Word of welcome at the reception for members of the corps diplomatique and the international community, 17 November 2025

 

Excellencies,

Friends,

Dear all,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you, members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of the international community.

Also on behalf of the Vice Mayors Mariëlle Vavier, Saskia Bruines and Nur Icar.

This time our host is the Kunstmuseum, one of The Hague’s top cultural attractions and, for 90 years now, a magnificent icon of our city.

Margriet Schavemaker will be telling you more about that shortly, and about the exhibition that you can visit this evening.

The Residentie Orkest will be playing for us later, something that I am looking forward to.

A poet once wrote: ‘The Hague, you tap it and it sings’.

The poet’s name is one that non-Dutch speakers might find difficult to pronounce: Gerrit Achterberg (emphasis on the g-s).

The Residentie Orkest has had The Hague singing for more than 120 years, all over the city.

As it will again today.

Just as The Hague is a city for the arts, thanks to you, it is also the city of peace and justice.

These two profiles complement and enhance one another.

The cultural diversity and the many international organisations also make the city interesting from an international perspective.

Added to which: diplomacy and culture essentially speak the same language.

Both are based on listening, empathy and a willingness to see the world through someone else’s eyes.

At a time where divisions sometimes seem to be growing, cities like The Hague have a special responsibility: to show how culture can be a quiet but powerful form of diplomacy.

Partly for this reason, in two months’ time, on 20 January, we will be bringing together the diplomatic community, the international organisations and the cultural sector.

Because together they are the essence of what makes The Hague so special: a multicultural city that is locally rooted and at the same time globally significant.

You will receive an invitation to this event in due course.

And just as culture can bring people together at the international level here in The Hague, the same is also possible at local level.

More than ever before, we want art and culture to play a part in bringing the local and international communities in our city closer together.

You will agree, I am sure, that there could be more interaction between these groups of residents in The Hague.

It is precisely this type of exchange between the local and the international that will reinforce the social fabric of The Hague and make our city strong and resilient.

Something that is most important at this time.

The events taking place on the world stage show us every day just how important it is, as international city of peace and justice, to remain committed to a peaceful and just world.

Many of you are involved with that on a daily basis in one of the embassies or international organisations based here in The Hague.

Therefore, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for that commitment.

Your work is invaluable.

Especially now.

Know that you can always count on us.

I wish you all a most enjoyable meeting.