Diplomat affairs magazine1

IN TOUCH WITH THE DUTCH

VOL.1 • WINTER 2014/2015

DIPLOMATAFFAIRS

DIPLOMATAFFAIRS

Landgoed De Wittenburg 1, 2244 BV Wassenaar

Diplomat Club Wassenaar

DCW

CONTENTS

6 A warm welcome 10 Home away from home 14 American/Dutch art

18 An international mayor 22 Modern diplomacy 24 The Sieboldhuis

28 A Mexican celebration 44 A night at the opera42 A gift to world culture

26 ‘City Ambassador of The Hague’27 Beer? Czech! Wine? Check!34 Dining with the Tsars36 The American Women’s Club38 Dutch folklore or culture clash?40 The Dutch-Ghanaian Connection

41 Two different countries48 Fight against cancer50 A Message of Peace52 Algerian National Day56 Thank you for the music58 The next issue

WINTER 2014/2015

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Publisher TenRande Foundation | Shida Bliek Editorial Director Bonnie Klap Staff Photographer Anton van der Riet

Contributors Alexander Beelaerts van Blokland, Nadia van Gaalen-Toppenberg, Eva Mennes, Kris Schiermeier, Jan de Vries PrintMultiPrint Ltd Postal address Carnegielaan 11, 2517 KH The Hague • [email protected]

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WWe are excited to present the very first edition of DiplomatAffairs – In touch with the Dutch Magazine, a brand newpublication, which reports about how the Diplomatic andExpat Community is being in touch with the Dutchcommunity, the arts, business and the world of charity. In other words, we will report how they are in touch withthe Dutch in a wide variety of ways. Although we will notwrite about political developments, we will, from time totime, touch on subjects of current interest, such as, in thisissue, the on-going debate in The Netherlands about‘Zwarte Piet,’ or Black Pete. In addition to covering excitingevents, we will regularly have interviews with diplomats,international business people, artists and other interestingpeople. Art and music are also favorite subjects, as theyconnect us all no matter what beliefs or origin we have.For this winter issue of Diplomat Affairs we are grateful for

the cooperation of a number of Ambassadors, as well asother dignitaries. We hope we will have the continuedsupport of the diplomatic, international and businesscommunity, which will provide us with interesting contentfor future issues. It is also worth mentioning that DiplomatAffairs is closely affiliated with ‘Diplomat Club Wassenaar,’which is located in the Castle the Wittenburg in Wassenaarand all Ambassadors are honorary members of the Club.We would like them to experience this club as ‘a homeaway from home’. The charity that Diplomat Club Wassenaarsupports in collaboration with the TenRande Foundation is‘Cure for Cancer’. We are extremely proud that DutchPoliticians and the Corps Diplomatique support the fightagainst cancer.

Bonnie Klap, Editorial Director Shida Bliek, Publisher

With the magnificent, 115 year oldCastle the Wittenburg in Wassenaar as abackdrop, a unique event took place onSunday, August 31st. Initiated by Mrs.Shida Bliek, founder of the DiplomatClub Wassenaar, the very first welcomeceremony of newly arrived Ambassadorstook place in an elegant private room ofthe Castle. This ceremony marked thecommencement of a new tradition, which

has now become a recurrent event. Mr. Jan Hoekema, Mayor of Wassenaar,officially welcomed eight newly arrivedAmbassadors, who had presented theircredentials to His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and presented them with acertificate. The newly appointed Ambassa-dors were from (in alphabetical order)Bangladesh, Chile, Ghana, Iran, Mace-donia, Malta, Spain and Turkey. The

Ambassadors were introduced to theBoardmembers of Kasteel De Witten-burg, as well as distinguished members ofthe Dutch Business Community, followedby a beautiful concert in the garden ofthe Castle. The famous ResidenceOrchestra, which incidentally celebratedits 110th Anniversary, performed compositions by Mozart, Ravel andBartok, among others.

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A warm welcomeThe Diplomat Club Wassenaar started a new tradition. BY BONNIE KLAP | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

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ABY BONNIE KLAP | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

As I arrive at Castle de Wittenburg inWassenaar and take in the magnificentfacade of the century- old Castle, thewell-kept grounds and am welcomed bythe impeccably mannered staff, I cannothelp but wonder that the person in chargeof this impressive venue must be a strictand demanding taskmaster. The contrarywill prove true, as I sit down with Mr.Ralf Meppelder, Director of Castle deWittenburg, home of the DiplomatClub Wassenaar. He turns out to be aremarkably laid back, amicable person,but does possess a sharp eye for detail. Iask him what makes Castle deWittenburg an attractive venue forexpats and Diplomats in particular?“First of all I would say the exclusivity ofthe Castle itself, but also the secludedgrounds of the venue enables the gueststo host an event in privacy. Moreover,the excellent location with its closeproximity to The Hague and our sizeableparking area with space for 200 cars arealso definitely a plus. Last but not leastthe whole ambiance with the beautifulgarden, which can accommodate up to400 guests, is an attractive aspect of theCastle. Our chefs prepare the culinaryspecialities here on the premises, so everything is fresh and homemade. Forinstance, they smoke the salmon them-selves and the weddingcakes are alsobaked by our chefs right here in ourown kitchen. All in all I think these areaspects of our Castle that members ofthe Diplomat Community will certainlyvalue. Every Ambassador will automati-cally become an honorary member of

the International Business Club of Castlede Wittenburg and this special statusenables them to enjoy several attractivebenefits. For instance if an Ambassadorwishes to host an event here at theCastle, he or she can rent the room forfree. There is no charge for the room thatwill be used during the event. We arealso able to arrange everything in termsof entertainment, such as complete lightshows, elaborate banquets and perhaps itis also worth mentioning that our chefsare skilled in international cuisine andare able to prepare dishes from a greatvariety of countries. On that note, naturally it is possible for an Ambassadorto host his or her National Day reception here, as several Ambassadorshave already done. They can even bring

in their own Chef to prepare the culinaryspecialities of their country. One of themost famous Chefs of The Netherlands,Robert Kranenborg, is known to havesaid that the kitchen of Castle deWittenburg is the most beautiful kitchenin The Netherlands,” according to RalfMeppelder. Recently the Castle de Wittenburg hasteamed up with the newly foundedDiplomat Club Wassenaar. What can hetell us about this collaboration?“The Diplomat Club Wassenaar invitesthe Ambassadors to a cultural event inCastle de Wittenburg at least four times ayear. This applies not only to theAmbassadors, who reside in Wassenaar,but to all Ambassadors, so the ones whoreside in The Hague as well. Also worth

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Castle lord and modernmanager

The beautiful Castle de Wittenburg in Wassenaar in all its glory.

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mentioning are the WelcomingCeremonies for newly arrivedAmbassadors, who have presented theircredentials to His Majesty the King.They are welcomed here at theDiplomat Club Wassenaar by MayorHoekema of Wassenaar and presentedwith a Certificate. These welcome ceremonies always take place in combination with one of the CastleConcerts. We organize our Castle concerts eight times a year in addition to

several top level events, such as the Fêtede Beaujolais and the Society Lunch. Wealways strive to include the DiplomaticCommunity, whenever an event takesplace at the Castle that might be of interest to them. That way we can bringthem in touch with the Dutch. Butback to Diplomat Club Wassenaar. Wehave planned a number of informalFriday evening events specifically cateredto the Heads of Mission, Diplomats andthe members of the Business Club to

provide them with a secluded, privateambiance, in which they can communicatein an informal setting. Following our interview Ralf Meppelderrushes off to his next appointment. Jud-ging from the high pace of his ownjob, it is probably safe to say he is verymuch in touch with the Diplomats. Thisin turn should make this amicable CastleLord and modern manager the best manto bring the Diplomatic Community intouch with the Dutch.

‘Castle lord’ Ralf Meppelder withMarketing- & PR-manager Lilian Sep.

SSurrounded by the most beautiful worksof art, Ambassador Broas welcomed hisguests and emphasized the very activerole that the State Department had playedin promoting American Art in Europe

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American art meets Dutch art

A unique exhibition of American-Dutch Art took place at the residence of His Excellency Mr. Timothy Broas, Ambassador of the United States of America, as part of the ‘Art in Embassies’ Program of the State Department. This programwas established in 1963 in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art andwas formalized by President John F. Kennedy. BY BONNIE KLAP | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

that embodied energy, freedom anddynamism. He was particularly proud ofthe piece by Willem de Kooning. TheAmbassador is an avid story teller andshared a fascinating personal anecdoteabout the way in which he was able tofinally acquire the De Kooning painting.It was a tale of persistence, persuasivenessand luck, but it obviously had been verymuch worth it. The Ambassador’s passionfor art was obvious as he mentionedseveral of the pieces at his residence.Impressive pieces were the objects made

by the Dutch-born American artist,Sarah Couwenberg and which are inspired by the collars of the 17thCentury Dutch paintings. The American-Cambodian artist Pakan Penn has a special place in the Ambassador’s heart asthe two are also friends.

After the Ambassador Mrs. EllenSusman, Director of the Art in EmbassiesProgram, took the floor and explainedhow art often is a conversation starter.‘Art as smart power,’ according to Mrs.

Susman. She also praised the Ambassador’skeen interest in and knowledge of art.“It is unusual for an Ambassador to havemuch interest in art and it is often passedon to the wives,” she laughed. Mrs.Susman then walked the guests along theworks of art, sharing some of her exten-sive knowledge about the pieces. All inall it was an impressive exhibition ofboth American and Dutch Art, or, asAmbassador Broas eloquently put it: “Atransatlantic cross-fertilization betweenAmerican and Dutch artists.”

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His Excellency Mr. Timothy Broas, Ambassador of the United States of America.

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AMERICAN ART MEETS DUTCH ART

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AMERICAN ART MEETS DUTCH ART

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MMr. Jan Hoekema, Mayor of Wassenaar,the town known for its internationalimage, sits in his spacious office ofTownhall de Paauw. The white land-mark building, highly visible for themany motorists passing daily on the A44,used to be the summerhome of PrinceFrederik and his family in the 19th century. This was long before the propertywas acquired by the Municipality ofWassenaar in 1925 to use it as its townhall.Today it is the hands-on and energetic

Jan Hoekema, who oversees this small,but cosmopolitan town. I ask him whathis vision is for Wassenaar and the inter-national community in particular? How canhe bring them in touch with the Dutch?“First of all, I very much agree with theidea to get in touch with the Dutch andWassenaar is ideally suited to facilitatethat process. Twenty to twentyfive percentof our residents in Wassenaar are non-Dutch, which translates into approximatelyfivethousand people. We have a lot to

offer them: our very green surroundings,as well as proximity to the big citiesAmsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam andeven Brussels. We have our famous estates,the dunes, the beach. Moreover we havea lot of culture, such as the InternationalChamber Music Festival, open-air performances of the English Theatre anda new museum, which is being built hereby Joop van Caldenborg, former CEO ofCaldic. Furthermore, we are proud tohave Royalty here in Wassenaar and we

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AN INTERNATIONAL MAYOR

I very much agree withthe idea to get in touchwith the Dutch”

“

BY BONNIE KLAP | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

have thirtyfive Ambassadors who residehere, not to mention the new USEmbassy that will move here within thenext two years. In addition we offermany sports, such as hockey, tennis andwhat have you. Many Dutch and non-Dutch children are members of thesesports clubs. For instance the son of theAmbassador of Iran likes to play soccer.Then there is quite some horse riding inWassenaar. I know of several Ambassadors,who ride horses. There are also many

joggers, including Ambassadors. I regularlysee the Ambassador of Indonesia jogging.On a different note, in these moderntimes of sustainability, it is also worth mentioning that we have several sustainability initiatives, such as themonthly organic market on the firstSaturday of April through October andwe have many charging stations for electric cars. Furthermore, I would liketo mention the high level and the number of healthcare facilities that we

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“there is quite somehorse riding in

Wassenaar. I know ofseveral Ambassadors,

who ride horses.There are also manyjoggers, including

Ambassadors”

offer and which are of prime importanceto many people. Equally important is thefact that many of these healthcare servicesare provided in English. Last but not leastI would like to underline our excellenteducation. We have the ASH (AmericanSchool of The Hague) with twelve-hundred students and hundred differentnationalities and also the IndonesianSchool, as well as the British School inVoorschoten, which is close by. Of coursethere are excellent Dutch schools as well,such as the Rijnlands Lyceum and theAdelbert College. Sometimes however

expats send their children to a Dutchschool. What better way is there to get intouch with the Dutch?” according toMayor Hoekema.

bicycle tourThe conversation shifts to the immenselypopular yearly outing with theAmbassadors and their families, which hasnot been initiated by Mayor Hoekema,but has been reinstated by him in 2008,after it was discontinued many yearsago. This year the Mayor took the groupof Ambassadors on a bicycle tour, but he

strives to do something different everyyear and it is very much appreciated.“It is fun for them and it is fun for us, aswe get to know each other a bit better,”the Mayor adds. In addition to the yearlyouting, which always takes place inSeptember, Mayor Hoekema also organizesa yearly High Tea in March for theAmbassadors, who live in Wassenaar andthe US Ambassador, as the US Embassywill move to Wassenaar within the nexttwo years. At this High Tea the Mayor andhis guests discuss issues of current interest.“We discuss practical issues such as

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green maintenance, traffic issues, localand national elections. Anything can bediscussed and we keep it all in a very discrete, safe environment, so people canspeak their minds freely.” The annualAmbassadors outing and the High Teaare not the only diplomatic events, inwhich the Mayor plays a key role.Initiated this year by Mrs. Shida Bliek,newly arrived Ambassadors, who havepresented their credentials to His Majestythe King, are welcomed at the DiplomatClub Wassenaar at the Castle de Witten-burg and presented with a Certificate by

Mayor Hoekema. The Mayor concludesby sharing his views on the newly openedDiplomat Club Wassenaar.“I am very happy about the initiative ofthe welcoming ceremony by Mrs. ShidaBliek. It was a warm and welcomingceremony and it was highly appreciated.In the end, Ambassadors are also people,and people like to connect. In the settingof this club it is easy to connect and toget to know each other better, beyondthe short conversations, which usually takeplace at receptions. I think theAmbassadors really liked it.”

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“I am very happy aboutthe welcoming

ceremony. It waswarm and welcoming

and it was highlyappreciated. In the

end, Ambassadors arealso people, and

people like toconnect”

WBY BONNIE KLAP | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

Waiting for Mr. Simon Smits, Director-General for Foreign Economic Relations,I find myself leafing through a bookletwith the title On our way to ModernDiplomacy, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Several eye-catchingphrases make one thing very clear:modernization is a necessity and theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, with its SeniorBoard of Management in particular, isthoroughly aware of that. The booklet isrife with innovative ideas and its forwardlooking implementations. Just as I amgetting most eager to hear Mr. Smits’vision, he walks into his office and takesa seat on the couch. The stunning oil-painting on the wall behind him, is anheirloom from his grandfather.

You are on the Board of the Castle deWittenburg in Wassenaar. Can you elaborate?“I am on the Board of Castle deWittenburg and this primarily has to dowith my present function as Director-General of Foreign Economic Relations,as there is a strong link between theNetherlands Employers Organization,the VNO-NCW, and the Wittenburg. We are in contact on a daily basis. Weexchange ideas and we sit on the DTIB,the Dutch Trade and Investment Board,so as to promote Dutch business.”

Mr.Smits has participated in approximatelyforty trade missions. Can he share ananecdote about any of these missions?“Maybe it’s no anecdote, but no trademission is the same. They are all prettyunique. Time and again I am pleasantlysurprised by the character and the driveof the Dutch companies that accompanyus. I also think the whole Cabinet is veryactive in travelling abroad. For example,last year the Prime-Minister has visitedboth China and Indonesia and of course

Minister Ploumen travels around theworld at least three times a year and Imyself do trade missions and what is striking, is the level of quality and innovation of the Dutch companies thataccompany us. They are extremely competitive and extremely innovativeand I think on the so-called top-sectorsthat we have identified, obviously in closeconjunction with Dutch business andDutch Captains of Industry, it is remarkable that there is this combinationof both innovative capacity and inter-national outlook. And that is the

prerequisite for success on a global scale.”

Can you name any other sectors besidesagriculture and water technology, in whichThe Netherlands can excel?“Certainly, there is Dutch design, whichis increasingly becoming a global sectorin which we can put emphasis on whatThe Netherlands has to offer. And logisticsis another one, as well as energy, especiallyrenewables, such as wind energy. Forexample, in the logistics sector there isthe Dutch company Strukton which isnow involved in building the metro inSaudi Arabia. If you look at infrastructureand logistics, there are Dutch companies,who are very active in Indonesia, wherean ambitious program is underway bothto prepare Indonesia for climate changeand to tackle the challenges of rising sealevels and coastal protection and at thethe same time talking about urban deve-lopment, logistics and port development.I think our Dutch companies are nowvery well introduced in Indonesia, alsobecause of the agreement we have withIndonesia, which was signed by ourPrime Minister in November last year.”

The Royal couple travelled on the trademission to Poland. Does the fact that theKing and Queen are included, make thetrade mission different from other missions?

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Simon Smits, Director-General for Foreign Economic Relations,on what The Netherlands has to offer.

ON OUR WAY TO MODERN DIPLOMACY

No trade mission is the same”“

“our king andqueen are really

an enormousextra asset to us”

“Yes, it is different. When the King andQueen make an official visit, they find itvery important to highlight the sectorsof Dutch industry and what we have tooffer and there is certainly a difference in thatthe King and the Queen, like no other,can open doors and are always receivedat the very highest level in any country,so that generates extra attention from thepolitical level, from the industrial level,from the press, and that gives the bestintroduction into a foreign economy thatone could wish for. So to answer yourquestion, yes, it certainly does make adifference and I have witnessed this myself.Not only recently in Poland, but alsotwo-and-a-half-years ago, when theywere Crown Prince and Princess, onofficial missions to Vietnam and Brazil.This really is an enormous extra asset to us.”

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“Time and again I am pleasantly surprisedby the character and the drive of theDutch companies that accompany us.”

Simon Smits with Minister Ploumen and Prime Minister Rutte.

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Philipp Franz Von Siebold (1796-1866)The SieboldHuis in leiden.

Kawahara Keiga, Visit to a temple in the snow on the first day of the second month.Painting, 1800-1829, collection Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde.

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Japan Museum SieboldHuis exhibits in ahistoric Dutch house on Leiden’s Rapen-burg 19, the most beautiful Japanese collection encompassing both the oldand the new: prints, lacquer ware, ceramics, fossils, herbaria, mounted animals, coins, clothing, historic mapsand hundreds of other treasures. The collection is composed entirely of arte-facts and objects gathered by theBavarian doctor Philipp Franz von Sieboldin Japan between 1823 and 1829.

For the first time in over 25 years animposing selection of the greatest worksof Kawahara Keiga will be exhibited inJapan Museum SieboldHuis. Over 100 ofKeiga’s best works will be on display in atwo-part exhibition incorporating severalthemes including an impressive panoramaof the Bay of Nagasaki, the city andisland Deshima, as well as the four seasons,annual festivals and scenes from daily life,artisans and a number of works of theHokusai Manga.Part 1 28 November to 11 January 2015Part II 13 January – 22 February 2015

As Director of the Japan MuseumSieboldHuis I am very proud of the factthat Emperor Akihito mentioned ourmuseum extensively at the State Banquetin honor of the three-day visit (29-31oktober 2014) of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to Japan:“The Sieboldhuis in The Netherlands,which reopened in 2005 after renova-tions, plays a major role as a new symbolof Japanese-Dutch exchange. I hope thatthe peoples of our two countries, bymaintaining a mutual interest in one

another, will be able to further build ontheir historical exchanges and developnew cooperative ties.”I found it a great honor to be able torepresent the culture sector besides theeconomic delegation, in collaborationwith the van Gogh Museum Amsterdam.Queen Máxima told me in a personal

conversation that the SieboldHuis wasmentioned several times during the talks.In the next issues of Diplomat AffairsIwill elaborate on the future exhibitionsabout the unique kimono of ItchikuKubota (1917-2003) and the beautifulworks of American-Japanese-Dutch artistShinkichi Tajiri ( 1923-2009).

Symbol of Japanese-Dutch exchange

Kris Schiermeier is Director of the SieboldHuis.

BY KRIS SCHIERMEIER | PHOTO ANTON VAN DER RIET

A familiar face in Diplomatic circles andwell known by the Ambassadors and theInternational community in The Hague,we ask Mr Alexander Beelaerts vanBlokland to introduce himself in a morepersonal way.“For more than ten years I am in theDiplomatic and other International circlesin and around The Hague, but I am not adiplomat. Diplomat Affairs – In touch withthe Dutch Magazine requested me to sharemore information about myself, mywork and my activities with this newlylaunched magazine, connected to DiplomatClub Wassenaar.I am 66 years old (born in 1948), studiedlaw at Leiden University and was duringalmost thirty years attorney-at-law (barrister) and partner at one of the biggerlaw firms in The Hague. From 1995 to 1998 I was President of the BarAssociation as well. In 2006 I was askedto participate as a Justice (an appealJudge) in the Court of Appeal in TheHague en that is my work ever since.Since 2011 I am also co-President of theDisciplinary Court, appointed by theminister of Justice.Former Mayor of The Hague Wim

Deetman appointed in 2004 six peopleas ‘City Consul of The Hague’ – anhonorary (unpaid) function – and I wasone of them. In those days a lot of representatives of international organiza-tions and Embassies were not very happy

about living in The Netherlands and/orThe Hague and the Municipality wantedus to be ‘the eyes and ears’ of theMunicipality in diplomat and otherexpat circles, to find out what the reasonwas of this dissatisfaction. In the yearsafterwards a lot of improvements havebeen made in the relation betweenexpats and The Hague. The current MayorJozias van Aartsen re-appointed only meand gave a new title to the job: ‘SpecialAdvisor International Affairs’. The national newspaper NRC Handelsblad

named me in a large article about TheHague City of Diplomacy in November2013 simply: the city ambassador of TheHague. And – with a big smile – thelongest acting ‘Ambassador’ as well…You can find me several times a week atInternational activities in The Hague,such as readings, concerts, congresses,exhibitions, lunches, receptions and dinners.There I explain to diplomats, internationalJudges and other expats living in oraround The Hague, how the Netherlandsis organised and about The Hague. I answertheir questions, make contacts for them ifrequired and sometimes solve problems.So, that is what I am doing in the last tenyears apart from my daily job. I enjoy thisvery much, because I like to help peopleand I like to serve my country and mylovely city, that strives to be a good hostfor the 30,000 to 40,000 expats here,who work for Embassies and for themany international tribunals and institu-tions in the International City of Peaceand Justice”.

Diplomat Affairs Magazine is looking forwardto publish the special reports of activities ofAlexander Beelaerts van Blokland in 2015.

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SPECIAL ADVISOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRSALEXANDER W. BEELAERTS VAN BLOKLAND

‘City Ambassador of The Hague’

Hosted by His Excellency Mr. JaroslavHorák, Ambassador of the CzechRepublic, a reception was held on theoccasion of the Czech National Day forthe second time this year. This time it wasorganized by the Czech Dutch Chamberof Commerce, which serves as the bridgebetween Czech companies and entre-peneurs in The Netherlands. The CzechDutch Chamber of Commerce wasfounded by Katerina Velisková andVladimira Chýská, who were also presentat the reception. Some of the servicesoffered by the Czech Dutch Chamber ofCommerce are hosting business, invest-ment and legal seminars, helping itsmembers in finding new business partnersand providing the opportunity to net-work, which is an integral part of doing

business. Parting Ambassador Horák heldan interesting, and at times, humorousspeech, looking back not only on hiscountry’s fascinating history, but also onhis own four years in The Netherlands.

He briefly touched on the succession ofevents in his country after the 300 yearsof Habsburg domination. AmbassadorHorák also shared a few personal factsabout himself, such as his love for poetryand music, adding that he had written hislast poem as long as ten years ago. Thereception was concluded by a wine tastingof Czech wine. The Ambassador told hisguests, that, although the Czech Republicis better known for its beer, its wine isdefinitely also worth tasting. The winecompany Moravino was present to servethe guests, who wanted to sample thevarious Czech wines. Ambassador Horák,who is a lawyer by training, will returnto Prague in December, which he is verymuch looking forward to, as he willfinally be reunited with his family.

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Beer? Czech! Wine? Check!CZECH NATIONAL DAY RECEPTIONThe Czech Chamber of Commerce organized a fruitful gathering in the Czech residence.BY BONNIE KLAP | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

H

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A Mexican CelebrationA large number of members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Dutch business community had come

to Wassenaar to celebrate the 204th Anniversary of the Independence of Mexico.

His Excellency Mr. Eduardo Ibarrolaand the charming Mrs. Fabiola Sotohosted a reception at the residence ofthe Embassy of Mexico in Wassenaarto celebrate the 204th Anniversary ofthe Independence of Mexico. On thisgorgeous summer evening most guestspreferred to mingle outside in the largegarden, while sipping margaritas andlistening to live Mexican music. Theatmosphere was typically Mexican:friendly, lively and festive. SubsequentlyMrs. Soto graciously invited the guestsinside to enjoy a lavish buffet withMexican specialties. The cheerfulMexican music, great food andmargaritas made this a memorableIndependence Day celebration.


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A MEXICAN CELEBRATION

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A MEXICAN CELEBRATION

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The Hermitage Amsterdam’s fifth anni-versary exhibition Dining with the Tsars.Fragile beauty from the Hermitage openedon 6 September 2014. Eight magnificentporcelain and creamware services fromthe collection of the Hermitage in St.Petersburg is exhibited in a setting thatconveys what the balls and banquets ofthe Tsar’s court were like. Visitors willimagine they are guests, in possession ofa coveted imperial invitation, climbingthe steps of the Winter Palace, reviewingthe rules of etiquette and preparing for afestive occasion. Finally they enter themain hall where the fine porcelain dinner-ware is set out in a festive display.The exquisite porcelain services, comprising no less than 1,034 pieces,exhibited on authentically laid tableswith decorative centrepieces, reveal theenchanting grandeur of the Tsars’

banquets. The exhibition tells the storyof the lavish ball and banqueting culturethat reached its zenith under the reign(1762-1796) of Catherine the Great,Queen of Feasts, when hundreds of dishes would be served at a single banquetand thousands of guests attended theballs. The last tsar, Nicholas II (ruled1894-1917) and his wife Alexandra, whoorganised the largest balls but were onlypresent for as briefly as possible. With theirabdication, the ball and banqueting customsthat had once captured the imaginationof all the courts of Europe came to an end.The finest pieces are from the dinnerwarecollections of Catherine the Great, suchas the Green Frog Service (Wedgwood,England), the Cameo Service (Sèvres,Paris, exhibited for the first time with silver gilt flatware), which at one timecomprised nearly a thousand pieces, and

the Berlin Dessert Service (KöniglichePorzellan-Manufaktur Berlin). The servicesof later Tsars were no less impressive andsignificant for their connection toEuropean history. The services are exhibited in accordance with the rules ofetiquette, augmented with ornate centre-

pieces, gold-rimmed crystal glassware,candelabras, vases, detailed silverwork andwall decorations. The exhibition featuresa wide range of pieces, from ice bucketsfor liqueur bottles and ice-cream coupesto salt and pepper sets and table figurines.

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Dining with the Tsars: fragile

Never before have somany porcelain

dinnerware piecesfrom the Hermitage

been exhibited in theNetherlands

BY DRS. EVA WUESTEN MENNES | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 35

The exhibition also offers a culinaryview of imperial dining customs, in aculture where banquets of 300 disheswere no exception. Dessert was thehighpoint of the meal and the idealcourse for showing off the host’s wealthand refined taste. Richly decorated delicacies were served with exceptionalinventiveness. There is attention for iconography and the diplomatic functionof giving services as gifts and hosting state dinners in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. And the balls andperformances, gossip and scandal alsofeature in the exhibition. Evidence of theexcesses of the imperial court abounds.Particularly revealing are the quotesdrawn from the memoires of MarieCornélie van Wassenaer Obdam. Shevisited the Winter Palace in 1824 as amember of the retinue of Anna

Paulowna and the later King Willem II.The surpring final exhibit is the servicegiven to Stalin by the Hungarian peoplein 1949, which has never been used orexhibited before. It illustrates the diplomaticrole that dinnerware also played in thetwentieth century. Never before have so many porcelaindinnerware pieces from the Hermitagebeen exhibited in the Netherlands. Therich collection of European porcelainfrom the Hermitage in St. Petersburgcomprises over 15,000 items, purchasedby or given as gifts to the Tsars of Russiabetween 1745 and the years prior to theFirst World War. The services, whichinclude many unique pieces, were pro-duced by leading porcelain manufacturerssuch as Meissen, Sèvres, Gardner andWedgwood and decorated to the highestartistic standard.

beauty from the Hermitage

Paul Mosterd, Director of The Hermitageand Eva Wuesten Mennes.

FBY JAN DE VRIES | PHOTO’S CAMIEL GALJEE

Founded in 1930 to support Americansliving in the Netherlands, the AmericanWomen’s Club of The Hague quickly becamerecognized in the local community forits generosity. Special fundraising drives,charity galas and bazaars are deeply ingrainedin the history of the all-volunteer organization as it approaches its 85thbirthday in the coming year.Fast-forward to the 21st century, and theAWC donated over one million eurosthrough the iconic Pink Galas from 2002to 2008 to advance breast cancer aware-ness and research in the Netherlands. Despite the financial crisis of recentyears, the AWC has continued its traditionby raising 159,000 euros on behalf oflocal special children in need, through itsHearts and Minds Galas held in 2011,2012 and 2014. The most recent, onJune14th, once again, received marveloussupport from the local and internationalcommunity to benefit Lighthouse SpecialEducation, Hulphond Nederland and LaatZe Maar Lachen.

Queen Wilhelmina opened the AWC’sfirst Bazaar in 1932, organized to supporta local hospital. Eighty-three years later,the 2014 Holiday Bazaar on November29th and 30th at the Carlton Ambassadorenable the AWC to continue workingwith the community, for the good of thecommunity.

36 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

The AmericanWomen’s Club

In touch with The Dutch for almost 85 years.

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 37

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Dutch folklore or culture clash?

The Dutch children’s feast of ‘Sinterklaas’ is currently subject to a heated debate.

TTruth be told, each country has its ownpeculiar customs. For example Halloween,which is hugely popular in the US, hasits strange customs, such as placing fakeskeletons and lit pumpkins in peoplesfront yards. Strange as that may seem, inmy opinion placing a shoe, filled with acarrot next to a bowl of water and somehay (for the horse) near the fireplace atnight, in eager anticipation of a gift thenext morning, seems a lot odder! Thisbrings me to the very popular Dutchtradition of the annual Sinterklaas-festivities. You might wrongly assume thatSinterklaas is primarily a children’s feast,but make no mistake about it, a surpris-ingly large number of Dutch people – children and adults alike – enjoy celebrating Sinterklaas.

traditionObviously these days Sinterklaas is merelya man dressed up in a Sinterklaas-costume,but this wasn’t always the case. Hundredsof years ago Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicholas,as he was actually called, really did exist.He was a Greek bishop in the town ofMyra, which is located in present-day

Turkey. The Saint-Nicholas feast used tobe an occasion to help the poor and less-privileged by putting money in theirshoes, a custom that has over time evolved into putting presents in the shoesof children. Sinterklaas traditionally ridesa white horse, carries a ceremonial goldshepherd’s staff and is accompanied by oneor more ‘Zwarte Pieten,’ Black Petes. TheBlack Petes, who are dressed up in colorfulcostumes resembling 17th-century pages,provide a comical note and throw handsfull of gingernuts to the children. Everyyear Sinterklaas travels by ‘steamship’(supposedly loaded with tons of children’sgifts) to Holland. The tradition of travellingby ship can be traced back to the days thatSaint Nicholas was a patron of the sailors.

debateUnfortunately, these days a darker side ofthis seemingly pristine children’s feast hasemerged. Calls for the abolishment ofBlack Pete are becoming louder, as hisrole is viewed by some as a throwback toslavery. The issue has initiated a heateddebate between passionate opponentsand no less passionate proponents of this

thorny issue. The debate has spilled overinto the press, television and socialmedia, with Facebook and Twitterexploding with opinions. Meanwhile, ina well-intentioned attempt to appeasethe opponents of Black Pete, several foodand department stores have started phasing out Black Pete, only to findthemselves in a cross fire of furious proponents, who demand the Sinterklaastradition should not change, as it is, intheir opinion, exactly that: a centuries-oldtradition and an integral part of Dutchculture and tradition.

the magic of it allThe vocal opinions on both sides havenot abated. Although arguments can bemade for both sides, as in any issue,whereemotions run high, it will be extremelydifficult to find some form of compromise.It seems as if the ‘Poldermodel,’ forwhich The Netherlands is so well-knownand proud of, has lost its magic. Let’s hopethis magic can be rekindled well beforeDecember, so the celebration of Sinterklaascan once again return to what it was: ahappy children’s feast for all.

BY BONNIE KLAP

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 39

During the festive Holiday Season noother commodity takes center stage theway chocolate does. Celebrating thevarious festivities in December would bealmost unthinkable without chocolate inmany countries the world over and TheNetherlands is no exception. Be it the‘Sinterklaas’ or Christmas celebrations,chocolate invariably comes into play.Everybody is familiar with the popularand typically Dutch chocolate alphabetletters, which usually are presented asgifts during Sinterklaas. Christmas is nodifferent, with chocolate Santa Clauses inabundance. But have you ever wonderedwhere all this chocolate comes from?Although Ivory Coast is the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, andGhana comes in at number two, Ghana isthe number one exporter to The

Netherlands. It also exports huge quantitiesto countries such as the USA, Canada,the EU (UK, Germany, Belgium, France,Spain) and many others. Cocoa fromGhana is considered to be among the

finest in the world. Most of Ghana’s cocoaproduction takes place on small farms offour to five acres. The first documentedshipment of cocoa from Ghana wasmade in 1893, and by 1911 Ghana wasthe leading cocoa exporter in the world,

supplying the ever-growing Europeanchocolate market. Nowadays there arewell over 700,000 cocoa farmers inGhana and cocoa is its chief agriculturalexport product and the country’s maincash crop, exporting a staggering 500,000tons to The Netherlands annually. Royal Verkade, the famous Dutch candymanufacturer (which was founded 128years ago in 1886), uses chocolate fromGhana for its many products. Verkade wasalso the very first Dutch candy manufac-turer to offer a full range of chocolateproducts made with ‘fair trade’ chocolate.Fair Trade makes cocoa farming inGhana more sustainable by guaranteeingminimum prices and providing a premi-um to invest in local communities, sofarmers can provide a better future forthemselves and their families.

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Celebrating the

various festivities in

December would be

almost unthinkable

without chocolate

The Dutch-Ghanaian ConnectionBY BONNIE KLAP

One of the main objectives of DiplomatAffairs Magazine is to determine howyou are in touch with the Dutch. Whatbetter way to do this than to seek similarities between two countries? Itbecomes even more interesting if thesesimilarities exist between countries,where one would not expect them.Bangladesh, after all, is an upcoming andrapidly developing country at a distanceof 7,632 kilometers, or 4,742 miles, fromThe Netherlands. Yet, the two countriesshare a formidable foe. Bangladesh and

The Netherlands are both Delta countriesfighting two forces of nature: Water andwind. In the words of His ExcellencySheikh Mohammed Belal, Ambassador ofBangladesh, the two countries are cousins.Ambassador Belal, who was accredited asAmbassador of Bangladesh to The Nether-lands in March, 2014, has often visitedcoastal areas here, sometimes feeling sadness and wishing his own people couldfeel as safe and secure as the people inThe Netherlands do. He is aware of thehigh level of innovative technology inthe field of coastal protection in TheNetherlands and is eager for his countryto duplicate this knowledge. Althoughthe complexity of the problems in Bangla-desh, such as floods, cyclones, droughtsand population pressure, should not beunderestimated, definite strides in theright direction have been made. Already

the flooding has been reduced somewhat.The Government of Bangladesh can bepraised to have adopted a long term visionin order to deal with these problems.After the tragic disaster in The Nether-lands in 1953, when 1,830 people andtens of thousands of animals died duringsevere flooding, The Netherlands hasworked hard at acquiring the highestlevel of technological knowledge in thefield of coastal protection, which hasresulted in the building of the famousDelta works in Zeeland. Now this

knowledge will be shared with Bangla-desh, as on March 12th of this year, His Excellency Mr. Gerben de Jong,Ambassador of The Netherlands to Bangla-desh, and Mr. Jaap de Heer, team leaderof the Bangladesh Deltaplan, signed thecontract on the formulation of theBangladesh Deltaplan at the DutchEmbassy in Dhaka. This crucial andambitious plan is expected to be completedwithin five years and will ensure animmense improvement in the safety ofthe people living in Bangladesh.

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 41

Two different countries and theirremarkable resemblance

BANGLADESH AND THE NETHERLANDS SHARE A COMMON FOE


His Excellency SheikhMohammed Belal,Ambassador ofBangladesh.

GGiven the ever growing size of the inter-national community in The Netherlandsand the number of English speakingpeople in particular, it must have come asno surprise that, after returning from asix-year stay in the UK, Dutch lawyerand social worker Elske van Holk, havingworked in the London theatre world,made the bold decision to found STET(Stichting The English Theatre) in 2006.Its very first production, Summit Conference,in June of that year, followed by the bynow highly popular open air Shakespeareperformances, marked the beginning of asuccessful venture. STET’s programmenow averages eight to ten performancesa year, with the open-air performances ofthe British theatre company Illyria in thesummer and A Christmas Carol in thewinter as its regulars. STET’s Board consists of members of the Dutch, as wellas the international community. Thiswhole exciting venture is run by a smallstaff and a group of devoted volunteers,who assist in promoting and carrying outthe act. Last but not least, STET’s patronis His Excellency Sir Geoffrey Adams,British Ambassador to The Netherlands,,who is kind enough to make some timein his busy schedule to welcome us in his stunning, newly renovated residence andanswer some questions, as well as pose fora few pictures, together with his wife Lady

Adams, STET- founder Elske van Holk andthe very sweet Black labrador Rosy.

You are Patron of the English Theatre inThe Netherlands. As an Ambassador youobviously have a very busy schedule.

What makes the English Theatre worthyour time?“I regard the English Theatre as a preciouspart of the culture we share across theworld. It’s a privilege to be able to support it in any way I can.”

In your opinion what can be done to makethe English Theatre even more well knownin The Netherlands?“I find that many people here in The Netherlands experience the EnglishTheatre for the first time when they visitthe United Kingdom. They fall in lovewith it, and want to follow their passionwhen they get home. So my hope is thatmany more people will come over toBritain – the home of English theatre –and fall in love with it themselves.”

After well over a century Dickens’Christmas Carol is still hugely popular.Can you explain this?“The publication of Dickens’ A ChristmasCarol coincided exactly with the begin-nings in Britain of what we now thinkof as our ‘Christmas traditions’ – Christ-mas trees, Christmas cards, Christmaspresents, and so on. As a story ofredemption and of hope, Christmas Carolfitted right in with this new, optimistickind of celebration – and it’s remainedthere ever since.”

42 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

Sir Geoffrey Adams is patron of The English Theatre. “It’s a privilege to support it.”

The English Theatre: a giftto world culture

“my hope is that manypeople will come over

to Britain – the home of Englishtheatre – and fall in

love with it”

NO

EMY

NA

GY

StorytellerAshleyRamsdenin AChristmasCarol.


DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 43

From left to right STET- founderElske van Holk, Sir GeoffreyAdams, Lady Adams, and thesweet black labrador Rosy.

44 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 45

A night at the Astana Opera

‘A STUNNING PERFORMANCE OF THE MASTERPIECES OFWORLD CLASSICAL AND NATIONAL KAZAKH MUSIC ARTISTS’

TThe final concert of the first world tour of the theater ‘Astana Opera’ was performed on November 5 in Rotterdamat De Doelen concert hall.During a press conference held on theeve of the event the video ‘Astana Opera’was presented to the Dutch public.The Director of Astana Opera, TolegenMukhamedzhanov, informed journalistsand representatives of the Dutch culturalcommunity about the activities of thetheater.At the opening ceremony of the concert,welcoming remarks were made by Her

Excellency, Ms. Mainura Murzamadiyeva,Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni-potentiary of the Republic of Kazakh-stan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands,Mr. Adriaan Visser, Vice-Mayor of Rotter-dam, Mr. Sang Hyun Song, President ofthe International Criminal Court andMr. Tolegen Mukhamedzhanov, Directorof Astana Opera.The Symphony Orchestra opened theconcert with Kazakh kui ‘KudashaDuman’ by Yerkegali Rakhmadiyev. Next was the scene of the opera ‘Abai’by Ahmet Zhubanov and Latif Hamidi,

which was presented by Dina Khamzinaand Baigali Mombekov, the leadingsoloists of the Astana Opera. The Dutchpublic greatly appreciated the premiereperformance of the Triumph scene fromthe opera ‘Aida’ by Giuseppe Verdi.In the second part the guests enjoyed theperformance of Kazakh masters of thescene from the opera ‘Birzhan Sara’ byMukan Tolebayev, Kui ‘Tolgau’ by TolegenMukhamedzhanov, the Coronation scenefrom the opera ‘Boris Godunov’ byModest Mussorgsky, the Azucena mono-logue from the opera ‘Il Trovatore’,

BY SHIDA BLIEK | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

46 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

Juliet’s Waltz from the opera ‘Romeo andJuliette’ and the scene of the PolovtsianCamp from the opera ‘Prince Igor’. Afterthe concert, the audience rewarded theKazakh artists with a thunderous applause.In the lobby of the concert hall the guests enthusiastically shared theirimpressions.Among the guests at the party were theheads of international organizations,members of the Parliament of the

Kingdom of the Netherlands, heads ofdiplomatic missions, the management oflarge Dutch companies and banks, intel-lectuals of the Benelux countries, a largeKazakh diaspora and students studying inthe Netherlands.As the Secretary General of theOrganization for the Prohibition ofChemical Weapons, OPCW, AhmetUzümcü, said “today we have witnesseda stunning performance of the masterpie-

ces of world classical and nationalKazakh music artists. Astana Opera gaveus an unforgettable evening of high art.” According to Ingrid de Caluwe, Memberof the Parliament of the Kingdom of theNetherlands, “tonight we have seen howtalented the people of Kazakhstan areand it is a great honour for me to seeand hear such a high mastery of differentmusical genres.”

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 47

AA special gathering took place in theprivate quarters of the Royal family atthe stunning Palace Soestdijk. High rankedDutch politician, Ambassadors and Dutchbusinessmen had one common aim: tosupport the fight against humanity’s enemynumber one: cancer.An initiative of State of Secretary forSecurity and Justice Fred Teeven tosupport a fundraising for ‘Cure forCancer’ was joined by TenRandeFoundation. He wanted to give a signalthat also politicians care and arrangedthis special event. TenRande Foundationsupports a special division of research forkidney and prostate cancer.Two medical researchers are especiallydesignated to get an accurate overviewof these two forms of cancer guided byProf. Jean de La Rosette, Dick Cohen,Board Member of the ‘Cure for Cancer’Foundation and sponsor Age Vermeer,Director of Dura Vermeer. A special tour was organized through therich history of the palace and its formerinhabitants, the State Apartments, whichare still largely in original condition, andsome private rooms of the late QueenJuliana and her husband, although alreadystripped of virtually all-private property. Since 1674 many residents have addedto, and refurbished the Palace. It startedout as a hunting lodge, but in time it wasalso used as an Inn for French troops,during the French invasion, and a countryhouse. Well known inhabitants have been

Governor William III who later becameKing William I of England, King LouisBonaparte, Princes Anna Pavlovna, whowith great taste and style turned thehunting lodge into a small copy ofPavlovsk Palace, Sint Petersburg, QueenEmma and Wilhelmina. After the deathof Princes Juliana in 2004, the palace wasleft empty for a year until it was openedto the public in 2006, handling the decision of future use. Many thanks to: the Ministery of

Security and Justice, Ms Jette Neeteson,Ms Marian Hahn. Soestdijk Palace, Mr. Alex Vermeulen, Mr. Jan Altenburg,Ms. Paula van Dijk. His Excellency’s: Mr. Rajesh Prasad, Mr. Fernando Ariasand Mrs. Patricia van Oordt de Arias. Mr. Joe Aidoo, Mr. Haim Divon andMrs. Linda Divon for there support at‘Cure for Cancer Gala Noordwijk. Mr. Peter Goedvolk, President Directorof AEG Invest and Mr. Peter Bliek,Chairman of TenRande Foundation.

48 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

DUTCH POLITICIAN AND THE CORPS DIPLOMATIQUE SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

‘CURE FOR CANCER’

BY SHIDA BLIEK | PHOTOS ANTON VAN DER RIET

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 49

50 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

A Message of PeaceLETTERS OF A SOLDIER FROM THE FIRST WORLD WAR

Richard Schreurs, Director Alliance Francaise.French Ambassador Mr. Laurent Pic. Martin Beyer, Director Alliance Française. Jenny Tutein Nolthenius and husband.

The Alliance Française de La Haye presents in collaboration with the CarnegieFoundation and the Peace Palace Library, an exhibition of handwritten letters,photographs and memorabilia of the soldier Reymond Molle who died incombat in the French Vosges on April 17, 1915 during the First World War.

WWith the ‘Letters of a Soldier from theFirst World War’ the Alliance Françaisewants to remember the life of the Frenchsoldier Reymond Molle. He was a soldieramongst others, who died during thefirst year of what France would latername ‘The Big War’. Today, no one from

this family is still alive. Reymond Mollerepresents perfectly the destiny of the‘unknown soldier’, killed at the battle front,too early, too young, and then forgotten. This correspondence of some one hundredletters which the soldier had sent to hiswife who stored them away carefully at

Les Bergerons, an old small farm in thedepartment Ardèche in France, does notcontain one single word of violence, norhate, nor fatalism. On the contrary: betweenthe lines of the day-to-day reports of thesoldier’s existence in the camp and theadvice that he gave to his wife of how to

BY MARTIN BEYER

run thefarm, thereader willdiscoverwords ofhope, peaceand dignity.

Published onlettresdunsol-daten.word-press.com 100years later,

day for day, after the original manuscriptswere written, the letters of ReymondMolle show the high degree of humanityembodied by just a simple soldier.The exhibition of the manuscripts, photos and souvenirs is used as anaccompaniment to the digital publicationand illustrates the historical context ofthe beginning of the First World War.

Just one year after the inauguration ofthe Peace Palace in The Hague in 1913,the First World War started. How stupid.How sad. What a waste. With theCarnegie Foundation, the AllianceFrançaise thus wishes to honour theordinary, unknown, almost forgotten anduniversal soldiers. They were the firstones, at the front, and they paid the highest price - with their life. They all hada name: case in point - Reymond Molle.The Alliance Française thanks the ownerof the letters and today’ landlord of LesBergerons : respectively the sisters Julie &Jenny Tutein Nolthenius, as well as thetranslators of the project Ilda & MartijnGiebel (NL), Eva Hütte (DE), NicolePierre (EN) and Clémence François(FR), Malik and several volunteers.This project has been made possiblethanks to the Carnegie Foundation –Peace Palace Library, the Foundation

Alliance Française – Paris, the FrenchEmbassy to the Netherlands, the InstitutFrançais in Amsterdam, LEntl, theReclamewinkel Den Haag and TV5Monde.A special thank you goes to the FrenchAmbassador Mr. Laurent Pic for his support at the opening on the 14th ofNovember at the Peace Palace and to theGerman Ambassador Mr. Franz JosepKremp for his contribution for the filmprojection of ‘Merry Christmas/JoyeuxNoël’ on the 18th of November. TheAlliance Française then also contributesto the classical peace concert onDecember 4th at the Kloosterkerk onLange Voorhout with the Orchestra for Peace including musicians fromJewish, Muslim and Christian origins.Reservation can be made through thewebsite of the Peace Palace.

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 51

Steven van Hoogstraten, Director Vredespaleis

The Peace Palace in The Hague.


Her Excellency Ms. Nassima Baghli,Ambassador of Algeria, hosted a receptionto celebrate the National Day of Algeria.Standing between the flags of Algeriaand The Netherlands, the Ambassadorgreeted the hundreds of guests, who hadcome to congratulate her on this occasion.The impressive and hardworkingAmbassador Baghli is known to alwaysmake time to attend most National Dayreceptions of her fellow Ambassadors,despite her busy schedule. She also madetime to answer a few questions.

You have been in The Netherlands foralmost five years now. What is yourimpression of The Netherlands in general?“I am really happy to be in TheNetherlands. Because of the combinationof bilateral and multilateral issues, The

Hague is a very good place to work in.The Hague is indeed home to manyinternational organizations, which givethe city a special touch. For a diplomat,being posted in The Hague really bringsan added value to his/her careeer. Thediplomatic circle is very active. I also likethe mindset of the Dutch people verymuch. They are very energetic and pragmatic. They are always striving toadapt to new realities and to experiencenew things. My stay in The Netherlandsis being very fruitful. I discovered acountry, which has a lot of assets and awonderful capacity of innovation.”

Algeria is an important gas producingcountry. Can you give an example of thecooperation between Algeria and TheNetherlands?“Algeria is indeed an important gas and

oil producing country. We are a supplierto The Netherlands. The company Shellis bringing a precious contribution tothe exploration of oil and gas in Algeria.For its part, Algeria imports a lot of agri-cultural products from The Netherlands.We also import machineries for industryand agriculture. We also have a very goodcooperation in the field of water management. A pilot project in the southof Algeria on the reuse of water for irrigation has just been finalized. I amvery happy to witness that the Algerianand the Dutch companies are very eagerto work together. In Algeria peopleappreciate the Dutch know how andproducts very much. The Netherlands isthe sixth client of Algeria and its four-teenth supplier. So, as you can see, theeconomic ties between the two countriesare very good and diverse.”

52 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

Algerian National DayCelebration

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 53

54 DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 55

JBY SHIDA BLIEK | PHOTO ANTON VAN DER RIET

Just rushed back from New York anddespite his very tight schedule, H.E. Dr.Virachai Plasai made a very calm andrelaxed impression as we had a pleasantconversation about one of his passions,music.I had the pleasure to get to know himbetter especially because he was the firstAmbassador who supported the Foun-dation of Diplomat Club Wassenaar andhosted cultural events at which musicand the food of his country were high-lighted. We got acquainted with hisexcellent talent as a musician. He wasalso the first to inspire Ambassadors toplay music publicly. H.E. Mr. JamesLambert Ambassador of Canada, also avery talented guitar player, followed hisexample and he even inspired formerAmbassador of France H.E. Mr. PierreMénat to sing Karaoke.

Do you have professional music training?“During my childhood, I had violin andpiano lessons but the passion for playingthe guitar came when I went to studylaw inTours, France. I was blown awaythe first time I heard the song It don’tcome easy by Ringo Star. That was a wonderful inspiration’. Ambassador Virachaiguides us to a special room at the RoyalThai embassy in The Hague. A room fullof traditional music instruments and Iwas invited to take a closer look at somespecial instruments, graciously donated

by HRH Princess Maha ChakriSirindhorn. He presented some instru-ments; one of them is called ‘Ja Ke’, a three-stringed musical instrument thatlooks like ‘the crocodile’, which Mrs.Elizabeth Plasai loves to play. Anotherinstrument that Ambassador Virachai presented as his favorite one is a pair of‘Kong Kaek’, literally, the Indian drums.Spontaneously the Ambassador took hisshoes off and sat down on the floor toplay the drums, meanwhile explainingthe difference in sound between thefemale and male drum.

I thank Ambassador Virachai for this unique moment that Diplomat Affairs – intouch with the Dutch Magazine could witness.I also thank him for the music contribution, a blues band that he will bein charge of, at the next ‘Cure for cancer’ event, organized by TenRandeFoundation on the 30th of November.His support for ‘Cure for Cancer’ ishighly appreciated by the Dutch societyand we are very proud that he is anhonorary member of Diplomat ClubWassenaar.

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H.E. DR. VIRACHAI PLASAI, AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF THAILAND TO THE NETHERLANDS, AND HIS PASSION FOR MUSIC

Thank you for the music

HRH Princess MahaChakri Sirindhorn

DIPLOMAT AFFAIRS 57

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IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF

Kris Schiermeier fromthe SieboldHuis inLeiden will elaborateon the futureexhibitions about theunique kimono ofItchiku Kubota(1917-2003).

Brigitte Spiegeleris an attorney-at-

law in TheNetherlands andFrance. She will

write aboutinternationalnegotiations.

Interview with H.E. Karim Ben Bécher,Ambassador of Tunesia to The Netherlandsand his spouse Rim.

IN TOUCH WITH THE DUTCH

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