On 20 September 2015, shortly after his 64th birthday, H.E. Ed Kronenburg, Ambassador of the Netherlands to France, completed The Hague Peace Marathon.
H.E. Mr Kronenburg has been the Dutch Ambassador to France since 2012. He has held diverse official postings, including functions in the European Commission, NATO and the Service of the Royal House of Orange.
The Ambassador has been running since 1999. His first great marathon was that of New York, which he since completed on several occasions.
Other marathons under his belt include events in Berlin, Paris, Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Enschede, the Zuiderzee Marathon, Monschau and the Slachte marathon in Friesland.
2015 was the first time he had participated in a marathon in The Hague. He told the Marathon Newsletter that he hoped for good weather and was looking forward to an enjoyable event. He was particularly enthusiastic about the initiative to persuade more ambassadors to participate, telling the Marathon Newsletter that The Hague Peace Marathon “highlights the international character of the City of Peace and Justice.” He added that he hoped his own example would encourage other diplomats to run.
The fact that Stichting The Hague Marathon organises this run as the Peace Marathon was much to the Ambassador’s liking. He observed that the need for peace and mutual goodwill is greater now than ever, given recent events in Europe.
The Ambassador’s message to participants in the forthcoming Peace Marathon is simple: “Be well prepared at the start, and enjoy the event to the fullest.”
