When Mayla Badloe started her first year of medical school in the Netherlands, she felt like a fish out of water. After growing up in Suriname, she was confronted with a world she barely knew in the city of Amsterdam. With all its possibilities and temptations, it was overwhelming. “I'd go out all night, with no one waiting for me when I got back,” she says. “It was very different from home, where I was raised in a sheltered environment.”

Her first year was therefore difficult. She struggled to balance her studies and social life. Everything changed when her father, a respected businessman in Suriname, became seriously ill. “On his deathbed, he said: ‘Mayla, one more thing: you promised me you'd become a doctor. I expect you to do that.’”

Those words made a deep impression on Badloe, who knows from experience that in Surinamese culture, bright young people often choose to pursue legal, accounting or medical careers. From that moment on, her focus was entirely on her studies. The parties, the nightlife, the distractions – they all faded into the background.

Power

POWER Badloe has since graduated as a medical doctor and also works as a cosmetic surgeon – not to be confused with a plastic surgeon. “I help people become the best versions of themselves,” she says. “Procedures such as eyelid surgery, double chin liposuction and fillers.” She's also completing the final two years of her general practitioner training. “Since my father passed away, I've been trying to transform pain into strength. He's my fire.”

Her mother, originally from Brazil, sometimes struggled with her ambitions. “She would say: ‘Now that you have a degree, you should focus on becoming a mum and having children.’ Very traditional,” Badloe says with a smile.’ Very traditional,” Badloe says with a smile. “But now she's over the moon that I'm pregnant.”

The pregnancy hasn't stopped her from thinking big. She recently opened We Care, an international healthcare centre on the ground floor of Lange Voorhout 30. Doctors, dentists, and a pharmacy all work together under one roof. What the professionals have in common: they all have international backgrounds and speak multiple languages. Badloe herself speaks five.

We Care already offers cosmetic treatments and medical support, such as weight-loss treatments, skin boosters and Botox. From March 2026, the centre will start providing regular care. Registration for the general practice is already open. Badloe knows many of the doctors joining her in the centre from her student days. “We used to fantasise about our future and how great it would be if we could work together in the same practice. That dream is now becoming a reality.”

Necessary

This collaboration forms the basis for her broader vision. In her current daily work in the Schilderswijk neighbourhood, Badloe sees how language and cultural differences can complicate care. “The Netherlands is a wealthy country with a wide variety of nationalities, especially in the cities,” she says. “Good communication between a doctor and patient is essential. It helps if you truly understand each other.” She notices that patients often only fully open up when they feel heard in their own language. “Then you see how they relax and more easily share what's actually going on. That makes a genuine difference.” She wants to bridge that gap with We Care, and she believes The Hague is the perfect location for this. “With so many embassies and international organisations in the area, it makes perfect sense to offer care in multiple languages. This isn't a good concept – it's a necessary one.”

Coincidence or not: this monumental building was once home to the enterprising Alexandrine Tinne.

Coincidence or not: this historic building once housed the enterprising Alexandrine Tinne. A progressive photographer and explorer from The Hague, she also spoke several languages thanks to her studies and travels. From 1971 until a few years ago, the bankers of Van Lanschot had their office here. It is now owned by RE:BORN Real Estate, a development investor, whose portfolio includes projects such as the Pier and beach pavilion EVE. “Lange Voorhout is not only the most beautiful spot in The Hague,” says Badloe, “but it also exudes a mix of culture, entrepreneurship, and international allure. Opening a centre here that brings together healthcare and diversity feels fitting.”

The Hague isn't the final destination for Mayla Badloe. The World Trade Center (WTC) in Amsterdam's Zuidas district, home to over 300 international companies, is also interested in housing a We Care branch. “The target group is similar,” Badloe explains, “with many expats working there and the location of the Brazilian and Spanish consulates.”

After Amsterdam, she's making plans further afield. “I’m considering the Caribbean – Aruba, Curaçao. We're moving along with the world's transformation.”

www.we-care.nu