Oath-taking ceremony of Hungary’s new honorary consuls in The Hague.
The solemn oath-taking of Hungary’s newly appointed honorary consuls in the Netherlands, Mr Dirk Beljaarts, Mr Alfred Evers and Mr Seerp Leistra took place on 10 March 2016, in the framework of the National Day reception organised by the Embassy of Hungary in The Hague.
The consular commissions of the three honorary consuls residing in Amsterdam, Sittard and Groningen respectively were handed over by Mr Zoltán Lékó, chargé d’affaires in the presence of numerous guests, among them prominent representatives of the Hungarian community in the Netherlands. The appointments were signed by Mr Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary.
The predecessors of the new honorary consuls retired last year, receiving a high-level state decoration from the President of the Republic of Hungary. Being well established members of the Dutch society and having excellent reputation in their consular districts, the honorary consuls will work to strengthen Dutch-Hungarian economic and cultural relations and to further bilateral cooperation.
Mr Dirk Beljaarts, honorary consul of Hungary in the provinces of Utrecht, Zuid-Holland and Noord-Holland has built a successful career in the tourism and hotel industry. Mr Beljaarts is the general manager of the renowned Novotel Amsterdam City.
With his decades long diplomatic experience, Mr Alfred Evers, honorary consul of Hungary in the provinces of Limburg, Noord-Brabant and Zeeland is leading an independent consultancy, having set up a wide professional network in Hungary.
Mr Seerp Leistra, honorary consul of Hungary with jurisdiction over the provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe has not only received appreciation in the field of financial and business consultancy, as a talented musician he has also fervently supported the cause of Hungarian music and culture.
Photography by George Pathó.