Written by: Laura Linga

Roben Scholten is a dreamer who thinks in impossibilities, until his community reminds
him of what’s possible. As the founder of the Dutch Language Cafe, he isn’t just
teaching a language… he’s actively reducing social isolation by creating a welcoming
space where people connect and feel seen. This effort addresses loneliness in a city full
of internationals and ministries, carving out a space where the only requirement is a
willingness to be seen.

We met Roben at the Dutch Language Cafe’s new central location, a space buzzing
with the quiet courage of people trying to find their words. Over the sound of coffee
being prepped and the click of board game pieces, he shared the raw reality of building
a social enterprise: the “roller coaster” of near-failure, the sacrifices of an entrepreneur,
and the power of a small dutch flag.

Who is Roben?

“The idea didn’t start with a business plan. It started six years ago, when I was sitting
alone at home on a Tuesday night. I thought, ‘There should be a place where you can
just go when you haven’t made plans, where no one has to be lonely.’ I had recently
spent three months in Spain learning Spanish in a bar, and I realised you can learn so
much more through joy and connection than you ever could in a traditional classroom.”

“I’m a mix of everything. My background is in Social Psychology and technology, but I’ve
also been a teacher and worked in hospitality. Here at the cafe, I’m the General
Manager, but I’m also the guy who cleans the toilets. This project is an extension of
myself; it’s my dream, but it has taken a lot of sacrifices to get here.”

The ‘gunfactor’

“Building this hasn’t been easy. We moved three times. Our second location was in a
far-off industrial area so remote you’d wonder if you were being kidnapped on the bike
ride there! But we survived it. When we took the risky step to move to this very central
location, we almost ran out of money during the start-up process. I hit a point where I
thought, ‘What am I doing? Is my idea just bad?’ I lost my confidence.”

“In April last year, I had to stand in front of 50+ members and investors and tell them
about the financial struggles. That was the most human moment of this journey. Instead
of walking away, the community stepped up. Our staff even offered to temporarily
reduce their own salary to save the cafe, and our landlord gave us a temporary discount
on the rent. We call it the ‘gunfactor’, that uniquely Dutch word for the ‘favour factor,’
where people genuinely want to see you succeed because they believe in what you’re
doing. That goodwill is why we are still here. Now we have pushed through and are
financially stable; people didn’t want to lose their second home.”

The power of the flag

“What we offer isn’t a traditional course. There are no grammar books or fill-in-the-blank
exercises. We focus on input, games, and storytelling. But the thing I am most proud of
is our flag system. You take a small flag to your table, and it tells the room: ‘I am open
for a chat.’ This simple tool empowers individuals to connect, fostering hope that
anyone can start a conversation and build community.”

“In a world that is increasingly online and busy, it’s a very simple, human thing to just
say ‘hi’ to a stranger. Even when people are shy, my team is trained to be ‘cafe hosts,’
not just baristas. We spot the person sitting alone with a flag, and we bridge that gap.
Watching two strangers start a conversation in Dutch for the first time is the biggest
win.”

Words to live by

“Don’t be scared… just come in. You don’t need to be perfect to belong. The ultimate
goal is to see this grow to have a Dutch Language Cafe in every major city, and maybe
even a German one in Berlin. If you come from a good place, people see it. Life isn’t
about the security of a 9-to-5, it’s about the risks you take to build something that
actually matters to people.”

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