The heart behind the studio

Hi! I’m Lena, the founder of Smart Start Kids.

The inspiration behind everything I do is my 6.5-year-old son. As he grows, I find myself constantly looking for spaces where he can truly learn, experiment, and build meaningful friendships. When I couldn’t find exactly what I was looking for, I decided to create it myself. For the past two years, I have been dedicated to building a community in The Hague where children can thrive through hands-on discovery.

Our Philosophy: Think. Make. Experiment.

At Smart Start Kids, it’s not about following instructions — children already get plenty of that at school. Here, we focus on thinking independently, creating freely, and learning through experience. Our studio in the Vruchtenbuurt is a place where:

• Curiosity is encouraged: No question is too small.

• Failure is a tool: We learn just as much from a collapsed bridge as a standing one.

• Independence grows: Our drop-off camps and clubs help children build confidence in their own ideas.

Experience You Can Trust

I bring a unique blend of skills to my classes and activities. With a degree in Teaching and a professional background in marketing and translation,  I design programmes that are both educational and accessible for The Hague’s international community.

After two years of running science and tinkering programmes, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful hands-on learning can be. When children are given the space to explore and experiment, their confidence, creativity, and love of learning truly come to life.