BZ’s working environment in and around The Hague

Team NL

The Central Government Real Estate Agency (RVB) and FMHaaglanden (FMH) deal with BZ’s accommodation and facilities services in The Hague and Rijswijk. Elvis Sukurica, senior housing adviser at Team NL explains, ‘We do our utmost to create a working environment that meets the needs of our Hague-based colleagues. From minor modifications to larger scale projects, such as the reallocation of office space at R8, or the renovation of the Rijswijk building, where the staff of the Diplomatic Courier Service work. In order to create the best possible working environment, it’s essential that we work closely with service providers in The Hague like FMH and RVB.

Optimising the current working environment in The Hague and Rijswijk is a big challenge for Team NL. ‘Hybrid working is now the norm, so in recent years we’ve worked to create flexible office spaces with a reasonable distribution of available workstations,’ Elvis says. ‘Using workspace occupancy surveys and input from staff, we’ve set up existing spaces as efficiently as possible, always trying to strike a balance between facilities that do more to foster teamwork and those that allow staff to do work requiring intense concentration.’ In 2025 Team NL will start making preparations for our future building, the Hoftoren, BZ’s new headquarters in The Hague, which will accommodate all ministry staff. ‘We’ll all be together under one roof, with enough workstations and a working environment that’s suited to BZ’s work processes. It should be a place where all BZ staff feel at home and can perform their jobs effectively. That means future-proof accommodation for BZ in The Hague,’ Elvis says.

Security access

‘Until it’s time to move to our new single location, we’re here to ensure that staff can work safely and effectively at our current locations,’ Elvis explains. ‘Both at Rijnstraat 8 and Terminal Zuid we have lots of ongoing projects, which vary in scale, impact and duration.’ ‘One of the larger projects we recently carried out at R8 involved security access to the BZ floors of the building,’ says Esther Siepkes-Den Boer, client manager at FMH. ‘The success of this project was due to the close cooperation between BZ, the Hague-based service providers and the other occupants of R8.’

A place to connect

Another major project in 2024 was the creation of a new coffee lounge at R8. ‘It was an intense process,’ according to Esther. ‘The idea for the coffee lounge went back to 2018, but evolving requirements and needs meant that the plans were revised multiple times. We’re delighted that the lounge is now open. With hybrid working now the norm, the lounge provides an extra space for staff at R8 to meet up and work together, and it can also be used as an event location. This space is certainly getting a lot of use. It’s great to see staff gathering together there, just as we envisaged.’

Senior management wing and data clean room

Team NL has been hard at work in R8’s senior management wing too. Diederik ten Holder, Deputy Director of the Executive Support Department (DOB), explains: ‘Thanks to the close collaboration between Team NL and the Hague-based service providers, we’ve managed to make a range of improvements to the senior management wing. We’ve enhanced the acoustics, for example, and the chairs in the meeting spaces are being reupholstered. These may seem like small changes, but they have a big impact in terms of creating a comfortable working environment. Team NL has also completed several other projects. These include creating a data clean room (for information security purposes) and streamlining the rules concerning the use of official cars. 

‘What distinguishes Team NL is its goal-oriented approach,’ Diederik says. ‘In my role I have weekly contact with DHF about these kinds of matters. I appreciate the fact that our concerns are taken seriously and real improvements are made.' In creating an optimal working environment for BZ, Team NL thoroughly explores the user requirements. Diederik recently joined the Board of Deputy Directors-General on a tour of the Hoftoren building: ‘It’s inspiring to think that this stunning building will be our new headquarters!’ 

Sustainable and future-proof

In its capacity as the ministry’s facilities contact centre (FCC), FMH is the first point of contact in The Hague for questions, reports or complaints about facilities-related matters. The contact centre’s staff will then determine which office (PoortCentraal or FMH itself) will deal with the matter in question.  

If you have any questions or you’d like to report an issue, you can contact FCC by phone or email (FMHFCC@rijksoverheid.nl ). You can also report an issue using the form in the FMH facilities portal (Facilitor).

The building app PandInfo is available as a (download in the Rijksappstore). It’s a useful app with updates and news about R8, and information about the building and its services. For more information on FMHaaglanden, please visit www.fmhaaglanden.nl