Stadstekenaar: Jonge Stadsdichter

The city artist (2023-2025) Babette Wagenvoort draws assemblies at places in The Hague, every month we publish one. This time: The state of civic participation at the Royal Theatre.

"The Hague is a girl / unsuspecting, young / hopping through her own streets / Like a bubble / just before the rain comes" writes Adelina Ignat, who was named the Young City Poet of The Hague 2024 at the Central Library on 25 January. With the poem "Bubble", she won the high school competition in which students from all districts of The Hague participated.
Both the jury (Sophia Blyden, Hasan Gök and Dean Bowen) and the audience were clearly impressed by the performances of the eight finalists, who read very personal poems in which they used the city of The Hague as a sounding board. The final was presented by Splinter Chabot, who showed great commitment to the young writers. The first Young City Poet, Chelsy Valentina, said that being a city poet had brought her a lot - 'this caterpillar has become a butterfly!'

With this initiative, the organisers want to let people hear what is on the minds of young people in The Hague. Throughout this year, Adeline Ignat will speak at important and current events in The Hague. So she will be busy, but there will be no lack of inspiration: "There is always a lot going through my mind," she says when Chabot asks her about her expectations. "I have the chance to become a butterfly." Now let's hope that during her metamorphosis in the coming year, the Young City Poet will also have time to work with the city artist!