On the picture H.E. Nguyễn Văn Đoàn Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam to The Netherlands.Back in Ha Noi, a series of activities were held nationwide to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution (19 August 1945) and Independence Day of Việt Nam (2 September 1945). One of the major ceremonies during the celebration was the incense offerings at President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum and on the Monument of Heroic Martyrs by top leaders and former leaders to commemorate the heroes who sacrificed their lives for National Independence and Reunification.In The Hague, H.E. Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Đoàn, Head of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam to The Netherlands and the OPCW, invited fellow ambassadors, diplomats, Dutch officials and friends to celebrate this joyful occasion. Countless guest responded and made their way to World Hotel Bel Air on Thursday 10 September 2015. In his welcome address Ambassador Nguyễn Văn Đoàn thanked those present. He further expounded on the economical situation of Việt Nam: “The country has come from a long way, is doing economically well. Việt Nam is making headway”. The Ambassador also made reference to the long established relationship between Việt Nam and the Netherlands. Picture courtesy of the Embassy of Việt Nam in the Netherlands.
By Joe Ray.
H.E. Mr Timothy Broas, US Ambassador to the Netherlands, was welcomed to the University of Groningen on 12 November to give a speech on US-EU relations and the rise of Asia.
The event was co-organised by the study associations of the American Studies and International Relations bachelor programmes, and was moderated by Dr Ronald Holzhacker, Senior Lecturer in the Department of International Relations.
The Ambassador’s speech focused on four main themes: prosperity, security, environmental stewardship, and shared values. It was followed by a Q&A session and a reception.
Ambassador Broas began by observing that Groningen was the tenth province he had visited in the Netherlands since his appointment in March 2014. In every province, he said, he had been struck by the country’s entrepreneurial spirit and forward-thinking attitude. He expressed his fondness for the nation and its people, and impressed the attendant Dutch-speakers with a few sentences in their native language.
The US-Netherlands relationship is among the strongest bilateral partnerships in the world, noted the Ambassador – especially in the field of economics. The US is the largest external investor in the Netherlands, and the latter is among the five largest investors in the US. He added that small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of this close economic relationship between the two countries, and are a crucial driving force for growth and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
Remaining on the theme of trade and investment, the Ambassador touched upon the issue of TTIP – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership currently being negotiated between the US and EU. He acknowledged that TTIP remains a thorny issue in many quarters, and that public perceptions of the deal would benefit from improved discussion and greater exposure to neutral information.
At the suggestion of Dr Holzhacker, the Ambassador pledged to send a team from the US Embassy to Groningen in order to provide more information about TTIP to students and interested parties, and promised to continue engaging constructively with opponents of the deal. He remarked that a respectful, two-way dialogue is essential if creative solutions are to be found.
Moving on to what he termed “shared stewardship of the planet”, the Ambassador provided a concise and informative overview of US-Netherlands cooperation on environmental issues. He praised the close collaboration between the countries in combating greenhouse gas emissions, and revealed that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be spending a week in Paris at the forthcoming UN Climate Change Confidence. “Secretary Kerry never spends a week anywhere,” quipped the Ambassador, noting that Mr Kerry’s presence at the talks signifies the Obama Administration’s deep commitment to addressing the issue of climate change.
On matters of peace and security, the Ambassador also commended the strong and enduring relationship between the US and the Netherlands, as well the broader US-EU relationship. The conflict in Ukraine, he said, has highlighted the political stakes of security in Europe – a region to which the US remains fundamentally and irreversibly committed.
On the question of peace and security in Asia, the Ambassador reiterated that the US wants to see a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute. He hailed the success of tough, principled diplomacy in bringing about the Iranian nuclear deal, and added that the US, Netherlands, EU, and NATO are together resolved to promote peace and stability worldwide. The final section of the Ambassador’s speech focused on shared values.
The principles and ideals of the US and the Netherlands are deeply intertwined, he observed, and include an unshakeable shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human rights. Asked about Guantanamo Bay, the Ambassador reminded guests that the Obama Administration is taking all possible steps to reduce the number of detainees and close the facility. He also noted that despite political challenges, the number of inmates is steadily decreasing. On the subject of Cuba, the Ambassador hailed the recent restoration of US-Cuba ties, and expressed cautious optimism about the future of relations between the two countries.
He ended with a few words on the power of sport, bolstered by anecdotes drawn from his own lifelong affiliation with baseball. Sport is a force for good in the world, he concluded; it connects communities everywhere and unites us in common endeavour.
Photography by Dr Tjalling Halbertsma.
Impressive image of the festive season at de Bijenkorf in The Hague. Today 19 of November our photographer Henry Arvidsson captured the spirit of Christmas.
The Embassy of Mexico and Pulchri Studio are honored to present the exhibition Oaxaca de Juárez by Mexican artist Sergio Hernández.Oaxaca de Juárez consists of 26 large works, 17 paintings and 9 engravings, and is a retrospective of Sergio Hernández’s work. His artistry is distinguished by the continuous exploration of new techniques and forms. The exhibition shows the thematic interests of the artist from Oaxaca, such as death, dreams and the unconsciousness. Furthermore, we can perceive his fascination for apocalyptic images.
Oaxaca, the region where Hernández was born and which also brought forth the renowned artists Rufino Tamayo and Francisco Toledo, forms a central part in his paintings and engravings. His work is characterized by the connection between deep rooted cultural values and contemporary artistic trends.
Sergio Hernández is considered as one of the most important artists of his generation and one of the leading representatives of ‘fantastic realism’, not only in Mexico, but worldwide.
Sergio Hernández (1957) started studying art when he was 16 years old. He studied at the Academia de San Carlos (1973-1974) and until 1980 he was a student at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado ‘La Esmeralda’. In 1987, he traveled for the first time to Europe and stayed for a while in Paris, where he encountered European avant-garde artists.
In 1988 he returned to Oaxaca, which resulted in a rediscovery of his roots. The reunion with the region where he was born was illustrated in his work through the use of colors, drawings and often a playful way of tackling the subject. From that moment, the artist also began to show a wide variety of techniques and materials, such as oil paint, ink, gouache, aquarelle and engravings, which form part of his oeuvre.
In Europe, Oaxaca de Juárez has been exhibited in Cádiz, Spain; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; Bucharest, Romania; Antwerp, Belgium and Genève, Switzerland.
Oaxaca de Juárez at Pulchri Studio, Lange Voorhout 15, 2514 EA Den HaagSaturday November 21 from 5 pm.
His Majesty the King will officially receive the credentials of the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Ms Andrea Gustović-Ercegovac; the Ambassador of the Solomon Islands, H.E. Moses Kouni Mose; and the Ambassador of the Lao PDR, H.E. Khamkheuang Bounteum on 18 November 2015 at Noordeinde Palace in The Hague.The ambassadors will be greeted by a chamberlain of the King. The King provides each ambassador with a gala coach and, if applicable, a so-called blue carriage for the embassy staff. The carriages are pulled by two horses, and the gala carriage is led by two co-drivers in dress uniform. Two riders from the Mounted Constabulary accompany the carriages in full ceremonial dress. The dress code for the ambassadors is jacquet or national costume.H.E. Moses Kouni MoseAt Noordeinde Palace stands a guard of honour and a military chapel. The guard of honour consists of the 43 Mechanized Brigade. The music is provided by the Royal Netherlands Army Band Johan Willem Friso. At the entrance of the Palace stand two honour posts of the Royal Military Police Brigade The Hague. After a salute of four drum-rolls and the national anthem of the country’s ambassador, there is an inspection of the guard of honour, after which the ambassador enters the Palace. Upon his or her departure, the ambassador receives again four honour drum-rolls.
Queen Máxima visits Bangladesh to promote access to financial services.Her Majesty Queen Máxima is visiting the People’s Republic of Bangladesh from Monday 16 to Wednesday 18 November in her role as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, at the invitation of the Bangladeshi government.
Bangladesh has considerable experience with microcredit loans for small businesses. It is Queen Máxima’s first country visit in her capacity as Special Advocate since the new sustainable development goals were adopted by all UN member states in September this year.
Access to financial services has been incorporated into a number of these goals as an important tool for reducing poverty, boosting economic development and improving the position of women. On Monday 16 November Queen Máxima spoke with several donor organisations in Dhaka about their role in inclusive finance and cooperation with partners like the World Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund and local UN agencies. She also had discussions with representatives of microcredit organisations about expanding financial services, and talked to legislative bodies about the options for expanding mobile bank services.
On Tuesday 17 November the Queen will visit a garment factory outside Dhaka, where she will meet entrepreneurs, staff and others to hear about their experience with loans and other financial (including digital) services. In the afternoon she will meet with the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Atiur Rahman, and will attend a meeting to present plans for a digital and inclusive financing strategy.
On Wednesday 18 November Queen Máxima will meet the Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, and the Minister of Finance, Abul Maal A. Muhith. There will also be a roundtable discussion with representatives of the banking sector and a meeting with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.
Queen Máxima was appointed the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development in September 2009. In this capacity she advises on access to financial services and is committed to achieving this for everyone worldwide, with a special focus on boosting the development of low-income groups and the SME sector. The Queen has been Honorary Patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) since June 2011.
ANP, foto: Robin Utrecht.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The IWC’s Hon. President Henriette van Aartsen, its current President Barbara Couwenbergh, and the IWC Board invited Roland Kieft, artistic director of the Reidentie Orkest, to their monthly meeting in order to give a lecture.
Roland Kieft was accompanied by a musical duo of the Residenditie Orkest. The event took place at the World Bel Air Hotel The Hague on 9 November 2015.
Het Residentie Orkest, The Hague Philharmonic, is based in The Hague. Henri Viotta founded the orchestra in 1904, and in 2014 it celebrated its 110th anniversary in the presence of H.M King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
The orchestra plays a vital role in major events in the cultural life of the city of The Hague, notably at the annual Prinsjesdag concert, The Hague Africa Festival, and the centenary of the Peace Palace. The orchestra has recently moved from the center of town to the Zuiderstrand Theater, a beautiful location in the dunes of Scheveningen.
During his IWC Lecture, Kieft elaborated on the role of musical conductor, vividly explaining the long road leading to conductorship. Passion, motivation, discipline and thousands of hours of practice are imperative. He also stressed the connection between art and classical music – the primordial role of a philharmonic orchestra conductor. A conductor is a coordinator; he needs to connect.
The principal conductors of the R.O are Jan Willem de Vriend (NL) and Nicholas Collon (UK). Also worth mentioning are the 31,000 students who participate annually in educational projects, and a new initiative has been lunched this year, the Symphonic Senior. There is also a family concert.
Kieft grew up in an artistic family, and studied cello at the Royal Conservatory The Hague. He graduated from the Utrecht Conservatorium and Tangle Wood, USA, and is an alumnus of Leonard Bernstein. Kieft has conducted nearly all the symphony orchestras in the Netherlands, and in the 80’s and 90’s he played an active role in the Dutch Student Orchestra.
Kieft has worked around the world, including East Berlin, France, the USA, and St. Petersburg, Africa and Japan.
Since his appointment as artistic director in 2012, Kieft has successfully navigated the Residentie Orkest out of a difficult period of austerity. Today, the 87-strong Residentie Orkest is a thriving musical power-plant.
Thursday, 12 November 2015, Royal Palace at Brussels: French ambassador Claude-France Arnould presented her letters of credence to His Majesty King Philippus of the Belgians.
She was accompanied by her deputy, and until that day chargé d’affaires, First Secretary François-Xavier Reymond and was flanked by the King’s Aide-de-Camp and Chief of Defence, General Gerard Van Caelenberge.
First Secretary François-Xavier Reymond, HE Ambassador Arnould and her staff.
The 9th edition of the Brazil Network Day (BND) took place on 3 November in the opening-day of the Maritime Technology Exhibition (EUROPORT 2015) held at the Ahoy conference centre and arena in Rotterdam.
The Brazilian Embassy enjoyed the support of large corporate partners such as the Ahoy Rotterdam, KPMG, Baker McKenzie, Intertrust Netherlands, NeoGrid Netherlands and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
More than 500 participants attended the BND Plenary Session as well as the subsequent Business Network Cocktail. BND has became a Brazilian flagship event in The Netherlands since its first edition in 2011.
The Embassy is fully committed to continuing organising the BND, searching for new partnerships and allied partners in order to promote high value events, by bringing Brazilian and Dutch speakers together in discussions on current issues, encouraging networking amongst companies and business people interested in Brazil.
Four economy class tickets to Brazil were raffled during the event courtesy of KLM. The next edition is due to be hosted by the Province of North Brabant and the State of Minas Gerais on 29 March 2016 at the Chassé Theater, in Breda.
The Brazil Network Day (BND), is organized twice year (since 2011) by the Embassy of Brazil in The Hague.
For more information: BND: www.brazilnetworkday.nl
November 2015: Historic links between Thailand and Belgium and particularly their royal families are celebrated many activities, some of which are being patronised by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, HRH Princess Somsawali and HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium with her husband Sir Salvador Moncada.
Events include a photographic exhibition, the unveiling of commemorative brooches created by Bangkok jewellery designers, an economic forum and a showcase of Belgium’s much-loved chocolate. “For this event, we decided to just celebrate what matters the most – the friendship that links Thailand and Belgium,” uttered Count Gerald van Der Straten Ponthoz, chairman of the Chao Phya Abhai Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation, which is organising the celebrations.
“Our two countries have always enjoyed good relations, and the friendship between the Belgian and Thai Royal families has never faded. Friendship is what this year’s event is about, and there is also an important charity aspect to it, which is aimed at raising funds for the construction of Border Patrol Police schools in remote areas of Thailand.”
The exhibition itself was opened on 3 November by HRH Princess Sirindhorn who is fluent in French, and most recently visited Belgium in December 2014 to attend the obsequies of Queen Dowager Fabiola of Belgium. Her last visit to The Netherlands was to attend the investiture of HM King Willem-Alexander together with her brother the Crown Prince.
The same day, HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, Lady Moncada, arrived in Thailand to preside together with HRH Princess Soamsawali the “Thai-Belgian Commemorative Brooches Gala Dinner” at the Plaza Athénée Hotel at Bangkok.
The trip to Thailand for Princess Esmeralda and her husband Sir Salvador Moncada came at the invitation of the Chao Phya Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation created by the Belgian Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, who served as adviser to King Rama V between 1892 and 1901.
For more information:
Thai-Belgian Friendship Year 2015: www.facebook.com/thaibelgianfriendship2015
Thai mission to the EU, Royal Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg, H.E. Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool: www2.thaiembassy.be
Royal Thai Embassy to The Netherlands, Mission to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong: www.thaiembassy.org/hague
The US-Netherlands relationship is among the strongest bilateral partnerships in the world, noted the Ambassador – especially in the field of economics. The US is the largest external investor in the Netherlands, and the latter is among the five largest investors in the US. He added that small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of this close economic relationship between the two countries, and are a crucial driving force for growth and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
Remaining on the theme of trade and investment, the Ambassador touched upon the issue of TTIP – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership currently being negotiated between the US and EU. He acknowledged that TTIP remains a thorny issue in many quarters, and that public perceptions of the deal would benefit from improved discussion and greater exposure to neutral information.
At the suggestion of Dr Holzhacker, the Ambassador pledged to send a team from the US Embassy to Groningen in order to provide more information about TTIP to students and interested parties, and promised to continue engaging constructively with opponents of the deal. He remarked that a respectful, two-way dialogue is essential if creative solutions are to be found.
Moving on to what he termed “shared stewardship of the planet”, the Ambassador provided a concise and informative overview of US-Netherlands cooperation on environmental issues. He praised the close collaboration between the countries in combating greenhouse gas emissions, and revealed that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be spending a week in Paris at the forthcoming UN Climate Change Confidence. “Secretary Kerry never spends a week anywhere,” quipped the Ambassador, noting that Mr Kerry’s presence at the talks signifies the Obama Administration’s deep commitment to addressing the issue of climate change.
On matters of peace and security, the Ambassador also commended the strong and enduring relationship between the US and the Netherlands, as well the broader US-EU relationship. The conflict in Ukraine, he said, has highlighted the political stakes of security in Europe – a region to which the US remains fundamentally and irreversibly committed.
On the question of peace and security in Asia, the Ambassador reiterated that the US wants to see a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute. He hailed the success of tough, principled diplomacy in bringing about the Iranian nuclear deal, and added that the US, Netherlands, EU, and NATO are together resolved to promote peace and stability worldwide. The final section of the Ambassador’s speech focused on shared values.
The principles and ideals of the US and the Netherlands are deeply intertwined, he observed, and include an unshakeable shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human rights. Asked about Guantanamo Bay, the Ambassador reminded guests that the Obama Administration is taking all possible steps to reduce the number of detainees and close the facility. He also noted that despite political challenges, the number of inmates is steadily decreasing. On the subject of Cuba, the Ambassador hailed the recent restoration of US-Cuba ties, and expressed cautious optimism about the future of relations between the two countries.
He ended with a few words on the power of sport, bolstered by anecdotes drawn from his own lifelong affiliation with baseball. Sport is a force for good in the world, he concluded; it connects communities everywhere and unites us in common endeavour.
Photography by Dr Tjalling Halbertsma. 
The US-Netherlands relationship is among the strongest bilateral partnerships in the world, noted the Ambassador – especially in the field of economics. The US is the largest external investor in the Netherlands, and the latter is among the five largest investors in the US. He added that small and medium-sized enterprises form the backbone of this close economic relationship between the two countries, and are a crucial driving force for growth and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.
Remaining on the theme of trade and investment, the Ambassador touched upon the issue of TTIP – the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership currently being negotiated between the US and EU. He acknowledged that TTIP remains a thorny issue in many quarters, and that public perceptions of the deal would benefit from improved discussion and greater exposure to neutral information.
At the suggestion of Dr Holzhacker, the Ambassador pledged to send a team from the US Embassy to Groningen in order to provide more information about TTIP to students and interested parties, and promised to continue engaging constructively with opponents of the deal. He remarked that a respectful, two-way dialogue is essential if creative solutions are to be found.
Moving on to what he termed “shared stewardship of the planet”, the Ambassador provided a concise and informative overview of US-Netherlands cooperation on environmental issues. He praised the close collaboration between the countries in combating greenhouse gas emissions, and revealed that US Secretary of State John Kerry will be spending a week in Paris at the forthcoming UN Climate Change Confidence. “Secretary Kerry never spends a week anywhere,” quipped the Ambassador, noting that Mr Kerry’s presence at the talks signifies the Obama Administration’s deep commitment to addressing the issue of climate change.
On matters of peace and security, the Ambassador also commended the strong and enduring relationship between the US and the Netherlands, as well the broader US-EU relationship. The conflict in Ukraine, he said, has highlighted the political stakes of security in Europe – a region to which the US remains fundamentally and irreversibly committed.
On the question of peace and security in Asia, the Ambassador reiterated that the US wants to see a peaceful resolution of the South China Sea dispute. He hailed the success of tough, principled diplomacy in bringing about the Iranian nuclear deal, and added that the US, Netherlands, EU, and NATO are together resolved to promote peace and stability worldwide. The final section of the Ambassador’s speech focused on shared values.
The principles and ideals of the US and the Netherlands are deeply intertwined, he observed, and include an unshakeable shared commitment to democracy, freedom, and human rights. Asked about Guantanamo Bay, the Ambassador reminded guests that the Obama Administration is taking all possible steps to reduce the number of detainees and close the facility. He also noted that despite political challenges, the number of inmates is steadily decreasing. On the subject of Cuba, the Ambassador hailed the recent restoration of US-Cuba ties, and expressed cautious optimism about the future of relations between the two countries.
He ended with a few words on the power of sport, bolstered by anecdotes drawn from his own lifelong affiliation with baseball. Sport is a force for good in the world, he concluded; it connects communities everywhere and unites us in common endeavour.
Photography by Dr Tjalling Halbertsma. 
Sergio Hernández (1957) started studying art when he was 16 years old. He studied at the Academia de San Carlos (1973-1974) and until 1980 he was a student at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado ‘La Esmeralda’. In 1987, he traveled for the first time to Europe and stayed for a while in Paris, where he encountered European avant-garde artists.
In 1988 he returned to Oaxaca, which resulted in a rediscovery of his roots. The reunion with the region where he was born was illustrated in his work through the use of colors, drawings and often a playful way of tackling the subject. From that moment, the artist also began to show a wide variety of techniques and materials, such as oil paint, ink, gouache, aquarelle and engravings, which form part of his oeuvre.
In Europe, Oaxaca de Juárez has been exhibited in Cádiz, Spain; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; Bucharest, Romania; Antwerp, Belgium and Genève, Switzerland.
Oaxaca de Juárez at Pulchri Studio, Lange Voorhout 15, 2514 EA Den Haag
Saturday November 21 from 5 pm.
Sergio Hernández (1957) started studying art when he was 16 years old. He studied at the Academia de San Carlos (1973-1974) and until 1980 he was a student at the Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado ‘La Esmeralda’. In 1987, he traveled for the first time to Europe and stayed for a while in Paris, where he encountered European avant-garde artists.
In 1988 he returned to Oaxaca, which resulted in a rediscovery of his roots. The reunion with the region where he was born was illustrated in his work through the use of colors, drawings and often a playful way of tackling the subject. From that moment, the artist also began to show a wide variety of techniques and materials, such as oil paint, ink, gouache, aquarelle and engravings, which form part of his oeuvre.
In Europe, Oaxaca de Juárez has been exhibited in Cádiz, Spain; Paris, France; Berlin, Germany; Bucharest, Romania; Antwerp, Belgium and Genève, Switzerland.
Oaxaca de Juárez at Pulchri Studio, Lange Voorhout 15, 2514 EA Den Haag
Saturday November 21 from 5 pm.
![moses_mose[1]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/moses_mose1.png?fit=300%2C168&ssl=1)
![moses_mose[1]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/moses_mose1.png?ssl=1)
Het Residentie Orkest, The Hague Philharmonic, is based in The Hague. Henri Viotta founded the orchestra in 1904, and in 2014 it celebrated its 110th anniversary in the presence of H.M King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
The orchestra plays a vital role in major events in the cultural life of the city of The Hague, notably at the annual Prinsjesdag concert, The Hague Africa Festival, and the centenary of the Peace Palace. The orchestra has recently moved from the center of town to the Zuiderstrand Theater, a beautiful location in the dunes of Scheveningen.
During his IWC Lecture, Kieft elaborated on the role of musical conductor, vividly explaining the long road leading to conductorship. Passion, motivation, discipline and thousands of hours of practice are imperative. He also stressed the connection between art and classical music – the primordial role of a philharmonic orchestra conductor. A conductor is a coordinator; he needs to connect.
The principal conductors of the R.O are Jan Willem de Vriend (NL) and Nicholas Collon (UK). Also worth mentioning are the 31,000 students who participate annually in educational projects, and a new initiative has been lunched this year, the Symphonic Senior. There is also a family concert.
Kieft grew up in an artistic family, and studied cello at the Royal Conservatory The Hague. He graduated from the Utrecht Conservatorium and Tangle Wood, USA, and is an alumnus of Leonard Bernstein. Kieft has conducted nearly all the symphony orchestras in the Netherlands, and in the 80’s and 90’s he played an active role in the Dutch Student Orchestra.
Kieft has worked around the world, including East Berlin, France, the USA, and St. Petersburg, Africa and Japan.
Since his appointment as artistic director in 2012, Kieft has successfully navigated the Residentie Orkest out of a difficult period of austerity. Today, the 87-strong Residentie Orkest is a thriving musical power-plant.
Het Residentie Orkest, The Hague Philharmonic, is based in The Hague. Henri Viotta founded the orchestra in 1904, and in 2014 it celebrated its 110th anniversary in the presence of H.M King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.
The orchestra plays a vital role in major events in the cultural life of the city of The Hague, notably at the annual Prinsjesdag concert, The Hague Africa Festival, and the centenary of the Peace Palace. The orchestra has recently moved from the center of town to the Zuiderstrand Theater, a beautiful location in the dunes of Scheveningen.
During his IWC Lecture, Kieft elaborated on the role of musical conductor, vividly explaining the long road leading to conductorship. Passion, motivation, discipline and thousands of hours of practice are imperative. He also stressed the connection between art and classical music – the primordial role of a philharmonic orchestra conductor. A conductor is a coordinator; he needs to connect.
The principal conductors of the R.O are Jan Willem de Vriend (NL) and Nicholas Collon (UK). Also worth mentioning are the 31,000 students who participate annually in educational projects, and a new initiative has been lunched this year, the Symphonic Senior. There is also a family concert.
Kieft grew up in an artistic family, and studied cello at the Royal Conservatory The Hague. He graduated from the Utrecht Conservatorium and Tangle Wood, USA, and is an alumnus of Leonard Bernstein. Kieft has conducted nearly all the symphony orchestras in the Netherlands, and in the 80’s and 90’s he played an active role in the Dutch Student Orchestra.
Kieft has worked around the world, including East Berlin, France, the USA, and St. Petersburg, Africa and Japan.
Since his appointment as artistic director in 2012, Kieft has successfully navigated the Residentie Orkest out of a difficult period of austerity. Today, the 87-strong Residentie Orkest is a thriving musical power-plant.
More than 500 participants attended the BND Plenary Session as well as the subsequent Business Network Cocktail. BND has became a Brazilian flagship event in The Netherlands since its first edition in 2011.
The Embassy is fully committed to continuing organising the BND, searching for new partnerships and allied partners in order to promote high value events, by bringing Brazilian and Dutch speakers together in discussions on current issues, encouraging networking amongst companies and business people interested in Brazil.
Four economy class tickets to Brazil were raffled during the event courtesy of KLM. The next edition is due to be hosted by the Province of North Brabant and the State of Minas Gerais on 29 March 2016 at the Chassé Theater, in Breda.
The Brazil Network Day (BND), is organized twice year (since 2011) by the Embassy of Brazil in The Hague.
For more information: BND: www.brazilnetworkday.nl 
More than 500 participants attended the BND Plenary Session as well as the subsequent Business Network Cocktail. BND has became a Brazilian flagship event in The Netherlands since its first edition in 2011.
The Embassy is fully committed to continuing organising the BND, searching for new partnerships and allied partners in order to promote high value events, by bringing Brazilian and Dutch speakers together in discussions on current issues, encouraging networking amongst companies and business people interested in Brazil.
Four economy class tickets to Brazil were raffled during the event courtesy of KLM. The next edition is due to be hosted by the Province of North Brabant and the State of Minas Gerais on 29 March 2016 at the Chassé Theater, in Breda.
The Brazil Network Day (BND), is organized twice year (since 2011) by the Embassy of Brazil in The Hague.
For more information: BND: www.brazilnetworkday.nl 
“Our two countries have always enjoyed good relations, and the friendship between the Belgian and Thai Royal families has never faded. Friendship is what this year’s event is about, and there is also an important charity aspect to it, which is aimed at raising funds for the construction of Border Patrol Police schools in remote areas of Thailand.”
The exhibition itself was opened on 3 November by HRH Princess Sirindhorn who is fluent in French, and most recently visited Belgium in December 2014 to attend the obsequies of Queen Dowager Fabiola of Belgium. Her last visit to The Netherlands was to attend the investiture of HM King Willem-Alexander together with her brother the Crown Prince.
The same day, HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, Lady Moncada, arrived in Thailand to preside together with HRH Princess Soamsawali the “Thai-Belgian Commemorative Brooches Gala Dinner” at the Plaza Athénée Hotel at Bangkok.
The trip to Thailand for Princess Esmeralda and her husband Sir Salvador Moncada came at the invitation of the Chao Phya Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation created by the Belgian Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, who served as adviser to King Rama V between 1892 and 1901.
For more information:
Thai-Belgian Friendship Year 2015: www.facebook.com/thaibelgianfriendship2015
Thai mission to the EU, Royal Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg, H.E. Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool: www2.thaiembassy.be
Royal Thai Embassy to The Netherlands, Mission to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong: www.thaiembassy.org/hague 
“Our two countries have always enjoyed good relations, and the friendship between the Belgian and Thai Royal families has never faded. Friendship is what this year’s event is about, and there is also an important charity aspect to it, which is aimed at raising funds for the construction of Border Patrol Police schools in remote areas of Thailand.”
The exhibition itself was opened on 3 November by HRH Princess Sirindhorn who is fluent in French, and most recently visited Belgium in December 2014 to attend the obsequies of Queen Dowager Fabiola of Belgium. Her last visit to The Netherlands was to attend the investiture of HM King Willem-Alexander together with her brother the Crown Prince.
The same day, HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, Lady Moncada, arrived in Thailand to preside together with HRH Princess Soamsawali the “Thai-Belgian Commemorative Brooches Gala Dinner” at the Plaza Athénée Hotel at Bangkok.
The trip to Thailand for Princess Esmeralda and her husband Sir Salvador Moncada came at the invitation of the Chao Phya Raja Siammanukulkij Foundation created by the Belgian Gustave Rolin-Jaequemyns, who served as adviser to King Rama V between 1892 and 1901.
For more information:
Thai-Belgian Friendship Year 2015: www.facebook.com/thaibelgianfriendship2015
Thai mission to the EU, Royal Embassy to Belgium and Luxembourg, H.E. Ambassador Nopadol Gunavibool: www2.thaiembassy.be
Royal Thai Embassy to The Netherlands, Mission to the OPCW, H.E. Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong: www.thaiembassy.org/hague