Hendrik Willem Mesdag’s smallest painting, recently discovered in the National Archives, will be on display at Panorama Mesdag in The Hague from 17 July through 4 October 2015.Panorama Mesdag is delighted that it can give this unique mini-painting, with a short romantic poem on the back, a place of honour in the exhibition titled “Mesdag Family Collection”. Here, it will be surrounded by other, very personal, works from the private collections of the descendants of the artist couple Mesdag – van Houten, which have been brought together in this special, one-time exhibition in the 2015 Mesdag Year. Mesdag is particularly well-known for his enormous, cylinder-shaped painting measuring 120 metres wide by 14 metres tall: Panorama Mesdag. But, as it now turns out, he was also able to paint at a smaller size. Last week saw the discovery in the National Archives of an as-yet unknown work by Mesdag: a beautiful water colour 5 cm x 3 cm created in 1854. What makes the painting even more special is the little poem on the back written by Mesdag for his fiancée Sientje van Houten. The work was found in the archives of Samuel van Houten, Sientje’s brother. A wonderful portrait of Samuel van Houten by Mesdag is also on view in the “Mesdag Family Collection” exhibition.Apart from its size, the tiny Mesdag work is special also because it is an early riverscape that displays Mesdag’s characteristic rendering of sunlight falling on water. A precursor to his later work as a marine painter, the painting was made for Sientje, his bride-to-be.Mesdag’s YearThis year, The Hague is celebrating Mesdag’s 100-year-old cultural legacy. In the late 19th century, Mesdag put the city on the cultural map, both nationally and internationally. A number of museums and cultural institutions in The Hague are showcasing the many faces of this city’s icon with a range of exhibitions, symposia and events. More information is available on www.mesdagjaar.nl. For more information or visual materials, please contact Helma Doorman on 070-3106665 or at hdoorman@panorama-mesdag.nl. Alternatively, you can contact Eva Whyte, Nationaal Archief, 06-55267977, eva.whyte@nationaalarchief.nl
Bolivia Minka Dance Troep organizes together with Ayni Bolivia the visit of the Bafopaz Bolivian National folkloric ballet (Bafopaz) from La Paz, Bolivia .
The Folkloric Ballet of La Paz is led by Victor Hugo Salinas Pereira and Ana Salinas Ariscurnaga Gil. This fantastic show usually perform at 3600 m above sea level now is coming to the Lowlands!
In the past nine years, the Folkloric Ballet of La Paz has become a real reference in Bolivian arts and traditions through the quality of its performance, and its choreographic richness and accuracy of the interpretation.
The ballet has explored Bolivia from one side to the other, but has also participated in different festivals in South America and in Europe were short ago was distinguished with the Plurinational Price “Eduardo Avaroa 2014”.
The Folkloric Ballet will be for the first time performed in Amsterdam at Mozaïk!
27 dancers and 7 musicians will delight us with the high quality of its performances. They will let us travel through a country rich in traditions and customs. The folkloric ballet’s show is based on the well known Carnival of Oruro, UNESCO’s world heritage.
The profit made will cover the expenses of the show and also an ICT4 disadvantaged students through Ayni Bolivia Nederland Foundation (https://www.ayni.nl).
Show: Friday 24 July Podium Mozaïek – Bos en Lommerweg 191 in Amsterdam.Time: 20:00 (Theater opens at 19:30)
By Nicole H Pierre.
What an amazing gathering it was at the Residence of the French Ambassador to The Netherlands, to celebrate France’s National day on Tuesday July 14, 2015!
Despite the grey skies, the more than 700 guests who were gathered to celebrate, and offer kind words of congratulations, were in high spirits. The invitees were warmly and personally welcomed by His Excellency Mr. Laurent Pic, who celebrated his first “14 juillet” in The Hague as French ambassador and he was also in the presence of his Legal Adviser Mme. Diara Dime-Labille.
For a photo album on France National Day 2015, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157653694767733
At 7pm, the national hymn of France – La Marseillaise – was sung by the 2010 winner of the Concours de la Chanson de l’Alliance Française, Katell Chevalier.
French nationals, and friends of France, joined in heartily to sing the anthem demonstrating a certain pride and admiration for the great republic. Very fitting indeed as the 14th of July has become a day to reflect on the core values of the French Republic: freedom, equality and fraternity… values which have been tested in recent times.
In his speech, Mr. Pic reflected on some of the challenges facing our world, and more specifically Europe. But he also reminded us about the importance of a united Europe, highlighting the ongoing collaborations between France and the Netherlands.
In keeping with this spirit, the French ambassador also spoke about the departure of Tour de France from Utrecht as well as the launching of the economic year between France and the Netherland.
In Mr. Pic’s words, “All in all I’m confident that the friendship between France and the Netherland, deeply rooted in our common history and our common values, will help us in building an even more united Europe, a safer, more peaceful and more prosperous world. And you can rely on the commitment of all of us at the French Embassy to make the Franco-Dutch relationship as vivid and as fruitful as possible.”
The evening was plagued with a very festive and convivial atmosphere. Friends mingled and toasted each other, and networking was the order of the day as guests moved from one food station to the next. Chapeau Monsieur Ambassadeur… this was successful 14 juillet celebration.
To read the Ambassador’s speech please visit the site:http://www.ambafrance-nl.org/Fete-Nationale-a-la-Residence-de-France-1All the photos are the copyrights of Ambassade de France aux Pays-bas.
Orlando Honorary Dutch Consulate to Stop Issuing Visas andPassportsDue to technical difficulties, the Dutch Honorary Consulate in Orlando, Florida, no longer issues visas, and stopped processing passport applications since 1 July 2015.The Honorary Dutch Consulate reminds open for all other activities. The closing of the passport and visa desk in Orlando was already scheduled, but came earlier than announced because of ongoing technical difficulties.Travelers in the Orlando region can apply for a passport and/or visa at the Dutch consulate general in Miami, San Francisco and New York, or at the Netherlands Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Dutch honorary consul in Orlando will continue to support the Dutch business community and help Dutch citizens in need.The Dutch government acknowledges that these changes have practical consequences for Dutch nationals in the United States.As of March 9, 2014, the government has introduced a passport that is valid for 10 years for adults. This means that citizens in the Orlando area who successfully apply for a new passport at the honorary consulate before 1 July 2015 will not have to renew their passport until 2025. Minors (younger than 18 years old) will still have to renew their passports every five years. More details about Dutch passport applications can be found at www.dutchhelp.com.For any consular questions, you can also call 1-877 DUTCHHELP (1-877-388-2443) 24 hours a day.
By John Kennedy. International Relations Researcher.
Click this link to open the PDF version of Diplomat Magazine’s 2nd Luxury edition, June 2015.
http://issuu.com/diploflying/docs/dm.glossy.pdf.low.2
When Diplomat Magazine’s directors announced the launching of the first glossy edition in November 2013, members of their staff and the diplomatic corps were very excited about the news.
After the publication of the hard-copy edition in November 2014 (the very first magazine of its kind in Netherlands’ history) Diplomat Magazine has received written compliments from Heads of State, ministers, dignitaries and the academia from all over the world.
Conversely, with this new luxury 2nd edition launched in June 2015, the impact amongst the diplomatic corps in The Hague and Brussels, members of Parliament, Dutch authorities and entrepreneurs was immense. It institutes a tremendous achievement for Publisher Dr. Mayelinne De Lara (currently a diplomatic spouse) and the team of diplomats and volunteers behind the scenes.
“Diplomat Magazine is very valuable, we appreciate the quality and the perfect equilibrium of its content and design, a source of useful information by and for diplomats, alongside the successful events they organize”, expressed several ambassadors accredited to the Netherlands.
Some of Diplomat Magazine’s staff and volunteers, during a reception at World Belair Hotel in The Hague, to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of Diplomat Magazine. June, 2015, The Hague.
Diplomat Magazine has offered scholarships and free diplomatic training courses to its contributors and volunteer staff. The selected academic centers were at the rank of ASSER Institute, Clingendael Institute, the Alliance Francaise and The Hague Political Academy.
On the other hand, the Online publication has reached the uppermost in terms of monthly readers, over 55,000 followers.
Border Crossing, a new publication inserted in Diplomat Magazine Online, https://diplomatmagazine.eu/2015-issues/ is edited in Canada by Eugene Matos De Lara and other academic researchers in international relations from the University of Ottawa.
The entire concept is paying off to their founders and to the international diplomatic community.
The statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic on presenting the U.S. State Department Human Rights Defender Award to Azimzhan Askarov.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic is authorized to state that the news of giving Human Rights Defender Award by the U.S. State Department to Azimzhan Askarov, a Kyrgyz Republic citizen convicted by all instances of the Kyrgyz Republic for incitement of interethnic hatred, organizing mass riots, complicity in murder of a law enforcement officer during the time of tragic events of June 2010, was taken in the Kyrgyz Republic with bewilderment.
In accordance with general criteria of the State Department, Human Rights Defender Award is given to individuals or organizations that have shown exceptional valor and leadership in advocating for the protection of human rights for a period of time and under government’s repression.
The eligibility of A. Askarov draws numerous questions. His actions at the time of interethnic conflict of June 2010 cannot be evaluated as defending human rights and peace-making. In the Kyrgyz Republic A. Askarov is perceived as an accomplice in murder and one of the most active participants of interethnic clashes at the south of the country in June 2010. Moreover, as a result of inappropriate actions of civic activists and foreign states’ representatives this person became a symbol of disruption not a unity of people of Kyrgyzstan.
Taking into account the above stated, giving A. Askarov such a high award is considered by the Kyrgyz Republic as a deliberate act directed against strengthening interethnic peace and harmony in our country.
The Kyrgyz Republic believes that the State Department’s award is presented to the wrong person at the wrong time in the country where human rights activity is not restricted; on the contrary, it is supported by the government. And active work of numerous human rights defenders and non-governmental organizations is the proof of it. The Kyrgyz Republic is the only state in the region that successfully proceeded to parliamentary democracy, which has been repeatedly recognized by the leaders of democratic nations, including the President of the United States B. Obama.
It is a considered opinion of the Kyrgyz side that awarding A. Askarov is not a reward for his activity. More likely, the main reason is his ethnicity and the status of a convicted for his crimes during the events of June 2010.
The court order established that A. Askarov actively participated in organizing mass riots on June 12-13, 2010 in the village of Bazar-Korgon of Jalal-Abad region, and was one of the organizers of blocking the strategic Bishkek-Osh highway near the bridge over Kara-Unkur river. During the explanatory work among the participants of riots 13 unarmed police officers got injuries of varying severity, and the district police officer M. Sulaymanov was killed with special cruelty and then burned.
On September 15 and November 10, 2010 Azimzhan Askarov was found guilty of the charges by district and regional courts of the Kyrgyz Republic, respectively. On December 20, 2011 the Supreme Court of the Kyrgyz Republic upheld the sentences of these courts.
Considering requests of international organizations and foreign countries, the Kyrgyz side initiated repeated verifications of the investigation legitimacy and the justification of the trials with the invitation and participation of international experts. The result of these inspections did not reveal considerable reasons for a retrial.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic considers giving A. Askarov Human Rights Defender Award as a way to cause negative international reaction. The Kyrgyz side views this as a factor aimed at undermining the process of strengthening the unity of the people and harmony in the country. The Kyrgyz Republic is concerned that such an award may cause ethnic clashes and destroy the today’s fragile peace which is being restored and strengthened by enormous efforts of the country’s people.
The time for this award – four years after the Supreme Court decision – evokes surprise as well. Even more surprising is that such an award was never given to any human rights activist of the Kyrgyz Republic during the rule of former presidents A. Akaev and K. Bakiyev. In such context, this award will be associated with the withdrawal of the Transit Center from the International airport “Manas” in Bishkek and the appointment of Richard Miles as interim head of the American mission.
The contradictory approach is revealing when one of the State Department’s awards was given to Roza Otunbayeva as the head of the state in 2011 who exerted efforts to preserve peace and unity of the people, and in 2015 – to the criminal who publicly incited ethnic hatred and was sentenced at the time when the former president received the award of the U.S. State Department.
Through no fault of the Kyrgyz Republic the United States’ actions employing interethnic theme cause serious damage to bilateral relations.
Taking into account the long-term fruitful cooperation based on common democratic values, in consideration of mutual respect of the non-interference and sovereignty principles the Kyrgyz Republic voices protest over the decision of the American side which will not contribute to comprehensive Kyrgyz-American cooperation.
The Central American Integration System (SICA), founded in 1993, is the economic and political cooperation organization of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Belize and Dominican Republic. Diplomatic representatives of the SICA nations came together on June 7th for a highly successful Diplomats Meet & Greet at the Carlton Ambassador Hotel.
For a photo-album on the SICA’s Diplomats Meet & Greet, please open the following link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157655145415909
Video of this event click the image below. Video by Kamranovic ProductionsDiplomats from the SICA’s countries and Diplomat Magazine team.
The plush event was exceptionally well-attended, and proudly showcased the most renowned rum from Guatemala, the Zacapa Centenario premium mature rum, several times first-prize winner at the International Rum Festival.
Guests sampled this outstanding product alongside the very well know Rum Abuelo, another premium rum produced since 1908 in Panama’s first sugar mill.
Colorful and traditional Central American decorations were installed and in a few hours the colors, sound and flavors of the SICA nations were being complemented by the warm summer temperature and spirit of The Hague’s vibrant diplomatic and international community.
H. E. Philippe Couvreur, Registar of the International Court fo Justice, H. E. Rose Makena Murichi Ambassador of Kenya and Jose Arguello Gomez Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corp.
The Ambassador’s salon and the Carlton’s terrace were packed: ambassadors and diplomats, government officials, international organizations’ representatives, industrials, artists, Dutch media and expats all enjoyed a unique opportunity to meet and sample the very best products of SICA’s constituent nations, and to listen and dance to beautiful Latin music.
Ambassador of Costa Rica H. E. Sergio Ugalde, Ambassador of Panama H. E. Willys Delvalle Velasco and his wife Tatiana and H. E. Gabriel Aguilera Peralta Ambassador of Guatemala.Sonia Meijer, with Ambassador of Guatemala Guillermo Aguilera and Ambassador of Costa Rica to the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The SICA embassy teams worked harmoniously and effectively to give every country the opportunity and space to promote their produce to an exclusive audience.
June’s Diplomats Meet & Greet, organized by Diplomat Magazine, was all about cooperation, team work and support from one SICA country to another. The Diplomats Meet & Greet is sponsored by Diplomatic Card.
Diplomats from Central American countries.
On the picture First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan – Picture by Baku 2015.By Luca Bücken & Baron Henri Estramant.The inaugural edition of the European Games was held in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan between 12 and 18 June 2015. More than 6,000 athletes, representing the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of 50 countries, competed in 20 different disciplines.The decision to hold the European Games in Azerbaijan was made at the 41st European Olympic Committee General Assembly held at Rome in December 2012 where Baku was the sole bidder.Opening ceremony – Presidents of Belarus and Russia, Lukashenko and Putin – Picture by Kremlin.ruHE President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan heavily invested in the success of the games, including state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure, new stadium and sport facilities. Furthermore no expense was spare for the opening ceremony which featured a concert of Lady Gaga as well as 2,000 performers in a setting of 2,000 lighting fixtures and 800 speakers. Likewise, the country’s first lady, Mehriban Aliyeva and its Minister of Youth and Sport, Azad Rahimov, were a driving forces behind the project Baku 2015. The opening ceremony of the I European games was enriched with the participation of 35 heads of state and government, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey, President Aleksander Lukashenko of Belarus, HRH The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri I, HSH The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, Albert II, Prime Minster Boyko Borisov of Bulgaria or Prime Minister Victor Ponta of Romania. Gymnasts Fabian Hambüchen, Sebastian Krimmer and Andreas Toba.In the Benelux countries Azerbaijan is represented by three diplomatic missions. One to the EU, Belgium and Luxembourg headed by HE Ambassador Fuad Isgandarov. There is a second mission based in Brussels accredited to NATO led by HE Ambassador Khazar Ibrahim as well as a mission to The Netherlands and towards the OPCW headed by HE Ambassador Mir-Hamza Efendiyev. For more information: Presidency of Azerbaijan: http://en.president.azFirst Lady of Azerbaijan: www.mehriban-aliyeva.org/az/mainI European Games: www.baku2015.comHeydar Aliyev Foundation: www.heydar-aliyev-foundation.org/en/content/index/47/Mission of Azerbaijan to the EU, Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg: www.azembassy.be
On the picture H. E. Vesela Mrden Korac and H. E. Ahmet Halilovic.Ceremony of Merit for Ambassadors of Croatia and The Sudan.
The time has come to say goodbye to two dedicated and wonderful diplomats who leave behind them many great accomplishments and hundreds of friends.
Ambassadors H. E. Vesela Mrden Korac from Croatia and H. E. Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim from The Sudan completed their ambassadorial terms in late June.
For a photo album on this special ceremony, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157655371891670
Diplomat Magazine celebrated their successful time in The Netherlands by presenting them with a Certificate of Merit in a solemn ceremony attended by their respective spouses, colleagues, ambassadors, special friends and members of their staff.
After the national anthem of the Netherlands and the national anthem of Croatia, H. E. Ahmet Halilovic ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina took the floor to talk about Ambassador Mrden’s outstanding career, her exceptional performance in The Hague, and their personal friendship. Ambassador Mrden Korac received the Certificate of Merit accompanied by her husband Professor Marko Korac. Professor Marko Korac and H. E. Vesela Mrden Korac.
Her farewell words were dedicated to her colleagues, to The Hague’s international institutions including the ICC and OPCW in which she played a powerful role, to the Netherlands as a host country that made her professional and private life enjoyable, and also to Diplomat Magazine.
Her Excellency’s remarked that diplomatic life has changed in a positive way since the creation of the first diplomatic magazine of the Netherlands. She noted the value of the knowledge and availability of DM’s team to publish accurate information, promote the work of embassies and publish daily articles on the events and diplomats related to each mission. ‘’Ambassadors became stars with hundreds of pictures published in Diplomat Magazine as accurate proof of their performance’’, said Ambassador Mrden.
H. E. Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim.
The audience stood up once again to listen to the national anthem of Sudan in tribute to His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim. During just two years in The Hague he made many friends, both among his colleagues and among the Dutch people.
H. E. Karim Ben Bécher, Ambassador of Tunisia.Ambassador Vusi Bruce Koloane of South Africa, Ambassador of The Sudan Mohamed Elhassan Ibrahim and Ambassador of Tunisia Karim Ben Bécher.
His pleasant presence and eternal smile were ever-present in diplomatic meetings and events.
Ambassador Karim Ben Bécher from Tunisia talked at length about Ambassador’s Ibrahi’sm successful career and wished him a bright future back at the Sudan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Karim Ben Bécher said during his speech:
”It gives me a great pleasure this afternoon to say few words about our dear friend Ambassador Mohamed Elhassan, Ambassador of Sudan who is going to leave The Hague for another posting in Khartoum.Ambassador Hassan, can boast a long and rich diplomatic career began in 1990, a solid legal profile and a good knowledge of the Hague where he was Deputy Chief of Mission from 1998 to 2002. His appointment as Ambassador this time in 2013 demonstrates its expertise and competence for the position of the Hague which combines bilateral and multilateral levels.
Ambassador Hassan,
Your rich diplomatic experience in positions in Africa, the Middle East and Europe allowed you to integrate quickly and easily into the diplomatic community here, despite your short stay.
Your sense of humor, your open and affable temperament allowed you to win in such a short time a lot of friends among whom I hope I can consider myself.
I greatly appreciated your curiosity and commitment to art, culture and especially the Arab poetry.
You had the great merit of reconciling your mission as Ambassador with your openness to the environment in which you live and succeeded in so short time to promote your country and to attract new investments there.
For all these reasons, I congratulate you and pay tribute to you, confirming the pleasure for having worked with you and hopefully, been your friend.Ambassador Hassan,On behalf of all our friends present here, I would like to wish you a lot of success in your new posting and I wish also all the best for your family. Finally, I would like to thank The Diplomat magazine which organizes this ceremony to our colleague. The diplomatic community of The Hague values very much what your team is doing in this field”.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) informs on arrivals of migrants by sea in the Mediterranean, based on data from IOM in Greece, Malta, Rome and Spain.
Arrivals by sea and deaths in the Mediterranean, 1 January – 13 July, 2015
Country of Arrival
Arrivals
Deaths
Italy
78,183 (IOM est.)
1,841
(Central Med route)
Malta
94
Greece
79,338
55
(Eastern Med route)
Spain
1,217
18
(Western Med and Western African routes)
Estimated Total
158,832
1,914
Data on deaths of migrants compiled by RES. All numbers are minimum estimates.
Arrivals estimates based on data from respective governments and IOM field offices.
Notes on arrivals: Data for Spain is until 9 June 2015, while data for Malta is until 1 July. Data for Greece is until 12 July.
Data for Italy as of 30 June is based on the information circulated by the Italian Ministry of Interior; arrivals from 1 July onwards are IOM estimates.
For Greece, data from 1 June onwards are from the Hellenic Coast Guard only and do not include detections by the Police.
* Data in the table (with the explanatory notes), and data/info from the ARRIVALS BY SEA TO ITALY (and Greece) sections can be shared with the press and the public. However, any narrative parts in those sections (such as current or future landings) should be cleared with IOM Rome before sharing. Please do not copy or forward the updates/emails wholesale, as they are internal — select data and repackage as you need.
Arrivals by sea to Italy
Between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 July, at least 13 landings: approximately 3,720 migrants were brought to the ports of Lampedusa, Pozzallo, Palermo, Augusta, Messina (Sicily), Reggio Calabria (Calabria), and Otranto (Apulia).
Survivors of last Thursday’s shipwreck – when 12 migrants lost their life – were brought to Palermo on Saturday: they reported that after a mere 6 hours of navigation, the rubber dinghy they were travelling on began to deflate because of the heat. Panic broke out and many rushed to the other side of the vessel to avoid drowning: 4 women, two of whom were pregnant, were crushed to death by the ensuing throng.
We cannot exclude that one or more landings may occur later today and tomorrow, as it is highly possible that further search and rescue operations will be carried out in the next hours.
2015 Totals: 78,183 (IOM est.)
June 2015 Total: 22,905
July 2015 Total (IOM est. as of 13 July): 7,829
Main Countries of Origin: Eritrea, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, Gambia, Sudan, Senegal, Mali, Bangladesh, Ivory Coast.
Main departure country: Libya (few departures from Egypt, Greece, and Turkey)
Kindly note that the data of the arrivals at landing points where IOM staff is not present is not included in July’s tallies.
2014 Totals: 170,100 arrived in Italy
Arrivals by sea to ItalyJanuary – June 2014/2015
(source: Italian MOI)
Main Countries of Origin
2014
2015
Eritrea
19,171
18,676
Nigeria
3,311
7,897
Somalia
2,293
6,334
Syria
12,014
4,271
Gambia
3,562
3,593
Sudan
736
3,589
Senegal
1,861
2,839
Tot. all Countries of Origin
63,884
70,354
Arrivals by sea to ItalyJanuary to June 2014/2015
(source: Italian MOI)
2014
2015
January
2,171
3,528
February
3,335
4,354
March
5,459
2,283
April
15,679
16,063
May
14,599
21,221
June
22,641
22,905
TOTAL
63,884
70,354
Arrivals by sea to Greece
1 January – 12 July 2015
79,338
2015 Totals: 79,338
Between Friday 10 and Sunday 12 July, approximately 1,100 migrants reached Greek coasts.
Main Countries of Origin: Syria and Afghanistan.
Main departure country: Turkey
Main landing points: the islands of Lesvos, Kos, Samos, Oinousses, Kalymnos, Agathonisi, Farmakonisi, Samothrace and Chios.
IOM Staff is present in Lesvos and Samos and works closely with authorities to identify vulnerable migrants including unaccompanied minors, elderly migrants, migrants with medical needs and families with children. Vulnerable groups are referred to authorities in order to be provided with the necessary care.
Mesdag is particularly well-known for his enormous, cylinder-shaped painting measuring 120 metres wide by 14 metres tall: Panorama Mesdag. But, as it now turns out, he was also able to paint at a smaller size.
Last week saw the discovery in the National Archives of an as-yet unknown work by Mesdag: a beautiful water colour 5 cm x 3 cm created in 1854. What makes the painting even more special is the little poem on the back written by Mesdag for his fiancée Sientje van Houten. The work was found in the archives of Samuel van Houten, Sientje’s brother. A wonderful portrait of Samuel van Houten by Mesdag is also on view in the “Mesdag Family Collection” exhibition.
Apart from its size, the tiny Mesdag work is special also because it is an early riverscape that displays Mesdag’s characteristic rendering of sunlight falling on water. A precursor to his later work as a marine painter, the painting was made for Sientje, his bride-to-be.
Mesdag’s Year
This year, The Hague is celebrating Mesdag’s 100-year-old cultural legacy. In the late 19th century, Mesdag put the city on the cultural map, both nationally and internationally. A number of museums and cultural institutions in The Hague are showcasing the many faces of this city’s icon with a range of exhibitions, symposia and events. More information is available on www.mesdagjaar.nl.
For more information or visual materials, please contact Helma Doorman on 070-3106665 or at hdoorman@panorama-mesdag.nl.
Alternatively, you can contact Eva Whyte, Nationaal Archief, 06-55267977, eva.whyte@nationaalarchief.nl
