Meeting of the Dutch-Japanese Trade Federation (DUJAT), Mautishuis, 15 May 2025

Thank you Christa,

Good afternoon everyone,

How nice it is to be here again, see familiar faces and perhaps meet others who, like me, share a passion for Japan.

We go back together quite a while, to when I was Mayor of Amstelveen, to be exact.

The city with a rich selection of Japanese companies and a large Japanese community.

I have had the pleasure of visiting the country several times, also with you as my tour guide, Christa.

It has captivated me in a way that has remained.

Therefore it is always a joy to be among you for a while and to hear and share our stories about Japan.

Thank you very much.