Wanting to know more about the legal, financial, tax and practical matters of renting a home in the Netherlands? Or are you just interested in a social networking drink? Then is the event for you!
Tap & Talk
TAP & TALK is a free social networking event hosted by the Dutch relocation company: The two owners decided that it’s time to bring a dynamic group of housing-experts and expats together to share knowledge and to have a good time! The event will take place in what we might call the new hotspot in town: Anna’s Bar! This cool place is located next to The Hague Central station. This makes it very easy to reach by public transportation, bike or by car (5 min walk from the several nearby garages).
What can you expect?
Our experts will share their expertise with short housing pitches followed by Q&A sessions. All attendees will have plenty of time for one-to-one interaction with the speakers afterwards. The event starts at 18.00, come in, have a drink and interact with other participants. The speaking program starts at 18.30 and will last till 20.00.
Registration
Registration is completely free of charge and offers professional pitches, two welcome drinks and the possibility of one-to-one interaction with the speakers and other participants. Note that even though this is a free event, is required.
Register here: alice@dutchify.net
See you there!
ICC Prosecutor, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, participated in the 54th edition of the Munich Security Conference:“Accountability for Rome Statute crimes is an essential component of promoting human security”.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (“ICC”), Mrs Fatou Bensouda, participated in the 54th Munich Security Conference (“MSC”) held in Munich, Germany from the 16th to the 18th of February.
Chaired by H.E. the Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger, the conference once again brought together world leaders and policy makers from around the globe to debate the state of international security and related challenges. The MSC, the world’s leading platform for debates on international security, is attended by Heads of States, Governments and international organisations; Ministers; high-ranking members of the Armed Forces; and representatives of business, science, civil society and the media.
The Prosecutor’s participation highlights the important role that the ICC, as a first permanent independent international criminal jurisdiction, plays and the contribution it can make to international security through the exercise of its mandate under the Rome Statute.
“As we approach the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, we must recall that atrocity crimes threaten the peace, security and well-being of the world. It is therefore critical that in global security discussions, this recognition is increasingly mainstreamed”, said Prosecutor Bensouda. “Full support for the investigation and prosecution of atrocity crimes at the domestic and international levels is necessary if we hope to curb the devastating impact of conflict on civilian lives. Accountability for Rome Statute crimes is an essential component of promoting human security.”
In the margins of the conference, at the invitation of Ms Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children, and former Prime Minister of Denmark, the Prosecutor participated on a panel discussion exploring how to better protect children in armed conflict. She highlighted her Office’s work aimed at protecting the rights of children within the Rome Statute legal framework through the investigation and prosecution of crimes against and affecting children, as well as the Office’s Policy on Children adopted in 2016.
The Prosecutor called for collective action to protect children in times of conflict. “There should be no place for children in war. Their voices and stories of unspeakable abuses must not go unheard, and the law must respond to their plight in a manner that has their best interests foremost in mind. If we fail them, we have not only failed our humanity but also abdicated our obligation to secure our ever-interconnected future”, she stated.
This year’s Conference also presented Prosecutor Bensouda the opportunity to hold a number of productive bilateral meetings with senior officials from States, regional and international organizations as well as civil society to advance the work of her Office.
King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller – Picture by ANP, Olaf Kraak.
Monday, 5 February 2018, The Hague: In his capacity as President of the German Federal Council (Bundesrat), which represents the sixteen Bundesländer, His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands welcomed the incumbent Michael Müller, Mayor of Berlin, for an audience at Noordeinde Palace as it has become a tradition.
Dutch Premier Mark Rutte also received Michael Müller later in the afternoon after the royal encounter. Mayor Müller likewise had the opportunity to meet his counterpart, Acting Mayor of Amsterdam, Jozias van Aartsen, as well as members of the Dutch business community.
Since the year 2000 it has become a tradition that the rotating President of the Bundesrat pays a visite de courtoise to The Netherlands. For the Dutch, Germany is the largest trading partner within the EU as well as the most active NATO partner.
For further information:
Bundesratspräsident: https://www.bundesrat.de/DE/bundesrat/praesidium/praesident/praesident-node.html
Embassy of the Netherlands to Germany (HE Ambassador Wepke Kingma): https://www.niederlandeweltweit.nl/laender/deutschland/ueber-uns/niederlandische-botschaft-berlin-wer-sind-wir
Crown Princess Mary of Denmark – Picture by VisitCopenhagen through Wikipedia Commons.
21 January 2018, Aarhus, Kingdom of Denmark: Mayor of Aarhus, Jacob Bundsgaard, and Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, opened the “Aarhus 2018 – European Volunteering Capital” at Aarhus City Hall.
The title as European Volunteering Capital goes yearly to a European city or town, which has been particularly noted by promoting volunteering amongst its citizens. Celebrations are held to highlight the importance of volunteering in civil society but likewise to thank and show appreciation for the volunteers.
CE Carrie Lam and Dr Edwin Feulner, Founder of the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom Report – Picture by Government of Hong Kong.
The 2018 Index of Economic Freedom Report, released by the Heritage Foundation located in Washington D.C. on 2 February 2018 ranked Hong Kong as the world’s freest economy, indeed for the 24th consecutive year. Hong Kong’s overall score of 90.2 is well above the global average of 61.1 across the 180 economies surveyed.
Hong Kong achieved high ratings in eight of the 12 criteria measured. The city received top scores in Fiscal Health, Business Freedom, Trade Freedom and Financial Freedom. The foundation likewise recognised the high quality of Hong Kong’s legal framework, low corruption, high degree of government transparency, efficient regulatory framework and openness to global commerce.For further information:https://www.heritage.org/index/http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201802/02/P2018020200484.htm?fontSize=1
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, European Union, Brussels (Director Shirley Lam): www.hongkong-eu.org
HK Representative Office in Germany (Director Betty Ho): http://www.hketoberlin.gov.hk
Empress Michiko – Picture by State Department photo by William Ng.
Her Imperial Majesty The Empress of Japan has written 50 waka poems for a book of her own poetry that was recently published in Germany
The Empress wrote poetry following the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, and when the German publishing house Herder learned of their existence, they approached the Imperial Household Agency in case the Empress would consider publishing them.
The book, entitled “Nur eine kleine Maulbeere. Aber sie wog schwer” (English: “Just a little mulberry, but it weighs heavily”), was published in January 2018, and launched at the Nipponse Embassy in Germany on Tuesday, 16 January, by H.E. Ambassador Takeshi Yagi in the framework of a lecture by Prof. Dr Peter Pantzer of the Bonn University, Faculty of Japanology.
The poems were translated into German, but the book contains the original Japanese text written out by a professional calligrapher named Hakko Ishitobi. The book also contains an explanation for each poem.
One of the poems is entitled “Kono Toshi no Haru” (English: This Spring), about the aftermath of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. In Japanese it reads:
“Kusamura ni/ Shiroki juji no/ Hana sakite/ Tsuminaku hitono/ Shinishi Haru yuku.”
The Imperial Household provided an English translation, which reads: “White cross-shaped flowers/ Blooming amid the dense grass/ Signalling the end/ Of spring when we mourn the loss/ The death of the guiltless.”
Waka poetry is a form of traditional Japanese poetry, and was so named to differentiate between Japanese poetry and Chinese poetry in ancient times. There are several types of waka poetry, including chōka, which is long form, and sedōka, also known as “head repeated poetry”.
Empress Michiko has written waka poetry on several occasions and presented them to the public. At the New Year Poetry Reading Ceremony this past January in the Imperial Palace, she recited a poem she wrote about her husband, Emperor Akihito’s upcoming abdication, the English translation reading: “On your shoulders/ Pours the early spring sunlight/ Softly and gently/ O, such a heavy burden/ You bore, saying so little.”
For further information:
Imperial Household Agency: http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/e-culture/utakai-h30.html
Embassy of Japan to Germany (HE Ambassador Takeshi Yagi): http://www.de.emb-japan.go.jp
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Empress Michiko – Picture by State Department photo by William Ng, Public domain through Wikipedia Commons
Leo Varadkar – Picture by Annika Haas.
Friday, 16 February 2018, Dublin, Republic of Ireland: The Irish Government presented to the public the framework to guide how Ireland develops over the next two decades
The launch is comprised of two distinct plans , that is, the “National Planning Framework” as well as the “National Development Plan”. Put together they form “Project Ireland 2040”, namely the government’s vision for how to develop the country over the coming decades.
The measures include:
A huge investment in climate change including plans to ban all non-zero emissions cars by 2030 and changing bus fleets to hybrids.
€500 million to stimulate people to become more climate friendly – upgrading their homes and cars.
Social housing for 112,000 households over the next decade.
A plan to see 75% of the growth to 2040 happen outside of Dublin.
An urban regeneration fund to the tune of €2bn to fund projects in Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway.
Rural development fund of €1bn will be aimed at towns and villages.
More than €8bn being put towards developing the roads network, including motorway upgrades and a dedicated Atlantic corridor to run from Donegal down to Waterford.
The plan aims to provide 200,000 new or replacement school places through a €8.4bn investment, and a €420 million digital strategy for schools.
An average of 50 large-scale school projects annually.
€1bn for Ireland’s cultural institutions.
A €2bn urban regeneration fund for the cities and a €1bn investment for smaller towns.
A new runway for Dublin Airport, and investment in Cork & Shannon Airports, Ireland West Airport Knock and smaller airports.
A goal of 2,600 extra acute hospital beds and 4,500 residential beds in community nursing homes.
Planning to extend the LUAS to Bray, Finglas, Lucan, Poolbeg; completion of Metro Link by 2027, running from Sandyford to Swords via Dublin Airport; and a DART extension to towns such as Drogheda and Maynooth.
Bus Connects programme for Dublin, Cork and Galway with new corridors and ticketing plans.
Chef Reinier Suarez Rivera, the Ambassador of Cuba H.E Ms. Soraya E. Álvarez Nuñez and Sous Chef, Claudia Gonzalez Vades.By Michael Bonté. After a major storm earlier in the day the sun certainly shone in the Crown Plaza-Promenade Hotel where a new edition of the year long International Food Festival was about to kick off. Guests where already impatiently buzzing about in front of the entrance to the restaurant. Patrick Aarsman, the General Manager finally opened the proceedings with the words:’ The hotel is very proud in hosting this year long event in cooperation with Diplomat Magazine and in this case the Cuban Embassy’.’ It gives the hotel guests and the citizens of The Hague the opportunity to sample cuisines which they rarely have the chance to sample’.For additional pictures by Roy Strik, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157689649480112The Ambassador of Cuba together with Patrick Aarsman Crowne Plaza General Manager.After these words the speaker introduced the Ambassador of Cuba H.E Ms. Soraya E. Álvarez Nuñez who said that: ” …the Cuban Embassy is very pleased to participate for the first time in the Food Festival. The Cuban gastronomy is the result of the mix of Spanish, African, Aboriginal, Yucateca and even Asian traditions. Typical Cuban dishes are the Ajiaco, Tamales, Tostones, roasted pork and the Congrí.”Jhr Mr. Alexander W. Beelaerts van Blokland, Judge in the Court of Appeal, Ambassador Álvarez and Russia Charge d’affaires, Minister Counsellor Mr. Boris Zhilko.The moment had come to cut the ribbon and the invitees were greeted with Mojito’s and Cuba Libre’s. All this accompanied with Cuban music which was presented by Jorge Martinez Galan, Galan Biz Musica Cubana, an excellent duo interpreting songs in a Buena Vista Social Club style. Among the guests the Ambassador of Iran, H. E. Dr Alireza Jahangiri, the Ambassador of Yemen, H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem, the Ambassador of Pakistan H. E. Mr. Shujjat Ali Rathore, the head of Palestinian Mission, Ms Rawan Sulaiman, the Ambassador of Macedonia, H.E. Mr. Igor Popov, the Ambassador of Egypt, H.E. Mr. Amgad Ghaffar, Russia Charge d’affaires, Minister Counsellor Mr. Boris Zhilko, Venezuela Charge d’affaires, Mr Alvaro Sanchez Cordero.Mr. Thomas Friis- Fontz, Ambassador Álvarez and the Ambassador of Yemen, H.E. Ms. Sahar Ghanem.Once guests were seated the servers presented us with three starters: Mashed Fried Plantain (Tostones), Malanga Fritters (Fritura de Malanga) and Pot Tamal (Tamal en Cazuela). When the dishes were cleared we were invited to help ourselves to the mains at the buffet. The options were two pork dishes, one beef and one fish dish. Accompanied with several side dishes in which yucca and plantain among others were featured. Especially popular was a classic Cuban dish called ‘Ropa Vieja’ which means literary translated ‘old clothes’. This stew consists of shredded beef, garlic, onions, bay leaf and tomato paste.Galan Biz Musica Cubana.The especially flown in Chef Reinier Suarez Rivera who is one of the top young chefs and has won several awards in Young Chef competitions said: “I am very proud to present our national dishes to a wider International audience in The Hague” . Together with his Sous Chef, Claudia Gonzalez Vades, they certainly were cooking up a storm.For those craving sugar the servers brought out a trio of deserts which consisted of: Flan, Arroz con Leche and Torrejas (crêpes). All very in the fine Latin American cuisine tradition dishes.Yet another successful edition of the Food Festival. Cuisines you can expect to be presented in future editions range from Georgian to Tunisian, from Hungarian to Mexican. So contact the Crown Plaza to book your seat at the table. Reservations: info@crowneplazadenhaag.nl Information about Cuba:www.cubadiplomatica.cu/holanda
Paris, 2018: Rightly fêting the arrival of the Spring/Summer 2018 collection in store, Givenchy has designed a unique and intimate living space to showcase the designs of Creative Director Clare Waight Keller, providing thereby an luxurious and welcoming shopping space inspired by the designer’s own abode, with a lattice-work entrance, a signature of the couture house founded in the 1950s by Count Hubert Taffin de Givenchy.
In the interior, it is all about contrast with white marble, ethnic rugs and lush green details. All the pieces on offer are exclusively available ahead of time, and shall not be on sale at the regular stores till 5 March 2018. The ultimate destination for a one-of-a kind Givenchy shopping experience.
Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan is traveling to Germany, Italy, Ukraine, Latvia, and Belgium from February 15-24.
The Deputy Secretary will arrive in Munich on February 16 to lead the State Department delegation to the Munich Security Conference. He will participate in a nuclear security and arms control panel discussion with foreign government officials and reaffirm the United States’ commitment to global nuclear security. While in Munich, he will also hold bilateral meetings with officials from Germany and other countries.
The Deputy Secretary will then travel to Rome from February 18-20, where he will meet with senior Italian officials to discuss cooperation on priorities in Ukraine, Libya, the fight to defeat ISIS, the Sahel, and human rights and religious freedom. He will also deliver remarks and engage with foreign policy experts, students, and members of the press at the American Studies Center to discuss the U.S.-Italian relationship and our cooperation on security issues around the world.
He will visit Kyiv on February 21 to meet with President Poroshenko, Prime Minister Groysman, and Foreign Minister Klimkin. The Deputy Secretary will stress the importance of Ukraine expeditiously implementing credible economic and anti-corruption reforms and will underscore U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
On February 22, Deputy Secretary Sullivan will travel to Riga where he will meet with senior Latvian officials to reaffirm NATO’s Article 5 commitment and discuss various other economic, investment issues, and bilateral priorities.
Finally, on February 23, he will visit Brussels to participate in the G5 Sahel Donors Conference and discuss continued support for development, security, and political issues in the Sahel.
During his trip, the Deputy Secretary will also engage with U.S. Embassy staff in each of the countries, as well as representatives from the business community and civil society.
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For further information:
Yet another successful edition of the Food Festival. Cuisines you can expect to be presented in future editions range from Georgian to Tunisian, from Hungarian to Mexican. So contact the Crown Plaza to book your seat at the table.
Reservations: info@crowneplazadenhaag.nl
Information about Cuba:
www.cubadiplomatica.cu/holanda
Yet another successful edition of the Food Festival. Cuisines you can expect to be presented in future editions range from Georgian to Tunisian, from Hungarian to Mexican. So contact the Crown Plaza to book your seat at the table.
Reservations: info@crowneplazadenhaag.nl
Information about Cuba:
www.cubadiplomatica.cu/holanda
