Opening of the exhibition ‘Humanity Up Close’, 14 October 2026

 

A very warm welcome to you all.

 

Thank you for staying on after the film screening and the discussion, to visit this exhibition here in the atrium of our city hall.

‘De Huiskamer van Den Haag’ – The Hague’s living room.

I would like to thank our partners and everyone who has helped to make this evening possible.

In particular, the Dutch Red Cross.

The Hague and the Red Cross go hand in hand.

Not only is the head office of the Dutch Red Cross based here in our city.

The Hague’s international profile also closely matches the global mission of the Red Cross.

The first Peace Conference took place in The Hague in 1899, exactly 35 years after the founding of the International Red Cross.

This laid the foundations for The Hague’s evolution into a centre for international law.

Many people are familiar with the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, mostly as organisations that operate internationally.

Organisations that offer humanitarian aid to the victims of war and natural disasters.

Selflessly helping people in need, without prejudice or judgement.

Whereby neutrality and independence are of paramount importance.

The same applies to the local work of the Red Cross.

Because the Red Cross also does very important work here in The Hague.

Day in, day out.

Providing help to all the people living in The Hague who could do with a bit of support.

To be able to do that, the Red Cross is active in every corner of our city.

We are most grateful for that.

 

Today, however, we are looking further afield, to Africa.

Earlier this evening you saw a documentary which raised an important question:

Who may tell the story in times of war and crisis?

Through the eyes of a Sudanese filmmaker you got to see Sudan from within.

You heard the stories of the people living there, or rather: who are trying to survive on a daily basis in a country plagued by a humanitarian disaster.

This exhibition continues that journey – but in a different way.

The documentary showed you what one filmmaker saw.

This exhibition invites us to look at what others have chosen to show us.

Not from outside, but from within.

Through the eyes of people just like us.

But then from Botswana, Liberia, Mali and Sudan.

Every photo represents a personal choice:

What deserves to be remembered?

What do we want to share with the world?

What should other people see?

In this way, they are portrayed not just as victims, but also as individuals who can think and act independently.

This exhibition provides a space for them to tell their own story.

It reminds us that there is not just one story.

I very much hope that many visitors will come and see these photographs.

And that all those visitors realise that there is a person behind each of these images.

A unique and precious individual, each one with their own voice, their own perspective and their own experiences.

The Hague, city of peace and justice, and thus a natural partner for the Red Cross, is pleased to provide a platform for this exhibition.

It is with great pleasure, therefore, that I hereby declare it open.