On the picture The Ball Committee.
By Duke Michael of Mecklenburg.
Diplomat Magazine is happy to support the initiation of the Tulips Ball. The Ball Committee welcomes the Diplomatic Corps, all International Organisations and friends to participate with their spouses and children at the Tulips Ball.
The committee would like to enable the Diplomatic Community further to interact with one another. Bring together the international community once more, the Ball Committee hopes to make The Hague and its surroundings an even more appealing region for expats from all over the world.
The Tulips Ball Weekend will take place on the 18th to the 20th March 2016. Whereas the Grand Ball will be on Saturday 19th March, the programme will already facilitate its participants to meet one another on Friday evening while enjoying an informal dinner and what is untranslatable in the German language called “Eintanzen”, meaning dancing to warm up and prepare for the ball at Hotel van Oranje.
On Saturday, the participants are offered to enjoy the beautiful city of Leiden by boat. In the evening the Grand Tulips Ball takes place in the Winter Garden Hall at Hotel van Oranje.
Opened traditionally by Clemens van Steijn, who initiated the Tulips Ball last year for the first time. The ball was considered a great success with 170 guests attending from more than 15 nations last year. Thus, he was very happy to see that there was such a good response.
Furthermore, he said that the committee is already expecting large delegations from the Russian Federation and the United States of America, which were not present in such large numbers last year.
Emiel Blomme stated that “last year was of course great and provided a good basis to continue with, so this year the Ball Committee can focus on other organisational matter as well as we could further evolve that basis. Thus, Clemens and I could find this years’ amazing location, Hotel van Oranje. This is a whole new level.”
Clemens van Steijn continued to say that “we travelled through South Holland and after much research and visits to hotels, we found Hotel van Oranje, which met the demands for such a ball, which also is suitable for the International Community.”
The author, who is also part of the Ball Committee is also very satisfied with the developments and is looking forward to welcoming friends from all over the world, old families, including nobility from the Netherlands and Europe as well as from further abroad.
The Ball Committee is very happy to work with Hotel van Oranje as it is known for its great hospitality and knowing that their guests will be in good hands as the President of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Xi Jinping was staying there during the Nuclear Security Summit in 2014.
Jonkheer Thomas Stoop states: “I want the Tulips Ball to be the event, where all who can make a difference in Europe and the world beyond can gather. We are the people who are motivated, enthusiastic and willing to have an open mind and share with each other. Furthermore, open minds breed opportunities and opportunities breed prosperity. If that is connected to values such as respect, trust and ambition, one can see possibilities together with others. Let me put forward the modest goal of trying to connect moral values to good ambitions. Therefore, if this were to be reached, my goal would be achieved and I am hopeful we will.”
Zwentibald van Blokland, the latest committee member said: “I am also grateful to be part of the Tulips Ball Committee that is preparing a unique weekend. A setting, where there is place for simple enjoyment by sharing time together dining, talking and dancing.”
For a final remark, the author would like to add that all of the Committee Members are looking forward to seeing Diplomats, internationals and expats from around the world at the Tulips Ball.
For more information, please visit the webpage http://www.tulipsball.com.
