By Roy Lie Atjam
To celebrate the National Day of Luxembourg, H.E. Mr. Mike Hentges, the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, hosted a delightful reception and garden barbecue on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at his residence in The Hague. The barbecue featured delicious Luxembourg delicacies and music (Musek, Gegrills, Béier) creating a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for everyone to enjoy on a sunny summer afternoon. H.E. Mr. Mike Hentges warmly welcomed all his guests with a deep felt message in Lëtzebuergesch, Dutch and English.
“My team, Michèle and I are happy to welcome you again for the Luxembourg National Day Barbecue. It’s again been a busy year in The Hague, and also for our Embassy.” Ambassador began by saying.
“As highlights I would like to mention in particular the visit of Prime Minister Schoof to Luxembourg, the third working visit of Prime Minister Frieden to The Netherlands, this time to Eindhoven in particular, only a few weeks ago, as well as the 2nd working visit within a year of Minister of the Interior and Immigration Leon Gloden.”
“And we are not done yet: next week The Hague will of course host the NATO Summit, Luxembourg will host the Benelux Summit in summer, and a trade mission from Luxembourg, focusing inter alia on the tech, defense and automotive sectors, will come to Eindhoven and Rotterdam in October.”
The Ambassador also touched upon a historic transition for the Grand Duchy, “And not to forget, on October 3rd of course, the upcoming abdication by HRH Grand Duke Henri and intronization of his son Guillaume as Luxembourg’s next head of State, at which Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima will honour us with their presence.
Because indeed, after 25 years of reign, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri has decided that it is time for a new generation to step up. One of his last trips abroad as head of State two weeks ago was to lead a large ministerial and economic delegation to Japan, and more precisely to Osaka, where he attended Luxembourg Day at the World Expo 2025.”
“His son Prince Guillaume, at 43 years old, and Princess Stéphanie, stand ready to take over. The new Grand Ducal couple sees its rol anchored in tradition while looking towards the future. The future Grand Duke is committed to the tradition of serving the country and will emphasize social cohesion in a multicultural country like the Grand Duchy, firmly tied to Europe. Openness is a physical and economic reality, but more importantly, it is a state of mind, as Luxembourg envisions its future only at the heart of a united Europe.”
“While we are looking forward to celebrating this happy occasion, and while relations between Luxembourg and The Netherlands are going strong, geopolitical tensions seem to worsen by the week, and the rules- based multilateral order, which constitutes the cornerstone of our foreign policy for both The Netherlands and Luxembourg, is fighting for its survival.
War is back on the European continent, and Ukraine, which has chosen for itself and its children the path of European integration and European values, as well as aspiring to membership of the transatlantic alliance, again by its own democratic choice, has been the subject of a brutal war of aggression for more than 3 years now. Luxembourg, just like The Netherlands, stands and will stand with Ukraine, and will continue to support it on the quest for a just and lasting peace, and on its way to EU membership.
In the Middle East we have witnessed several tragedies: the unspeakably brutal terror attack by Hamas on October 7th 2023, which killed almost 1200 Israelis, followed by the abduction of 251 hostages, dozens of which are still held in Gaza under appalling conditions. A humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, which has hit Palestinian children especially hard. An escalation of tensions between Iran and Israel, where a return to the negotiating table to provide diplomatic solutions to the legitimate concerns raised by Iran’s nuclear programme is of utmost importance.
As I mentioned earlier, the rules-based multilateral world order is threatened like never before since World War 2. Luxembourg is convinced that a might-makes-right or purely power based order will not only leave smaller countries and vulnerable populations worse off, but will be a fundamental risk for the whole of humanity.
A few days ago we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the signature of the Treaty of Schengen. Free movement across borders within the Schengen Area has become one of the most visible and concrete achievements of European integration. Like many in their 40ies, Schengen might need a checkup… maybe ditch some bad habits and become a bit more principled in the enforcement of self-imposed rules. It goes to say that for Luxembourg, where around 45% of the labour force crosses the border from France, Belgium and Germany every day, a well-functioning Schengen area is of vital interest. But beyond that I firmly believe that a well-functioning Schengen area is of vital interest to the European Union as a whole, to its citizens and to its internal market.
As you might know Schengen is also an actual town (or rather village) in the winemaking Moselle region in Eastern Luxembourg. And in case you are currently holding a glass of white wine in your hand, it’s a Chateau de Schengen.
So let me invite you to taste a few gastronomic delights from Luxembourg: typical Luxembourgish sausages, beef brochettes, Gromperekichelcher, a kind of waffle made of potatoes, onions and parsley, Riesling wine and crémant from Schengen, and beer from my own native town Esch-sur-Alzette.
And before listening to the National anthems. let me take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to my small but hardworking team: Cathy, Johanna, Cirila, Romeo, Charlotte and Matthew. In this spirit, dear friends, let me raise my glass to the friendship between Luxembourg and The Netherlands, as well as to Grand Duke Henri and King Willem-Alexander. Cheers!.”
