Qatar’s National Holiday 11 December 2024
Dear Mr. Ambassador,
Excellenties,
Distinguished guests,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to speak here today as the Mayor of The Hague at this celebration of Qatar’s National Holiday. The Hague, international city of peace and justice, a home of the world and a city where the world feels at home.
Qatar has been an independent state since 1971. A young nation, in a region that has been inhabited for thousands of years. Qatar is a modern country with ancient roots. A country that looks towards the future while honouring its history. A country where history serves as a cornerstone of identity, as a basis for national self-awareness.
This function of history is not only important to nations, but it also holds great value to cities. The Hague has a rich history. We are a city by the sea that has been inhabited for centuries. Based on the first official mention of our city, dated to September 6th 1242, we can state that The Hague has existed for nearly eight hundred years. On the initiative of our city council, we have been celebrating the city’s birthday every 6th of September, while we count down to our eight hundredth anniversary.
The Hague is where our early provinces were governed from, where the predecessor of our political system was housed, and where, to this day, our Royal family, parliament, and national government reside. A city with a rich history, reflected with allure in our diverse culture and architecture.
There is a link between The Hague as city of peace and justice and our artistic and cultural tradition. You may be familiar with the painters of the Haagse School. These artists operated during the time of the First Peace Conference of 1899. This conference is considered an official benchmark for the beginnings of The Hague as the international city of peace and justice. For this reason, 125 years as a city of peace and justice was commemorated with an array of exhibitions and events.
Seventy years ago, another link was established in The Hague between the arts, culture, and justice. On the 14th of May 1954, the Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict was concluded in our city. As stated in the preamble of the convention:
“… any damage to cultural property, irrespective of the people it belongs to, is a damage to the cultural heritage of all humanity, because every people contributes to the world’s culture…”
Unfortunately, this is still very relevant in these turbulent times.
Art, culture, and justice. Palaces, stately homes, leafy avenues. A tradition and heritage that we are proud of. And a pride upon which we can reflect. Because our history is not set in stone, but rather it continually evolves through new insights. Insights which are prompted by critical minds, and which have pushed us to investigate The Hague’s role in our nation’s history of colonization and slavery. To offer an apology to the descendants of those who made our wealth possible. Population groups which continue to shape our diverse society today.
Qatar also recognizes the importance of history and culture. For years, the Qatar Museum Foundation, represented today by Sheika Al Mayassa and the Minister of International Relations, Lola Alkhater, has been developing a growing array of unique museums, exhibition spaces, and archaeological projects.
Qatar realizes the importance of their own, Arabic and Islamic heritage within the rapid development of their state. This means that high-tech developments, modern and contemporary art, globally renowned architecture, and archaeological exhibitions are always evaluated against and enriched with insights and achievements from their own tradition.
This awareness not only helps to sustain Qatar’s prosperity, but it also creates space for necessary reflection. So that history and culture can continue to evolve and be enriched with new insights that can be celebrated on national holidays such as these.
Mr. Ambassador, congratulations.
Thank you.
