friend watches over her belongings, making sure the bicycle is parked safely, that nothing is left behind.
A small but powerful image of solidarity on the street.
A little later, we stand among the trees near Madurodam. There, a man has built his own sleeping spot carefully and creatively, using tarps and wood. He welcomes us as guests.
He opens one plastic tray of sushi, pours soy sauce, and hands out napkins. “Come, eat with me,” he says with a smile.
We stand there, in the cold, holding the tray in our hands, and for a moment the world stands still. Someone who owns almost nothing shares what little he has — a gesture that says more than a thousand words.
At the end of the evening, the van stops at “Hier en Nu,” the Salvation Army’s shelter on Wagenstraat. There we meet Daniel and Andrei, two men from Romania who have been living on the streets for several months. They both receive a Sheltersuit. As Daniel puts his on, he begins to smile.
Daniel tells us he used to work in logistics and makes music. “We need more of this,” he says. “Innovations that help, and people who care.” His words stay with us.
An estimated 7,000 people live without a home in The Hague, including around 1,700 young people. Not everyone wants or is able to sleep in a night shelter. The halls are crowded, the stimuli overwhelming, and safety isn’t always guaranteed. That’s why what StreetLevel does is so important: they bring practical help, but above all, they bring humanity. Used Sheltersuits are washed at 50|50, the Salvation Army’s social enterprise, and redistributed. In this way, warmth, both literal and symbolic, continues to circulate through the city.
The evening with StreetLevel showed that change often begins with small gestures, a cup of coffee, a listening ear, a Sheltersuit. Every encounter matters.
Help us bring protection and hope to more people.
