Following the continued success of its previous editions, Hilton The Hague’s Blue Blood restaurant will host the eighth edition of the Peruvian Food Festival on Friday, 24 July, once again under the direction of Peruvian Chef de Cuisine Luis Rojas.
The real secret behind Blue Blood’s culinary reputation is Chef Rojas himself. Originally from Peru, he trained in Lima and at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu, an institution recognized as one of Latin America’s leading culinary schools. His career has taken him around the world, including Abu Dhabi, before bringing his expertise to The Hague, where he continues to introduce guests to the richness and diversity of Peruvian gastronomy.
This year’s festival presents a new edition of Peru’s internationally acclaimed cuisine through an extensive buffet featuring traditional dishes prepared with authentic ingredients and contemporary techniques. Guests will also enjoy live music and a festive atmosphere that reflects the warmth and hospitality of Peru.
Adding an interactive element to the evening, Chef Rojas will lead an exclusive “Make Your Own Ceviche” workshop, offering participants the opportunity to learn the authentic preparation of Peru’s iconic national dish.
Chef Luis Rojas at Hilton The Hague.
Chef Rojas has recently been awarded the Authentic Peruvian Cuisine Certification, recognizing his commitment to preserving and promoting the genuine flavors and culinary traditions of Peru. “Peruvian cuisine is a meeting point of history, culture, and biodiversity,” says Chef Rojas. “Through this festival, I hope every guest discovers not only our food but also the spirit of Peru.”
The Peruvian Food Festival – 8th Edition will take place at Blue Blood Restaurant, Hilton The Hague, on Friday, 24 July, with seatings at 18:00 and 20:30. The price is €69.50 per person.
More than a dinner, the festival offers an opportunity to experience one of the world’s most celebrated cuisines through the creativity and expertise of one of Peru’s distinguished chefs.
Theme: “Amazing Thailand: Creative Life and Creative Heartbeat”
By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague, 4 July 2026 – This year’s Thai Grand Festival transformed the streets of The Hague into a lively showcase of Thai culture, bringing together hundreds of visitors eager to experience Thailand’s rich heritage, renowned cuisine, and captivating performances. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, traditional Thai music, and a warm sense of celebration.
Colourful dance performances and cultural presentations delighted the audience, offering an engaging experience that highlighted Thailand’s cultural traditions while promoting cultural diplomacy.
Recognised as Thailand’s largest annual family event in The Hague, the Thai Grand Festival (TGF) has become a valued tradition over the past decade.
It reflects the strong presence of the Thai community in the Netherlands and serves as an important platform for promoting mutual understanding and cultural exchange between the peoples of Thailand and the Netherlands.
The spirit of the festival was beautifully captured in a collection of photographs that showcase the warmth and enthusiasm of the celebration.
More than a cultural event, the Thai Grand Festival brings together families, friends, and visitors in a shared celebration of tradition, friendship, and community.
H.E. Ambassador Asi Mamanee made the following remarks. “Don’t miss our Exhibition on Chud Thai or Thai national costume, presented in tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, whose lifelong dedication has preserved Thailand’s rich textile heritage. Thailand has nominated Chud Thai for inscription on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity this year.
I also want to introduce our festival mascot. He is a smiley destination pin. He carries an invitation: to pin your heart to Thailand, as your next bucket-list destination.
Earlier, I talked about connection. I am very pleased to inform you that this year is very special as we celebrate the return of Thai Airways International’s daily direct flights between Amsterdam and Bangkok, starting from 1st of July.
The Netherlands is one of Thailand’s top European visitor markets, and with the direct service from our national carrier, Thai Airways, we hope to welcome more Dutch travellers in the years ahead.The Thai Grand Festival (TGF) is more than just an event; it’s a joyous celebration of culture, connection, and the love of community that everyone can enjoy!
It is now my great pleasure to declare the Thailand Grand Festival 2026 officially open.”
The Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, led by H.E. Mr. Vusi Madonsela, hosted an elegant National Day Reception at the Marriott Hotel in The Hague, overlooking the iconic Nelson Mandela Statue.
The reception brought together members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Dutch Government, the South African community, partners from academia, business, arts and culture, and friends of South Africa. Among the distinguished guests were His Grace Dr. Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town, and Ms Trudie Koning, the renowned Dutch anti-apartheid activist who was awarded the Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo in Silver by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Although South Africa’s National Day is celebrated annually on 27 April, commemorating the country’s first democratic elections in 1994, this year’s reception was held during Youth Month, which also marked the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising of 16 June 1976.
Ambassador Madonsela together with H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak, Ambassador of Uganda, Ambassador Madonsela together with H.E. Ms. Mirjam Blaak, Ambassador of Uganda, H.E. Ambassador Lizeth N. Satumbo Pena, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola, H.E. Mr. Mohamed Basri, Ambassador of Morocco and the Charge d’affairs of Burundi, Mr. Stany Nuhizi .
In his keynote address, Ambassador Madonsela reflected on two defining milestones in South Africa’s democratic history: the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising and the 30th anniversary of the adoption of South Africa’s Constitution.
Recalling the student-led protests of 1976, he paid tribute to the young people who sacrificed their lives in the struggle against apartheid.
“The theme ‘Reset @ 50 – The Future Calls’ reminds us that freedom requires continual effort. Every generation inherits both the achievements and responsibilities of its predecessors.”
The Ambassador noted that the country’s first democratic elections in 1994 fundamentally transformed South Africa and paved the way for the adoption of one of the world’s most progressive constitutions.
“Our Constitution is built on the values of human dignity, equality, freedom and the rule of law, serving as the foundation for a non-racial, non-sexist and inclusive society.”
While recognising significant progress over the past three decades, including expanded access to housing, education, healthcare and social protection, Ambassador Madonsela acknowledged that poverty, inequality and unemployment remain central challenges for the country.
Commitment to International Law and Multilateralism
Addressing international affairs, Ambassador Madonsela reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to diplomacy, peaceful conflict resolution and the international rule of law.
“South Africa remains firmly committed to an international order founded on the United Nations Charter, international rule of law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
He also praised the work of the international institutions based in The Hague, including the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for their contribution to accountability, disarmament and international peace.
The Ambassador further reflected on South Africa’s hosting of the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the first G20 Leaders’ Summit held on African soil, which focused on solidarity, equality, sustainability and giving greater voice to developing countries.
Guests attending South Africa Day 2026 in The Hague.
A Growing Partnership with the Netherlands
Looking at bilateral relations, Ambassador Madonsela highlighted the strong and evolving partnership between South Africa and the Netherlands.
“The relationship between South Africa and the Kingdom of the Netherlands is strong, dynamic, and mutually beneficial, rooted in historical ties and a commitment to democratic values and human rights.”
He noted that cooperation continues to expand through the Joint Commission for Cooperation, covering areas including trade, agriculture, higher education, scientific research, green hydrogen, sustainable development and multilateral diplomacy.
Expressing confidence in the future of the relationship, the Ambassador thanked all institutions and individuals contributing to the growing partnership between the two countries.
The Hague Welcomes South Africa
The guests were also addressed by Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague, who highlighted the longstanding relationship between South Africa and the international City of Peace and Justice. He underlined the close cooperation between the Municipality of The Hague and the South African Embassy, which continues to strengthen dialogue, mutual understanding and collaboration.
Ziyanda Buthelezi-Ngcobo, representing Netflix EMEA in Amsterdam.
Another highlight of the evening was the address by Ziyanda Buthelezi-Ngcobo, representing Netflix EMEA in Amsterdam. She spoke about Netflix’s continued investment in South African productions, emphasising storytelling in indigenous languages and the company’s commitment to bringing authentic South African stories, talent and cultural diversity to audiences worldwide.
The Embassy also acknowledged Singapi Mlulami, who served as Programme Director throughout the evening.
The reception concluded with a renewed appreciation for South Africa’s democratic journey and the enduring friendship between South Africa and the Netherlands. Ambassador Madonsela and his team were warmly congratulated for hosting a memorable celebration that reflected South Africa’s rich heritage, hospitality and commitment to international cooperation.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Federal Republic of Germany. While exchanges between the two countries date back much further, this milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on a partnership built on mutual respect, trust, and a shared commitment to international cooperation.
Different in size, geography and political structures, Monaco and Germany nevertheless share common values. Their close cooperation is rooted in a strong attachment to multilateralism, the rule of law and constructive international dialogue. At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, these principles remain more relevant than ever.
H.E. Aishath Shaan Shair (Ambassador of Maldives); H.E. Mafelile Molala (Ambassador of Lesotho); H.E. Isabelle Berro-Amadeï (Foreign Minister of Monaco); Lorenzo Ravano (host); H.E. Jorge Lemcke Arevalo (Ambassador of Guatemala); H.E. Francisco Quiroga (Ambassador of Mexico); H.E. Youngor Telewoda (Ambassador of Liberia); H.E. Veronika Wand-Danielsson (Ambassador of Sweden).
This anniversary has been highlighted by the recent visit to Berlin of H.E. Mrs Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Monaco, who met with the German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs, Johann Wadephul. Their discussions reaffirmed the excellent political dialogue between the two countries and demonstrated a shared determination to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across a broad range of sectors, including European affairs, economic development, environmental protection, and scientific research.
Economic relations continue to represent an important dimension of the bilateral partnership. Germany is among Monaco’s principal trading partners, and both countries benefit from increasingly dynamic exchanges between their business communities. In this context, a German economic mission scheduled to take place in Monaco later this year, organised by the Bundesverband für Wirtschaftsförderung und Außenwirtschaft (BWA) in cooperation with the Monaco Economic Board (MEB), will provide new opportunities to foster investment, innovation, and commercial partnerships.
Europapark inauguration in presence of the Princely Family of Monaco.
Climate action and ocean conservation have also emerged as defining pillars of Monaco-Germany relations. Under the leadership of H.S.H. Prince Albert II, environmental diplomacy has become a cornerstone of Monaco’s international engagement. Germany shares this ambition, and cooperation increasingly encompasses scientific research, sustainable innovation, and marine protection.
The work carried out by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, particularly through its active German branch, together with renowned German research institutions, reflects this shared commitment. Collaborative initiatives such as the Malizia project, which combines high-level offshore sailing with cutting-edge oceanographic research, demonstrate how science, sport and environmental responsibility can successfully reinforce one another.
The relationship between Monaco and Germany has long been shaped by a common maritime heritage. Prince Albert I’s pioneering oceanographic expeditions to northern Europe helped establish scientific links that continue to inspire cooperation today. Germany’s renowned maritime centres, from Kiel to the Baltic and North Sea coasts, naturally complement Monaco’s long-standing commitment to ocean conservation and marine science.
Beyond political dialogue and economic exchanges, the anniversary also highlights the importance of human connections. The Embassy of Monaco in Berlin, supported by a network of six Honorary Consuls across Germany, works actively to strengthen cultural, academic, and economic ties. Universities, businesses, foundations, and cultural institutions all contribute to deepening a relationship that extends well beyond government-to-government contacts.
Recent developments further illustrate the vitality of this partnership. The inauguration of the Monaco-themed area at Europa-Park, attended by the Princely Family, has provided a new showcase for the Principality in Germany while highlighting the growing diversity of bilateral cooperation in tourism, culture, and innovation.
As Monaco currently holds, for the first time, the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, dialogue with Germany has also focused on shared European priorities, including the defence of human rights, the rule of law, support for Ukraine, the fight against organised crime and money laundering, and the protection of future generations through education, sport and environmental action.
Seventy-five years after the establishment of diplomatic relations, Monaco and Germany continue to demonstrate that enduring partnerships are built not only on history, but also on a shared vision for the future. In an evolving international landscape, both countries remain committed to strengthening dialogue, encouraging innovation, and promoting sustainable development through cooperation, mutual confidence, and a common sense of responsibility.
The cultural diplomacy between Greece and China is entering a new phase of deepening engagement and institutional maturity, as reflected in the convening of the 2nd World Conference on Classical Studies in Athens. This high-profile academic and symbolic meeting reaffirms that culture remains a timeless field of dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding between two of the world’s oldest civilizations.
Within this context, the strengthening of Greece–China cultural diplomacy emerges as a strategically significant axis of convergence, extending beyond historical reference and evolving into a living instrument of contemporary international cooperation. Through the joint study of classical thought and the exchange of scholarly and cultural expertise, a stable framework of intercultural dialogue is being shaped with a clear orientation toward the future.
Athens stood at the center of international academic and cultural attention on the occasion of the 2nd World Conference on Classical Studies, reaffirming its enduring role as the cradle of philosophical thought and the democratic tradition.
The Conference was co-organized by the Academy of Athens and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), under the theme “Dialogue between Ancient and Modern: Contemporary Inspirations from Classical Wisdom.” The choice of Athens as the host city carried particular symbolic significance, highlighting the enduring value of classical heritage as a shared reference point for the global intellectual tradition.
The opening session was inaugurated by the Minister of Culture, Ms. Lina Mendoni, who underscored the strategic character of Greece–China cooperation in the cultural domain. As she noted, the partnership between leading academic institutions of both countries demonstrates that classical studies have evolved into a truly global field of scholarly dialogue and cultural exchange.
She further emphasized that classical civilization is not merely an object of historical study, but a lasting source of values and reflection with direct relevance to contemporary global challenges. In this context, she stressed that classical studies constitute a strategically important investment in the future, particularly in an era of rapid technological and social transformation.
Special reference was made to the challenges arising from artificial intelligence, biotechnology, the climate crisis, and geopolitical developments. These issues, she noted, bring to the forefront fundamental philosophical questions concerning the limits of knowledge, the relationship between ethics and progress, and the balance between individual and collective interest.
In this regard, the enduring contribution of the Greek philosophical tradition was highlighted, with references to Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, as well as to Chinese philosophical thought through figures such as Confucius and Laozi. These traditions continue to serve as essential reference points for questions of social cohesion, ethical order, and good governance.
At the same time, the institutional strengthening of academic cooperation between Greece and China was emphasized, with a notable example being the establishment of the Chinese School of Classical Studies in Athens. This development further enhances the role of the Greek capital as an international hub for research and dialogue on classical civilization.
In closing, it was stressed that cultural dialogue constitutes a fundamental tool for rapprochement and mutual understanding among states and societies. Referring to a Chinese proverb, it was noted that “when the winds of change blow, some build walls and others build windmills,” highlighting the choice of cooperation and open dialogue over isolation.
A Cultural Bridge Between East and West
A few days before the opening of the Conference, the Estia of Nea Smyrni hosted the event “Meeting & Inspiration: Dialogue Across Time and Space,” which served as a high-symbolic preparatory initiative for Greece–China cultural cooperation.
The event brought together institutional stakeholders from China and Greece, as well as representatives from the Shandong and Jiangsu provinces. Among the attendees were senior officials, including Hu Heping, Deputy Head of Publicity of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Fang Qiu, the Ambassador of China to Greece, with participation exceeding 150 representatives from academic and cultural sectors.
The initiative highlighted the shared cultural values of Greece and China through exhibitions, presentations, and interactive digital applications. Of particular interest were artificial intelligence-based installations allowing symbolic “dialogues” with emblematic philosophical figures such as Socrates and Confucius.
A significant moment was the exchange of publications and audiovisual material reflecting the growing dynamism of Greece–China cultural cooperation, alongside the presentation of the “China–Greece Joint Plan for Audiovisual Cultural Cooperation 2026,” which foresees further co-productions and institutional partnerships.
The 2nd World Conference on Classical Studies confirms the consolidation of a stable and evolving framework of cultural diplomacy between Greece and China. This cooperation is no longer limited to symbolic references to classical heritage but is developing into a contemporary field of strategic dialogue, where cultural tradition functions as a bridge of understanding, cooperation, and shared future-oriented vision.
The first historical Royal Palace of modern Greece, where Cultural and Political Diplomacy meet
By Eleni Vasiliki Bampaliouta
How has cultural diplomacy embraced Greece’s political diplomacy under the same roof for nearly two centuries? In the heart of Athens, just a few steps from Syntagma Square, stands a place where history is not merely displayed behind glass cases—it continues to live. The Athens City Museum is far more than a museum dedicated to the political, social, and urban evolution of the Greek capital. It is the building where the newly established Greek state first came to life: the original royal residence of King Otto and Queen Amalia, where the first political decisions of modern Greece were made and the foundations of the modern Greek nation were laid.
Nearly two centuries later, this historic site continues to serve as a meeting point between Greece’s political and cultural history and the present day. Through its collections, international partnerships, digital applications, and educational initiatives, the Museum demonstrates that cultural diplomacy is not merely an abstract concept but a living instrument that connects peoples, cities, and cultures. Political history, the urban development of Athens, and the contemporary museum experience coexist within a space that is rightly regarded as one of the capital’s best-kept cultural treasures.
Polykarpos Kominis, Director of Athens City Museum
Where the Heart of the Greek State First Beat
The Athens City Museum – Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation was established in 1973 by the politician and collector Lambros I. Eutaxias, who chose to honor both his own name and that of his uncle, the distinguished diplomat Alexandros Vouros. Housed in two of the oldest surviving buildings in the historic center of Athens, the Museum opened its doors to the public in 1980.
Dedicated to the historical evolution of Athens, the Museum presents documentary evidence spanning from the Frankish period to the early twentieth century. Its core collections focus on the nineteenth century, when Athens, designated the capital of the newly established Greek state in 1834, emerged as an important political, social, cultural, and urban center.
Through paintings, sculptures, furniture, everyday objects, rare books, manuscripts, and archival documents, visitors can follow the city’s transformation across successive decades, tracing the changing lives of its inhabitants alongside the development of modern Athens itself. In recognition of its outstanding contribution to preserving and promoting the history of Athens—including its modern urban heritage—the Museum received an award from the Academy of Athens in 1990.
The older of the Museum’s two buildings was constructed between 1833 and 1834 according to the designs of architects Gustav-Adolph Lueders and Joseph Hoffer as the residence of the banker Stamatios Dekozis Vouros, the great-grandfather of Lambros Eutaxias.
This historic building occupies a unique place in both Athenian and Greek history. Together with an adjoining residence, it was leased to serve as the royal palace of Greece’s first monarchs, King Otto and Queen Amalia, from 1837 until the spring of 1843, when the newly completed Royal Palace—today’s Hellenic Parliament—became the royal residence.
Known today as the Old Palace, the building features a lush garden at the rear and preserves an exceptional collection of personal belongings and furnishings associated with the royal couple, including King Otto’s reception salon, Queen Amalia’s piano, and numerous other objects that vividly evoke the atmosphere of the period.
The Museum’s second building, completed in 1859 and internally connected to the Old Palace, houses works of art, period furniture, and decorative objects belonging to the Vouros family and other prominent Athenian bourgeois families. Together, these collections illustrate the evolution of urban life and bourgeois culture in Athens during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Athens’ Cultural Ambassador: A Museum in Dialogue with the World’s Leading City Museums
The Athens City Museum has established a distinguished position within the international museum community through its longstanding commitment to international collaboration and cultural exchange. A significant milestone was reached in 2005, when the Museum became one of the founding members of the International Committee for the Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities (CAMOC) in Moscow, alongside the city museums of London, Moscow, and New York.
CAMOC is one of the specialized international committees of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and serves as a global platform for museums dedicated to urban history and culture. Its mission is to strengthen the role of city museums in preserving historical memory, interpreting contemporary social developments, and contributing to the sustainable future of cities around the world.
Through its active participation in this international network, the Athens City Museum continues to promote the history of Athens while fostering dialogue with institutions that share a common commitment to preserving and interpreting urban heritage.
Polykarpos Kominis: “The History of Athens Can Become the Strongest Form of Cultural Diplomacy”
For the past year, Polykarpos Kominis has served as Director of the Athens City Museum. Born in Athens in 1994, he belongs to a new generation of museum professionals who combine academic excellence with extensive experience in cultural heritage management, archaeology, and cultural diplomacy.
He graduated with highest honors from the Department of Social Policy at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences in 2017 and subsequently earned a second degree from the Department of History and Archaeology of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in Archaeology and History of Art (2021).
In 2025, he completed a Master’s degree in Monument Management at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, specializing in the protection, management, and promotion of cultural heritage.
His professional career reflects an interdisciplinary approach that bridges archaeology, museum studies, diplomacy, and public history.
He served at the Permanent Delegation of Greece to UNESCO in Paris, where he worked on matters relating to World Cultural and Natural Heritage. He later joined the Directorate for Educational and Cultural Affairs (E1) of the Diplomatic Academy of the Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs, focusing on issues of cultural diplomacy and international cultural relations.
He has also worked at the Numismatic Museum of Athens, contributing to the identification, documentation, and cataloguing of archaeological material.
As an archaeologist, he served at the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, where he supervised archaeological excavations and rescue excavations associated with the preservation of cultural heritage.
In 2024, he joined the Parliamentary Archives Department of the Library of the Hellenic Parliament, where he worked on archival documentation and the development of educational and museological programmes.
During his military service, he was assigned to the Historical Archives and Publications Office of the Hellenic Air Force History Museum, contributing to the preservation and documentation of military historical records.
He has also participated in archaeological excavations at Ancient Tenea in Corinthia and in Rafina, while remaining actively engaged in research and heritage management projects.
Fluent in both English and French, he has served as Director of the Athens City Museum – Vouros-Eutaxias Foundation since October 2025.
Leading a Historic Institution into a New Era
In the following interview at the Diplomat Magazine of Netherlands, Polykarpos Kominis discusses the Museum’s unique identity, its role within the international museum community, the challenges facing museums in the twenty-first century, and his vision of transforming one of Athens’ most historic landmarks into a vibrant centre for culture, education, innovation, and international dialogue.
1.How does the Athens City Museum connect the history of political and cultural diplomacy with the history of the Greek nation?
The establishment of the modern Greek state through the London Protocol of 1830, together with the selection of Prince Otto of Bavaria, a member of the House of Wittelsbach, as the first King of Greece by the Great Powers of the time—Great Britain, France, and Russia—constituted the first formal act of international diplomacy recognizing Greece as an independent kingdom. This historic decision laid the foundations for the country’s future diplomatic relations with Europe and the wider international community.
As the official residence of King Otto and Queen Amalia, the building that now houses the Athens City Museum occupies a unique place in the history of the Greek state. It served as the first political and administrative centre of the newly established Kingdom of Greece, where the country’s earliest governmental decisions were made and the institutions of the modern state began to take shape.
King Otto maintained close diplomatic relations with the royal courts of Europe, regularly receiving diplomats and ambassadors in the Throne Room—today one of the Museum’s most significant historic spaces. His reign sought to align Greece with the dominant political models of nineteenth-century Europe while simultaneously promoting the country’s rich cultural heritage, which continued to inspire European intellectual and artistic circles through the flourishing Philhellenic movement.
Queen Amalia, meanwhile, developed a remarkable passion for landscape design, botany, and horticulture. One of her first initiatives was the creation of the gardens surrounding the royal residence, including the landscaped square in front of the palace—today’s Klafthmonos Square, then known as Palace Square—as well as the private royal garden at the rear of the building.
It was in these gardens that the anniversary of the Greek War of Independence was officially celebrated for the first time on 25 March 1838, following King Otto’s decree establishing the date as Greece’s national holiday.
To enrich her gardens, Queen Amalia imported both native and exotic plant species from countries including Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, Brazil, and the United States. Many of these specimens were presented to her as diplomatic gifts by foreign monarchs, giving rise to what could be described as an early and informal form of “plant diplomacy”—a symbolic exchange in which botanical collections became instruments of international goodwill and cultural exchange.
The royal couple also left a lasting mark on nineteenth-century fashion and court culture. They consciously incorporated elements of traditional Greek dress into the royal court’s ceremonial attire while blending them with contemporary Western European styles. The most celebrated example remains the elegant court costume introduced by Queen Amalia, which became an enduring symbol of the newly established Greek monarchy and of the country’s evolving national identity.
2. What role does the Athens City Museum play within the international museum community, and how has it contributed to it? Has the Museum collaborated with comparable institutions abroad?
The Athens City Museum plays a significant role within the international museum community thanks to its long-standing commitment to international cooperation and professional exchange.
A defining milestone came in 2005 in Moscow, when the Museum became one of the founding members of the International Committee for the Collections and Activities of Museums of Cities (CAMOC), together with the city museums of London, Moscow, and New York. CAMOC is one of the specialised international committees of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and serves as a global forum for museums devoted to the history and development of cities.
Its mission extends beyond preserving urban history. CAMOC encourages museums to interpret the social transformations shaping contemporary cities while contributing to their sustainable future through research, dialogue, and public engagement.
Within this framework, the Athens City Museum maintains an active presence at international conferences and professional meetings, keeping pace with developments in museum studies while sharing its own expertise and experience with colleagues from around the world.
The Museum has also developed an extensive network of international partnerships through exhibition exchanges and collaborative projects with city museums abroad. Reciprocal temporary exhibitions have been organised with the city museums of Moscow, Warsaw, Düsseldorf, and Nicosia, while professional exchange visits have taken place with the city museums of Seoul and Shanghai.
These collaborations have enabled important works from the Museum’s collections—including historical documents, paintings, and artefacts—to travel abroad for temporary exhibitions, introducing international audiences to the history of Athens and the formation of the modern Greek state.
At the same time, these exchanges offer residents and visitors of Athens the opportunity to discover the history, culture, and urban identity of other great cities around the world, encouraging intercultural dialogue through museum collections.
Beyond exhibitions, the Museum regularly organises conferences, scholarly symposia, lectures, book presentations, and musical performances. Through these initiatives, it promotes not only Greek cultural heritage but also the artistic traditions, histories, and contemporary cultures of other cities and nations, reinforcing its role as an active institution of cultural diplomacy.
3. Does the Museum offer interactive educational programmes? If so, what do they involve?
Education has always been one of the Athens City Museum’s core missions. Today, the Museum is particularly well known for its diverse range of interactive educational programmes, which combine digital technologies with objects from its permanent collections to introduce young visitors to the history of modern Athens through experiential learning.
Among the most popular is “The Pirates of Monfort,” inspired by the 1837 painting Greek Pirates by the French artist Antoine-Alphonse Montfort. Using the painting as a starting point, children explore the phenomenon of piracy from antiquity to the present day, compare the finished work with the artist’s preparatory sketches, and then embark on an interactive treasure hunt throughout the Museum’s galleries.
Another highly successful programme is “The Constitution of 1844,” centred on the Museum’s handwritten copy of Greece’s first Constitution, one of the most significant documents relating to the organisation of the modern Greek state. Participants examine its principal provisions before comparing them with those of Greece’s current Constitution, encouraging discussion about democracy, citizenship, and constitutional development.
The Museum also offers “Carnival in Greece,” inspired by the celebrated painting of the same title by Nikolaos Gyzis. Through this programme, students become acquainted with the artist, discover the customs and traditions of the Greek Carnival, and participate in a theatrical interpretation of the painting, transforming a work of art into a lively educational experience.
One of the Museum’s most innovative and socially relevant initiatives is “I Am Not a Doll” (IamNotADoll), an educational programme built around a series of six contemporary sculptures. These artworks invite children to interact with them by creating drawings or writing messages, encouraging empathy and creative expression.
The programme is inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 16.2 (Ending Violence Against Children), while also drawing upon the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its aim is to raise children’s awareness of violence, discrimination, and harmful social practices, fostering respect, equality, and human dignity from an early age.
The Museum also offers younger visitors, aged six to fourteen, the opportunity to wear meticulously reproduced costumes of King Otto and Queen Amalia and to be photographed within the historic interiors of Greece’s first royal palace. This immersive experience enables children to engage with history in a memorable and enjoyable way.
4. How has the Museum incorporated new technologies into its exhibitions? Can visitors also explore the Museum digitally?
Over the past decade, digital technologies have transformed museums worldwide, reshaping how collections are interpreted and responding to the evolving expectations of contemporary audiences.
In keeping with these developments, the Athens City Museum has embraced digital innovation to enrich the visitor experience through immersive, multi-sensory interpretation.
One of its most remarkable digital installations is a three-dimensional virtual reconstruction of Athens in 1842, developed from an exceptionally detailed historical scale model of the city.
Through interactive visualisations, visitors can explore the most important monuments and buildings of ancient, Byzantine, and nineteenth-century Athens while learning about their historical significance. The application enables audiences to experience the city as it appeared during King Otto’s reign, discovering its public buildings, private residences, streets, and historic squares through an engaging combination of three-dimensional animation and historical interpretation.
Within King Otto’s historic reception salon in the Old Palace, visitors encounter another innovative digital experience. Using advanced projection technologies and animated “living paintings,” life-sized three-dimensional holographic representations of King Otto and Queen Amalia appear before them.
Queen Amalia reads excerpts from one of her letters describing everyday life in nineteenth-century Athens, while King Otto is shown reading his newspaper, creating the impression that the royal residence remains alive and inhabited.
The experience continues in the dining room of the Vouros residence, where visitors meet a holographic representation of Lambros Eutaxias, founder of the Museum. Presented at life size, the digital figure comes to life, recounting his own story as well as the history and mission of the institution he created.
The Museum’s commitment to accessibility also extends beyond its physical walls. Through its official website, visitors anywhere in the world can enjoy a 360-degree virtual tour, exploring the galleries digitally, examining selected objects from the permanent collections in high resolution, and learning about their historical context.
This online experience makes the Museum accessible to individuals who may be unable to visit in person due to distance or health considerations, while also allowing prospective visitors to familiarise themselves with the collections before arriving in Athens.
In addition, the website hosts an interactive digital timeline covering the history of Athens between 1921 and 1941, presenting the most significant political, social, and cultural events of this pivotal period in chronological order.
5. You assumed the directorship of the Museum in 2025 at the age of just thirty-two, following an impressive academic and professional career. What are the challenges of leading an institution with such a distinguished history, and what is your vision for its future?
Leading a museum of such historical significance is both an immense honour and a profound responsibility—particularly for someone of my generation. It requires respect for the institution’s legacy, for the work of those who came before me, and for the vision of its founder, while at the same time developing a new strategic direction capable of responding to the challenges of the twenty-first century.
One of our foremost priorities is digital transformation: reimagining a traditional museum as a dynamic, interactive cultural hub that appeals to younger generations without ever compromising scholarly integrity or historical authenticity.
At the same time, global challenges—including economic uncertainty and the growing demand for sustainable cultural institutions—require museums to rethink both their financial resilience and their environmental and social responsibilities.
Perhaps my greatest personal challenge is demonstrating that youth should never be equated with inexperience. On the contrary, it can bring fresh perspectives, creativity, and the courage to rethink established practices. I hope to challenge long-standing stereotypes, encourage confidence in younger professionals, and create opportunities for them to develop their ideas, fulfil their potential, and contribute meaningfully to society.
My academic studies and professional experience in Greece and abroad have given me an international perspective on the transformative role that culture can play in contemporary societies. My specialisation in Monument Management has provided the foundations for directing a historic institution such as the Athens City Museum, a protected heritage monument whose collections tell not only the history of a city but also the everyday stories, memories, and lived experiences of its people.
Too often, city museums become confined to nostalgia. My ambition is to move beyond a static presentation of the past and transform the Museum into a living institution at the heart of contemporary Athens—one that demonstrates how nineteenth-century architecture, urban life, and everyday customs have shaped the identity of today’s city and its inhabitants.
My vision extends beyond preserving the Museum’s remarkable heritage. I want the Athens City Museum to become a leading international destination for anyone seeking to understand the history of Athens and the people who have shaped it.
I firmly believe that the history of Athens can become one of Greece’s most powerful instruments of cultural diplomacy.
Digital technologies—including augmented reality, interactive exhibitions, and innovative educational programmes for children and young people—allow us to present the past in ways that resonate with contemporary audiences, transforming historical knowledge into personal experience.
Equally important is strengthening the Museum’s international presence through strategic partnerships, travelling exhibitions, collaborative research projects, and long-term cooperation with leading cultural institutions across the world.
Local heritage has the power to acquire global significance. The story of Athens deserves to enter into dialogue with the histories of the world’s other great cities.
Ultimately, I envision an open, inclusive museum where residents and visitors alike—regardless of age, background, or ability—can engage freely with history and culture.
Museums derive their true value only when they remain connected to the people they serve. That is precisely the connection I hope to strengthen in Athens.
My age is not an obstacle; it is my greatest advantage. It gives me the energy to view challenges as opportunities and the determination to build a bridge between the Museum’s remarkable past and an ambitious, internationally connected future.
French and Italian authorities, working in close cooperation with Kosovar authorities and supported by Eurojust and Europol, have seized an additional EUR 1 million in criminal assets as part of an ongoing investigation into an international money laundering network linked to drug trafficking.
The latest operation follows an earlier enforcement action in September 2025 during which authorities confiscated more than EUR 30 million in criminal assets.
Investigators uncovered a sophisticated scheme in which proceeds from drug trafficking in France were transported to Italy, where they were converted into gold bars and gold sheets to conceal their illicit origin. The gold was then moved to other countries, particularly Kosovo*, Türkiye and Morocco. During the ten-month investigation, authorities established that at least EUR 18 million had been laundered.
The investigation centres on a couple residing in Italy who are suspected of orchestrating the laundering operation. They were arrested in France in September 2025 after officers discovered more than 50 kilograms of gold bars hidden in a specially constructed compartment inside a vehicle.
Analysis of evidence seized during the investigation, together with intelligence provided by Kosovar authorities, led investigators to identify additional bank accounts, business interests, real estate and luxury vehicles linked to the suspects, resulting in the latest asset seizures.
Eurojust has supported the investigation since December 2024 by establishing a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) between France and Italy and coordinating the operational actions carried out in September 2025 and June 2026.
Europol provided operational support throughout the investigation, facilitating information exchange, conducting financial and operational analysis, and deploying specialists in money laundering and asset tracing. During the latest action day, Europol sent a financial analyst and a money laundering expert with a mobile office to Kosovo* to assist investigators on the ground.
The operation was supported through the EU Home Affairs Programme (HAPE) and the EU-funded @ON Network, led by Italy’s Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate (DIA).
The investigation involved judicial and law enforcement authorities from France, Italy and Kosovo*, underscoring the importance of cross-border cooperation in disrupting organised crime and recovering illicit assets.
German authorities, following close cooperation with Romanian authorities and supported by Eurojust, have arrested a suspect accused of attempting to establish a foreign right-wing extremist terrorist organisation.
A Romanian and Moldovan national was arrested in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, on 30 June 2026 on suspicion of attempting to establish a foreign right-wing extremist terrorist organisation. According to the investigation, the suspect allegedly sought to establish a terrorist group as early as 2023 with the aim of carrying out a “war of terror” in Romania and overthrowing the Romanian state.
The suspect is alleged to have operated two encrypted messaging channels from Germany to recruit primarily young Romanian followers. Through these channels, the individual allegedly incited members to commit a range of serious offences, including arson attacks targeting buildings used by migrants and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
At the request of the Romanian authorities, Eurojust supported the establishment and coordination of a joint investigation team (JIT) between the Romanian and German authorities. The JIT enabled operational measures, exchange evidence quickly and securely, and address cross-border judicial and evidential issues throughout the investigation. The cooperation led to the suspect’s arrest and pre-trial detention in Germany.
The following authorities were involved in the supported Joint Investigation Team:
Germany: Federal Prosecutor General’s Office Karlsruhe, State Police Agencies, Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg Police Headquarters Koblenz
Romania: Prosecutor’s Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice, Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism
A coordinated law enforcement operation involving the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine has dealt a major blow to an international drug trafficking network, resulting in the arrest of 20 suspects. The investigation was supported by Eurojust and Europol, whose coordination enabled authorities to dismantle a sophisticated criminal organisation involved in cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking across Europe.
The criminal group operated primarily in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine, overseeing the import, transport, storage and distribution of narcotics. Investigators found that the organisation was highly structured, with specialised units responsible for procurement, transportation, distribution and money laundering.
Drugs were smuggled from the Czech Republic into Slovakia and Ukraine using passenger cars and buses. To avoid detection, traffickers concealed narcotics in increasingly sophisticated ways, including inside children’s toys, household items and on their bodies.
Authorities estimate that the network trafficked at least 50 kilograms of methamphetamine and 2 kilograms of cocaine, generating nearly EUR 950,000 from methamphetamine sales alone. The proceeds were laundered through bank accounts held by individuals outside the criminal organisation.
The investigation began in July 2025 and quickly developed into close judicial cooperation between the three countries. A Joint Investigation Team (JIT), established under Eurojust’s coordination, facilitated the real-time exchange of information and coordinated investigative measures. Europol provided operational and analytical support throughout the investigation, including secure communications during the action day and intelligence analysis to identify members of the network.
The coordinated enforcement action took place on 18 June 2026.
In the Czech Republic, authorities arrested four suspects, three of whom remain in pre-trial detention. Investigators seized approximately 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, a rifle, counterfeit documents, EUR 8,000 in cash and a luxury vehicle.
In Slovakia, police searched 24 locations and arrested eight suspects, including the alleged national ringleader. Five suspects remain in custody. The searches resulted in the seizure of drugs, vehicles, firearms, electronic equipment, signal jammers and devices used to break into vehicles.
In Ukraine, authorities arrested eight suspects and carried out more than 80 searches. Officers confiscated drones, firearms and ammunition, equipment used to operate a bot farm, approximately 30 kilograms of gold and silver jewellery, cash and electronic devices. All suspects remain in custody.
The operation involved prosecutors and specialised law enforcement agencies from all three participating countries, demonstrating the effectiveness of cross-border judicial cooperation in combating organised crime and international drug trafficking.
Major shifts in global commerce have rarely been the work of a single port, railway or trade route. They have taken hold when whole systems of connectivity matured together, linking maritime gateways with inland markets, production centers with consumers, infrastructure with institutions, and regional ambition with international cooperation. The ancient Mediterranean, the Silk Roads and the trading networks of the Indian Ocean all illustrate the same lesson: prosperity has depended less on individual corridors than on the systems that connect them.
East Africa now appears to be approaching a similar moment. The expansion of the Port of Dar es Salaam, the proposed Bagamoyo Port and the revival of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) amount to more than a list of infrastructure projects. Taken together, they point to the gradual emergence of a regional connectivity architecture linking the Indian Ocean to the mineral-rich interior of Central Africa, and through it to the growing markets of Asia. The more useful question, then, is not whether Bagamoyo will become another major African port, but whether East Africa is building a new model of connectivity capable of reshaping trade, regional integration and maritime governance across the Indian Ocean.
Beyond Port: The Emergence of an East African Connectivity Architecture
Discussion of Bagamoyo has tended to focus on its physical attributes, its projected capacity, engineering specifications and commercial potential, real considerations, but only part of the story. Modern ports rarely function as self-contained maritime terminals; their competitiveness now rests on how well they connect with railways, highways, inland logistics hubs, industrial zones, customs systems, digital infrastructure and regional markets. A port’s strategic value lies as much in the ecosystem around it as in its waterfront, and Bagamoyo is best understood as one part of a wider East African logistics architecture rather than as a stand-alone project.
The initiative has drawn interest from partners as varied as China Merchants Group and the Sultanate of Oman, a reflection of East Africa’s growing importance within the Indian Ocean economy. Like most large infrastructure ventures, it has evolved alongside shifting commercial, political and financial conditions, but its significance goes beyond the identity of any single investor or operator. From a governance standpoint, the more important question is not who participates but how such partnerships, among governments, operators, financiers and regional bodies, are structured to deliver transparency, sustainability, technology transfer, local value creation and long-term regional integration. This distinction matters at a time when infrastructure is too often read purely through a geopolitical lens: such investments should be neither romanticized nor reduced to instruments of rivalry, since their lasting value will be determined by governance.
The Indian Ocean Returns to the Centre
Long before container shipping reshaped global trade, the Indian Ocean was one of history’s great commercial arenas, its monsoon winds carrying merchants, ideas and cultures between East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia to form one of the earliest interconnected economic spaces. That historical geography is reasserting itself today. Sustained growth across Asian economies continues to drive demand for critical minerals, agricultural commodities and manufactured goods, while African states seek to diversify exports, industrialize and integrate further into regional and global value chains. The western Indian Ocean increasingly serves as the maritime bridge between these two dynamics.
East Africa sits at the center of this landscape. The transport network extending inland from Tanzania reaches Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, countries holding substantial reserves of copper, cobalt, graphite, nickel and rare earth elements central to the global energy transition. Tanzania’s relevance therefore rests not only on maritime access but on its capacity to link inland production with international markets through integrated logistics, a role reinforced by the ongoing modernization of TAZARA, which together with Dar es Salaam and the prospective Bagamoyo development points to the gradual formation of an inland-to-ocean corridor running from the Indian Ocean deep into Africa’s economic interior.
Africa’s Multiple Gateways
Discussions of strategic connectivity often default to framing infrastructure projects as rivals, yet Africa’s emerging connectivity landscape shows that different corridors serve different geographies, markets and development goals. Morocco’s Atlantic strategy strengthens commercial ties along Africa’s western seaboard while linking Europe, the Americas and West Africa. Algeria’s Trans-Saharan vision aims to reconnect the Mediterranean with the Sahel and the Gulf of Guinea through a north-south logistics axis. East Africa follows a different logic altogether, with its Indian Ocean gateway connecting African production directly to the Indo-Pacific economy while opening new opportunities for landlocked states in Central and Southern Africa.
These are not competing visions but complementary expressions of a continent diversifying its strategic gateways, one becoming connected through multiple maritime basins: the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean, each reinforcing the resilience of the others.
From Infrastructure to Governance
Most position papers, investment strategies and advocacy campaigns on African connectivity focus, understandably, on physical infrastructure, ports, railways, highways, financing, engineering and freight volumes, or view corridors mainly through the lens of geopolitical competition. Both perspectives are incomplete, because infrastructure alone does not create connectivity. A port becomes a genuine gateway only when it is supported by efficient customs procedures, harmonized regulations, legal certainty, digital trade facilitation, environmental stewardship, financial services, arbitration mechanisms, skilled human capital and sustained institutional cooperation. Without these complementary elements, even the most ambitious infrastructure risks going underused.
The Global Academy for Future Governance (GAFG) seeks to address this gap by approaching corridors not as engineering projects but as governance ecosystems, in which ports, railways, logistics platforms, regulators, financial institutions, universities, research centers, digital infrastructure, environmental frameworks and local communities function as mutually reinforcing parts of a single system. This way of thinking brings to the surface questions that conventional corridor studies often leave unasked, from how neighboring corridors might reinforce rather than compete with each other, to which institutions are best placed to support cooperation across borders. It also asks how maritime, rail, digital and industrial policies can be brought into closer alignment, what governance arrangements make corridors more resilient to disruption, and how local communities, academic institutions and the private sector can become genuine stakeholders in connectivity rather than simply its beneficiaries. Connectivity, understood this way, is not merely a transport issue but a governance agenda.
The analytical approach emerging from GAFG’s ongoing research on strategic corridors, as frequently published by this magazine can be described as a Connectivity Doctrine, resting on a simple premise: infrastructure creates opportunities, but governance creates connectivity. At its heart is a preference for connectivity over confrontation, governance ahead of geopolitics, and complementarity over competition. It treats institutions as inseparable from infrastructure, builds resilience through diversification rather than dependence on any single route, and insists on dialogue and on partnerships grounded in transparency, sustainability and mutual benefit. Seen through this lens, ports are not isolated assets, railways are not merely transport links, and corridors are not geopolitical trophies. Together, they form dynamic systems whose value lies in their capacity to connect economies, societies and institutions.
Conclusion
These questions will continue to shape GAFG’s work, including through the newly established Global Maritime Governance Forum (GMGF), to be inaugurated in Gibraltar in September 2026. Conceived as an inclusive platform for governments, international organizations, port authorities, development banks, academia, industry and civil society, the Forum will examine strategic corridors not simply as transport routes but as governance systems that require continuous dialogue, institutional innovation and policy coordination. Viewed in this light, Bagamoyo becomes more than a discussion about a single port: it offers a window into East Africa’s emergence as a principal gateway between Africa and Asia – towards the new era of connectivity.
Bagamoyo’s significance, then, should not be measured solely by its harbor size, berth numbers or cargo volumes, but by the wider architecture it helps to shape. Together with Dar es Salaam, the TAZARA Railway and the expanding logistics systems of East and Central Africa, it reflects a broader transformation in which infrastructure becomes the foundation for economic integration, institutional cooperation and sustainable development.
The future of Afro-Asian connectivity will not be decided by a single flagship corridor or by competition among gateways, but by the ability to connect ports with railways, markets with institutions, investment with good governance, and regional ambition with shared international responsibility. As GAFG’s continuing research suggests, the most resilient corridors are those that form part of wider systems of cooperation: in the twenty-first century, strategic relevance will belong not to those seeking to dominate individual routes, but to those able to connect them through sound governance, inclusive partnerships and shared prosperity.
Complex systems, organic and inorganic alike, rarely thrive through confrontation and exclusion. They endure through cooperation, adaptation and the continuous strength-hening of interconnected networks. The future of global connectivity will be no different.
About the author:
Mercy Melilau Kotikash
Mercy Melilau Kotikash is a Nairobi-based (Kenya School of Revenue Administration (KESRA)) Research Officer of the Global Academy for Future Governance (GAFG).
