Toespraak door Jan van Zanen bij de bijeenkomst van de Buitenlandse Persvereniging op 24 maart 2026

 

Dear all,

 

Welcome to this remarkable place in the heart of The Hague:
the Old Town Hall, a building filled with history, stories, and centuries of public life.
For more than four hundred years the direction of our city was shaped within these walls.

Today, they host a new kind of gathering, one that I hope will become a tradition.

A special welcome to Alderman Co Engberts,
whose portfolio includes housing and labour migration,
topics that resonate strongly with the international character of our city
and with the work many of you do every day.

 

For everything, there is a first time.
And today marks the first edition of this meeting,
born from a simple idea:
that it is valuable for us to meet one another in a setting
away from the daily rush of breaking news and relentless deadlines.

 

The idea took shape last year,
during the centenary celebration of the Foreign Press Association.
It emerged in a conversation with your chair, Imane Rachidi.
She cannot be with us today,
but I am very glad that all of you are here.

 

Meeting in a moment of calm gives us something precious:
the space to reflect
and the opportunity to express appreciation. My appreciation.

Because the work you do,
here in The Hague and across the world,
is indispensable.

 

Without independent journalism,
no democratic society can thrive.

You uncover what is happening,
you ask the difficult questions,
you verify facts,
and you make complex realities understandable.
You pay attention to the small details
as well as to the broader forces shaping our world.
And when necessary,
you speak truth to power.

 

Your work takes courage.
It requires integrity.
And it demands a sense of responsibility
that deserves the highest respect.

 

You should all be able to carry out your work in complete freedom and safety.
Everywhere in the world, and certainly here, in this city.
We see that this freedom and safety are under pressure in many places.
In The Hague, we do not tolerate that.

 

If you ever feel that you cannot perform your vital work in a safe manner,
please never hesitate to reach out to me, my staff, or the police.

We stand firmly for the safety of our journalists here in this city,

 

The Hague, the international city of Peace and Justice,
has always been deeply connected to the world.
As the home of the International Court of Justice,
the International Criminal Court,
and so many other global institutions,
our city has long stood at the crossroads of peace, justice, and international cooperation.

 

For more than a century, The Hague has worked to build its role as the global centre of peace and justice.

Today this is its vibrant, beating heart with over 500 organizations.

And still growing, as we hope to welcome the European Union Customs Authority as well.

These institutions exist because generations before us understood the cost of their absence.

 

For The Hague, the responsibility is clear.

We support the institutions and the people who work here to uphold international law. We continue to welcome international organizations,

and as host city, we work closely with the Dutch government to ensure the safety and security of these institutions and their staff.

This commitment is woven into the identity of our city.

 

On a more personal note:

I often think back to conversations with my father

when I travelled abroad for city diplomacy.

He would ask whether those visits were truly worthwhile.

My answer was always simple:

as long as people are talking to each other instead of shooting at each other, dialogue has value.

That same belief continues to guide our approach in The Hague, each and every day.

 

Our city has an international scope and an international population.

With more than 175 nationalities,
you yourselves embody that international fabric.

Here, decisions are made that echo across continents.

Everything that happens on the world stage resonates here.
And through your reporting, it resonates far beyond The Hague.

 

That is why it matters that we know each other,
that you know how to contact me,
and that we stay connected.

Not just in moments of urgency,
but also in moments like this.

 

Thank you.