Khaled's story: Cyber security, justice and a new start in The Hague
For Khaled Aldroubi, technology has never really been about technology alone. He likes solving problems, especially when the solution makes someone else’s work or life a little easier. For nearly two decades, that idea has guided his career in IT and cyber security, from Syria to Turkey and eventually to The Hague, the international city of peace and justice by the sea.
Back in Syria, Khaled helped collect data on human rights violations. He left Homs in 2014 and spent almost ten years in Turkey, much of that time working as an IT Manager with NGOs. The uncertainty of temporary residence made long-term plans difficult, and after the 2023 earthquake in Gaziantep, he and his family started thinking seriously about where they could build a more stable future.
In The Hague, Khaled found a connection between his experience in technology and his commitment to justice. Today, he lives there with his wife and two children and works as IT Manager at HiiL, The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law.
From a work permit to HiiL
Getting there was not straightforward. When Khaled first arrived in the Netherlands, entering the job market while his asylum procedure was ongoing came with practical barriers, including the work-permit process. A mentorship at Nationale-Nederlanden in The Hague gave him an early way into the Dutch workplace, while mentors helped him navigate the system and think through his next steps until he got a work permit.
He later joined HiiL, an organisation working to make justice more accessible, affordable and people-centred, in countries including Nigeria, Syria and the Netherlands. Its work focuses on the legal problems people actually face in everyday life, from family and employment issues to housing and land disputes.
Khaled’s role sits behind much of that work. He ensures HiiL’s international teams can work securely and reliably, from identity and access management to AI governance, backups, cloud systems, and cybersecurity. He also provides technical advice and consultancy on developing innovative justice solutions across the countries where HiiL works, including AI-powered legal chatbots and digital platforms that help people access legal support. Through this work, he helps connect technology with people’s everyday justice needs.
“Most people will never see this work when everything is functioning properly,” he explains. But that is also the point: reliable technology means colleagues can focus on improving access to justice.
Where technology and justice meet
For Khaled, The Hague is a particularly good place to do that work. “Living and working in a city that hosts institutions such as the International Court of Justice (pictured below) and the International Criminal Court has special meaning for me,” he says.
The wider ecosystem matters in practical ways too. Through places such as The Hague Humanity Hub and events such as Talent for Good Forum, he meets people working across peace, justice, technology and international affairs.
HiiL’s annual flagship event Justice Matters takes place at the Peace Palace, while Leiden and Amsterdam are close enough for cyber security events and tech masterclasses.
A new routine, one piece at a time
The professional side was only part of the move. Khaled initially came to the Netherlands alone, while his wife and children stayed in Turkey. “That separation was one of the most difficult parts of the experience because I was trying to establish a new life while constantly thinking about my family and their future.”
His family joined him in November 2024, just a few days before the Sinterklaas celebrations, a first moment of excitement and a magical welcome to their new life. Suddenly there was a new language, a new school system and a new set of routines to figure out together. The children had already started learning Dutch in Turkey, while Khaled and his wife began working towards their B1 exams.
One of Khaled’s first regular places in The Hague was the Centrale Bibliotheek in The Hague. He went there to look for work, practise Dutch and talk to the staff. “The library was a great place for me to start,” he says.
From there, everyday life slowly filled in. His son joined ADO Den Haag football training, the children started swimming and going to Scouting De Mohicanen, and they began making friends. As Khaled puts it, they picked up Dutch “in no time”. Seeing his children feel that they belonged made The Hague start to feel like home for him too.
Kijkduin as part of the week
Kijkduin has become another part of that routine. For Khaled and his family, it is not really a tourist destination; it is simply somewhere they go to walk, cycle, spend time near the beach and let the children be outdoors.
“The Hague is international without feeling too overwhelming,” he says. “You can meet people from many cultures and hear many languages, but the city still feels manageable, calm and connected.”
When asked what he would tell other internationals arriving in South Holland, Khaled says to be patient but proactive: ask questions, meet people, learn the language and do not underestimate the experience you already bring with you.
“You may need to explain it differently or adapt it to the Dutch context, but you are not starting from zero.”
About HiiL
The Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) works to make justice accessible, affordable, and easy to understand. This is known as people-centred justice: an approach that places the needs of people and small businesses at the heart of justice systems. To fulfill its mission, HiiL hires across a range of specialisms, including innovation, finance, communications, security and research.