Speech by Jan van Zanen at a gathering at the Residence of Peru, 18 July 2025 

 

Sus Excelencias,  

Distinguido público, 

 

En primer lugar, muchísimas gracias por la invitación a esta celebración. 

Les deseo muchas felicidades para este día tan especial. 

Es todo un honor el poder acompañarles hoy. 

Permítanme que siga en inglés. 

 

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to say a few words. 

Today you are celebrating 204 years of Peruvian independence. 

Independence is a great asset, as we all know. 

But independent states do not operate in a vacuum. 

They maintain lateral and multilateral relations with other states. 

The Hague, traditionally a centre of diplomacy, is happy to facilitate the contacts underpinning those relations. 

The appointment of the first Dutch consul, Augusto Serruys, exactly 200 years ago, marks the Netherlands’ recognition of Peru as an independent state. 

Since then the two countries have shared a relationship rooted in cooperation, free trade, and the promotion of democratic values and human rights. 

I feel very connected with Peru. 

Almost three years ago I had the privilege of contributing to the closing event of an exhibition by Picaflores.  

Some six Latin American ambassadors were there too, including our hostess, Marisol Agüero Colunga, who was the ambassador of Peru at the time. 

Eighteen artists from Peru exhibited their work in the atrium of our city hall in the summer of 2022.  

My personal relationship with Peru dates back much further. 

Almost 20 years ago, in November 2005, I visited Villa el Salvador, near the capital, Lima. 

Villa el Salvador is twinned with the Dutch city of Amstelveen, of which I had become Mayor earlier that same year. 

In 2007 and 2012 I was there again. 

Amstelveen city council helped Villa el Salvador with all sorts of practical matters, such as waste separation. 

Ambassador Alan Wagner (Peruvian Secretary of Defence and Foreign Affairs) supported me all the time. 

International contacts between cities, such as this, are close to my heart. 

As President of the United Cities and Local Governments association it is something I am fully committed to. 

Most of world’s population live in cities. 

This means that we must tackle the major challenges of our time largely in urban areas. 

Convinced of the potential that cities hold.  

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

We owe this in large part to the presence of you: ambassadors and diplomats with your partners and families. 

In addition to that, since the First Peace Conference in 1899, The Hague has evolved to become the city of peace and justice. 

Justice is also what the UCLG Peace Prize is about. 

This prize is presented once every three years to a local government that is working to prevent and overcome conflicts in its own community. 

Or which is helping other local authorities in their pursuit of peace and justice.  

In this way the UCLG Peace Prize underlines the fundamental role played by local government worldwide in preventing and resolving conflicts, and in fostering reconstruction. 

I would like to draw your attention to the next presentation of the UCLG Peace Prize, which will take place next year. 

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to warmly congratulate you and everyone here today on this day marking the independence of Peru. 

I wish you and your citizens all the very best and, above all: peace and prosperity. 

Thank you.