Good Place

From the rural area of Japan, she made a move to Tokyo, where she decided to go and live in Europe for a bit. And from all the possible city choices, her husband and Izumi chose for The Netherlands. At first Amsterdam, but they settled in The Hague, alongside her kids, 5,5 years ago. A wonderful conversation about how to raise kids in a different culture without neglecting where you're from. A...

He's not so much a city person and loves to live in a rather quiet place with his family. That's why he lives in Lelystad, but does commute to Amsterdam every day, for work and to fulfill his love for street photography. Meet Caspar, a Korean, who has lived his entire life in The Netherlands. An insightful conversation about culture, family, and connecting with strangers on the streets. Fo...

She's passionate about spaces, specifically empty spaces, either in public or in buildings. Kristen made it her mission as an entrepreneur of Plot Twist Placemaking, to transform spaces into mixed-use destinations that make a social, environmental, and economic impact. After leaving Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada, she has chosen Amsterdam as her new home which has become the perfect playground...

Originally from Lebanon, he studied Food Design in Brussels, moved to #Amsterdam 6 years ago, and is planning on leaving for Italy later this year. Although he's chasing his dreams as a food storyteller and chef, working on some amazing projects, he's also worried about his family back home in #Beirut who are doing their best each day to survive. This is the narrative of a man who lives in...

The CouchSurfing travel concept brought him to Amsterdam one day, where he made a friend for life and where he also realized that he wanted to move there in 2012. A few years later though, he exchanged Amsterdam for Rotterdam, but already is making plans of going back. Let's find out why, what Jan is seeking for in a city and what drives him in life.

All by herself and a backpack, she stood there at a London station, dedicated to starting a new life in a new city. That was 4 years ago and she now has the best life in London. Let's get to know Marta and the move she made.

It was her dream to come to Amsterdam when she visited the city in 1998. But she patiently waited until the moment was right when she retired in Brazil, it was time to move. An inspiring story about how you're never too old to fulfill your dream.

This time the public bench hosted an unbelievable life story. Meet Marwan, half Iraqi and half Dutch, who was separated from his mother and sister for 35 years. Until they got reunited, since he was able to move to The Hague in The Netherlands a few years ago, with his own family, his wife, and three sons. A touching story about what a good place is in life.

The youngest person on the public bench so far. Meet 22-year old Taki, who was born in Japan, but mainly grew up in Luxebourg and Barcelona. He only recently came to live in Amsterdam and started a really impressive project called Humans Talk Humans, where he interviews strangers on the street. Very fun to watch, same as the conversation we were having in Sarphatipark in Amsterdam. Enjoy!

She moved to The Hague in 1986, has the best neighbors in town, and dedicates her time to helping others, who have come here as an expat and those who require help and good company. An inspiring conversation about life on a bench in The Hague.

After growing up in different places abroad, he found his creative journey in Madrid, where he currently runs an agency and various other projects. Meet Román, who after a challenging time is in better place now. Enjoy this honest conversation about life and the place he lives in.

Moving here felt like she could breath again. Sayuri is a student who decided to leave Nagasaki for The Hague and follow a Masters programme. She's currently working on a Japanese magazine about her findings in The Netherlands. Let's hear her story!

St. Andrews, Barcelona, New York, Hong Kong, and for more than a decade in #Amsterdam. Ben Culpin has been around the world and has various references to understand what a #goodplace should be like. Enjoy our conversation on a public bench in the beautiful neighborhood of Amsterdam West. Want to watch or listen to more episodes of Good Place? Check it out via Spotify, Apple, or Google Podcasts: ht...

Dana Marin is originally from Romania but moved to The Netherlands 13 years ago, living in Amsterdam for 9 years and now she found her good place in Alkmaar. As a digital creator she runs various websites where she shares her love for places. Let's find out about her favourite places!

I met up with software engineer, Xiao Dong, a couple of weeks ago on a public bench at Lange Voorhout in The Hague. He grew up in his hometown #Chongqing, an industrial city in the South Western region of China, then Sechuan, to come and study in Delft, The Netherlands in 2017. He has lived in The Hague since 2020, right before the pandemic kicked in, but he feels at home here. An inspiring conver...

She moved to Amsterdam a year ago and although she is half Dutch, there are still differences in how she was brought up in South Africa. Meet Lucia Schlemmer, who loves everything urban, in conversation with public bench host Robin Cox, this time in Amsterdam.

Last Summer we spent a lovely afternoon on a public bench in Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin, with Regina Schröter, a designer of urban futures. From studying in Munich, living in Amsterdam three times, and now in Berlin for the second time, she currently is in a good place but also in a place of exploration, finding out a lot of things about herself. Let's explore along!

I visited Berlin over Summer to meet up with my good friend Marta, who recently moved from Madrid to Berlin. For a lot of reason, but mostly for love. This is a conversation about mobility, creativity, friendship and a lot more themes. Enjoy the conversation on a public bench in Kreuzberg, Berlin.

Michiel started a newspaper for expats in 2007, called The Local Expat, and knows really well how the expat community in The Hague has evolved over time. Let's find out more about how life as an expat is in a city like The Hague. #goodplace You can visit The Local Expat here: https://thelocalexpat.com/ Want to watch or listen to more episodes of Good Place? Check it out via Spotify, Apple, or...

Connecting with another neighbor, meet Craig Thomson, originally from Toronto, Canada, but who moved to The Hague within 3 months, because his wife got a great job opportunity over here. An interesting conversation about what 'home' is, how life has changed, meeting new people, and how our perspectives change over time, across different chapters in life. Enjoy the episode! In this episode,...

Welcome to the Good Place podcast series where we explore the fascinating stories of individuals like Elizabeth Njeru, whose journey from Embu, Kenya to The Hague, Netherlands, is nothing short of inspiring. In this episode, Elizabeth shares her experiences of cultural fusion, love, and personal growth as she navigates life in a new country, married to her Dutch husband. Discover how she combines...

Join us as we delve into the fascinating story of Tyron Strachan and his wife's relocation from vibrant Johannesburg, South Africa, to the enchanting city of The Hague, Netherlands. In this first episode, they share their insights, challenges, and memorable experiences of transitioning between these two culturally rich destinations. Listen in as we discuss everything from adjusting to Dutch custom...