News report | 12-01-2026 | 15:10
His Majesty the King will pay a working visit on Wednesday afternoon, January 21, to Straat Consulaat in The Hague. The organization advocates for the individual and collective interests of homeless people in The Hague, provides information and advice to anyone who is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, and works with staff and volunteers who have personal experience with homelessness. Straat Consulaat is the winner of the Grote Appel 2025 from the Oranje Fonds.
The Kings visit starts at the meeting place ‘Straat Bakkie’. The baristas of this coffee bar are also experts by experience and offer visitors a hospitable, safe place and a listening ear. After a conversation with volunteers and visitors of the coffee bar, the King will receive a tour. He will speak with staff and volunteers about, among other things, advocacy and the commitment to specific and growing groups of homeless people. Support in finding appropriate help and connecting participants with the network of caregivers and policymakers will also be discussed. The working visit will conclude with a roundtable discussion. Staff and board members of Straat Consulaat will join, as well as representatives of organizations from other cities committed to homeless people and a national coalition advocating for people who are (at risk of) homelessness. This discussion will cover approaches to homelessness at both local and national levels and cooperation to improve homelessness policy.
The Appeltjes van Oranje annually honors and rewards three initiatives from organizations that work within the social domain for an inclusive, involved society. These initiatives ensure that no one has to stand alone and that everyone can participate in society. The prize consists of a bronze statue designed by Princess Beatrix and a cash prize of 25,000 euros. The theme of the Appeltjes van Oranje 2025 was ‘Indispensable links – the power of social initiatives’. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima are patrons of the Oranje Fonds.
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