Speech by Jan van Zanen at the opening of the Thailand Grand Festival, 13 July 2024

Ambassador Mamanee,

Excellencies,

Dear all,

It gives me great pleasure to be present at the opening of the 15th Thailand Grand Festival.

A special edition dedicated to 420 years of diplomatic relations between Thailand and the Netherlands.

Here, in perhaps one of the most beautiful places in The Hague, the Lange Voorhout.

The Hague, the city where the world is at home.

And where the cultures of the world are at home.

The Thailand Grand Festival shows this cultural wealth in all its glory.

This is not just ‘a’ festival.

The Thailand Grand Festival shows in a concrete way how culture can unite.

And that is why it is so wonderful that we are together here.

For this festival that builds a bridge between Thailand and the Netherlands.

And brings people together.

When I was young I studied in the United States at Cornell Law School.

My best friends of that time are Kobchai Kingchatchaval and Buppa Bhamabutra from Thailand.

And they still are.

They contacted me last week when the Dutch soccer team played at the European championship.

It felt like an honour to me.

In a way I honour them by being present here.

This festival brings people together.

And dear all, that is, after all, what The Hague stands for as the international city of peace and justice.

I wish you all a very enjoyable Thailand Grand Festival.