Opening One Conference, 6 oktober 2026

 

Distinguished guests,

Dear all, 

and a special welcome to the international delegations joining us today. 

 

Life used to be simple. 

To keep intruders out, all you needed was a strong door, secure windows, and solid locks. 

But those days are long gone. 

 

In the digital age, everyone and everything is connected. 

Those connections help us thrive. 

Yet they also make us vulnerable. 

Every digital connection can become a point of entry. 

A gateway into the systems we rely on. 

 

New digital threats emerge every day. 

Some seek financial gain. 

Others aim to disrupt societies or advance geopolitical interests. 

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum computing are accelerating these trends. 

In the wrong hands, they can become powerful tools for disruption and attack. 

And in a time of geopolitical unrest, those bad actors are not just criminals. 

Increasingly, they also include state-sponsored groups seeking to advance strategic interests through cyberspace. 

 

To complicate matters even further, the digital world has no borders. 

We are all connected through the internet. 

Mi casa es su casa is no longer merely a welcoming phrase, but an accurate way to describe our digital interdependence. 

A vulnerability in one place can quickly affect many others. 

 

That is why cybersecurity is of the utmost importance. 

Addressing these challenges requires cooperation and trust. 

No country, company, or institution can tackle them alone. 

That is exactly why gatherings such as the ONE Conference matter. 

That is why we are gathered here today. 

 

On behalf of the City of The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice,
I would like to welcome you to this year’s ONE Conference. 

This two-day event is organised in partnership with the National Cyber Security Centre and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. 

The ONE Conference brings together people from government, academia, and industry who share a commitment to a safer digital world. 

Over the next two days, you will exchange ideas and explore how we can strengthen our digital resilience. 

You will also have the opportunity to visit the Made in Europe exhibition, which highlights the innovations being developed here on our continent.  

I encourage you to take the time to explore it.  

I am confident it will be well worth your while. 

 

 The Hague is a fitting place for this conference. 

This city has long brought people together to address complex international challenges. 

Peace, justice and security are closely intertwined. 

And in today’s world, cybersecurity has become an essential part of all three. 

That is why The Hague has the ambition to become one of the cybersecurity capitals of the world. 

And we are well on our way. 

The presence of all of you here today is further proof of that progress. 

And already more than 300 organisations, companies and institutions have joined forces to strengthen our cyber resilience through The Hague Security Delta. 

We aim to develop an international campus where the future of cybersecurity is built together. 

 

But none of this will succeed without talented people with the right skills and mindset. 

That is why, in The Hague, we invest in cybersecurity education at every level. 

In brief: we need you. 

 

In every threat lies an opportunity. 

An opportunity not only to defend ourselves, but to innovate and thrive. 

That is the challenge the ONE Conference puts before us. 

And that is the opportunity before us as well. 

 

So, let’s get to work.