Speech by Jan van Zanen at the annual opening of the Japanese Garden, 22 April 2026 

 

Good afternoon everyone, 

Especially:  

The Japanese Ambassador, His Excellency, MICHII Rokuichiro. 

And the deputy mayor of Wassenaar, Laurens van Doeveren. 

Welcome to the annual opening of the Japanese Garden in Clingendael. 

Every year it is a magical moment: when the gates open it feels as if time has stood still for a moment and the world has become a gentler place.  

The Japanese Garden is a place of beauty, peace and constancy – values we feel more keenly today than ever before. 

Although this year we stand here with heavy hearts.  

It is with great sadness that we learned that our colleague, Dick Denie, passed away suddenly on 29 March.   

Dick worked for the city of The Hague for almost 48 years.  

He was about to retire, a milestone he had been looking forward to and that he richly deserved.  

In all that time he had worked to promote greenery in our city.  

Initially, as a ranger and later as assistant parks manager in the Haagse Hout district.  

Although, in reality, he did far more than any job title can convey.  

Dick knew the parks, gardens and woods of Haagse Hout better than anyone. 

 

The Japanese Garden itself is a place with a remarkable history.  

It was laid out more than a hundred years ago by Marguérite, Baroness van Brienen.  

A garden that is only open to visitors for a few weeks a year, because of its fragility.  

The rare plants, the ancient ornamental features and the carefully designed water bodies make this garden a living work of art.  

It is a place where nature and culture come together, where silence becomes meaningful and where visitors can briefly escape the hustle and bustle of daily life.  

 

That the atmosphere of this garden is so serene is down to the care and attention of many people, including Dick. 

His love for the Japanese Garden was boundless.  

Perhaps that was because of his hobby: growing bonsai trees, an art form that demands patience, care and dedication – precisely Dick’s qualities.  

He devoted himself heart and soul to this garden for many years.  

He received visitors, ambassadors, volunteers and sometimes people with a last wish.  

And he did that always in his own way: with modesty, warmth and a quiet pride.  

Dick let the splendour of the garden speak for itself. 

 

For many of us the Japanese Garden is a peaceful spot.  

For Dick it was also a place of care, duty and love.  

His absence is keenly felt here today.   

The loss to our organisation is great.   

But the traces of his work, his skill and his devotion remain visible – in every carefully pruned shrub, in every path he maintained, in every visitor who felt welcome here. 

I wish his family, friends and colleagues every strength and comfort as they come to terms with this immense loss.  

May your many fond memories of Dick give you strength at this difficult time. 

Let us reflect today, in this garden that he loved so dearly, not only on his passing but, above all, on his life.  

A life dedicated to greenery, the city and the people who live here.  

I would like to conclude with a Haiku, inspired by Dick and this special place: 

Soft spring breeze, a garden steeped in silence, his care still lingers. 

Thank you.