On Monday, 2 February 2026, the Peace Palace in The Hague will once again provide the setting for an event of profound historical and legal significance. The eighth edition of International Holocaust Remembrance Day – The Hague (IHRD-TH) will bring together some 350 ministers, diplomats, and senior jurists from international courts and institutions.
Building on a prestigious tradition of keynote speakers—including Professor Philippe Sands (2020), Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat (2021), and Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (2023)—this year’s keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Dr. Dineke de Groot, President of the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. Prof. Dr. de Groot is the first woman to hold this position since the Court’s establishment in 1838 and is widely recognised as a leading authority in judicial conflict resolution.
At a time when the foundations of the rule of law are under increasing pressure worldwide, Prof. Dr. de Groot will reflect on the impact of the Holocaust on the Dutch judiciary and on the legacy of Mr. L.E. Visser, President of the Supreme Court during the Second World War.
The programme will also feature the moving testimony of Holocaust survivor Dr. Ir. Ronald E. Waterman MSc, who survived deportation as a child to Westerbork and Theresienstadt. His personal account will underscore the human imperative behind international law, powerfully linking the darkest chapters of history with the responsibilities of today’s international community.
