Netwerkontvangst Holland Metropole Sail Amsterdam 21 augustus 2025

 

Good afternoon everyone, (and once again) welcome aboard this beautiful Clipper,

 

Dear captain Andi Manser, thank you for your kind words and hospitality,

 

On behalf of the vice mayors Steven van Weyenberg (Amsterdam), Eelco Eerenberg (Utrecht) and Stijn Steenbakkers (Eindhoven), and on behalf of Jos Melchers (Rotterdam), I would like to make a few remarks.

 

But first a personal note. In 1975 – Amsterdam was 700 – the first SAIL was organised. I visited the site with my parents and brother. As impressed I was then, I am now. Who would have thought then, that I would be standing here now …

 

Dear all, today, you have received extensive information on the many construction and development projects in our Dutch cities and regions.

On what has been achieved or set in motion, and on new plans and emerging opportunities.

We do this together, because we recognize the added value of the Holland Metropole as a network.

Within that network, each of our cities has its own identity, profile, and strength.

You learned about these during this morning’s presentations.

 

I hope that, in between sessions and during your boat trip to the Northern IJ waterfront, you have been able to take in some of the spectacular Sail Amsterdam festivities marking the city’s 750th anniversary.

If not, as soon as I have finished speaking, it will be the perfect moment to look around in good company and enjoy this beautiful event.

 

Amsterdam has the home advantage here, and I trust you will forgive me, as Mayor of The Hague, for taking the opportunity to highlight The Hague’s unique profile.

It is a growing city that is preparing for the future with a stronger and larger centre, by building new offices, homes, and spaces for businesses.

It is the seat of our Parliament and Government, of the Royal Family, and of diplomacy.

A city of peace and justice for 125 years, and increasingly, a city of security.

This past June we were the proud host city for the 2025 NATO Summit.

This was the largest security event ever held in our country.

A massive operation, that ran smoothly without an incident.

 

Hosting the NATO Summit in The Netherlands shows our dedication to cooperation.

Cooperation at all levels; local, regional, national and European. Public-Private partnership. Working in networks of all kinds.

This is also how we cooperate in the Holland Metropole as you have seen today.

Building on cooperation between cities, building public-private partnerships.

 

This is why it is important to be able to meet and discuss opportunities, and to see the success we have achieved together already as an inspiration for future cooperation to provide housing for our citizens.

We have two important elections coming up; parliamentary elections in October and local elections in March.

This gives us opportunities to improve local and national policies.

Keep what works and change what needs to improve.

I am sure we have ideas on these changes and we can find common ground on some of them to improve the fiscal and regulatory environment for building housing.

And with that, I will conclude, so that you can take the opportunity to meet, network, and get to know each other better.

And again, to all the cities of the Holland Metropole I wish every success.

Thank you.

To the investors and developers, I wish you promising projects, and of course a good look at the historic ships around us.

Thank you very much.