Written by: Laura Linga

Lotte Ottevanger is a one-of-a-kind human of The Hague. She is creative, fiercely dedicated, and deeply connected to the city’s pulse. At 29, she embodies the city’s underground spirit: experimental, rough around the edges, and full of untapped potential. As the newly elected Night Mayor, she doesn’t just represent the nightlife; she protects it.

We visited Lotte at her studio, a beautiful space where she creates and explores new perspectives. Over a cup of tea, she spoke with a clear mission: to prove that the night is not just about noise, but about the human need for belonging.

Who is Lotte?

“I was born and raised here, and although I moved away for my studies at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, I came back immediately. The Hague is my place because there is so much room for experimentation and a ‘rough’ underground vibe. I call myself a multidisciplinary artist because I don’t have a fixed medium, I use whatever tells the story best, whether that’s film, photography, or building an immersive installation.”

“Even as a child, I had this urge to create. I would draw all night in a state of hyper-focus, completely tuned out from the world. That hasn’t changed. I still go ‘all in’ on everything I do. I believe life isn’t about fitting into a mold or reaching a point where you are suddenly an ‘adult’. It’s about being yourself and staying open to the flow.”

The Night is Alive

“A lot of people say nightlife in The Hague is ‘dead,’ but I don’t think that’s true at all. It’s just misunderstood. The community is actually strong and supportive of one another. It’s a unique identity, we have the formal world of the ministries and the International organisations during the day, and this creative, clashing energy at night. It’s not dead; it’s just something that needs to be discovered.”

The Role of the Night Mayor & The Nachtpact

“I became the Night Mayor because I realised that night culture wasn’t seen as important enough to preserve. When I researched the city archives, I found almost nothing on our club’s history. I wanted to build a bridge between the underground and the policymakers. I want to translate the ‘why’ of the night to the people making the laws.”

“My primary goals for the next two years are safety and visibility. I’m working to broaden the Nachtpact (Night Pact), an agreement on door policy and safety. Right now, only a few clubs have signed on, and I want to make it compelling enough that everyone wants to be part of it. When a venue signs the pact, they agree to provide safety training for all their staff, which is a crucial step in preventing discrimination and improving the atmosphere inside.”

“I also want to look at what happens outside the clubs, improving night transportation so people can get to every corner of the city safely after a night out. These goals come from my own experience and frustrations, like being catcalled on the street. I want to make the night a shared responsibility where everyone feels protected.”

One of her favourite memories

“The slogan for my campaign was Het Lot van de Nacht. My name, Lotte, translates to ‘Lot’, which means ‘Fate’ in Dutch. My boyfriend came up with it, and it just clicked. It’s a joke, but it’s also the truth: the fate of the night is something I carry with a lot of pride.”

Words to live by

“Don’t judge the person in the club at 7:00 AM; you don’t know their story. Try to understand that the night is a place for trial and error, for finding your tribe. Above all, don’t try to be an adult, just be yourself. Every choice you make teaches you something, and that’s what life is: a continuous loop of learning.” 

About the writer: Laura

Originally from the Philippines, Laura Linga is a writer, host, and global communicator based in The Hague. Her work is guided by empathy and curiosity, seeking the authentic heart in narratives that connect us, from local communities to the Filipino diaspora worldwide. In The Hague, Laura is a familiar face with active presence: she is the Host and Project Lead of Volunteer The Hague Talks, one of the presenters of Den Haag FM’s Dutchbuzz, and the Communications and PR Manager for the International Film Festival The Hague.
Photo by: Dimitri Mainas