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 International Women’s Contact to Host Hungarian Country MorningUnder the auspices of Her Excellency the Ambassador of Hungary, Ms Orsolya Szijjártó, the International Women’s Contact The Hague is organizing a Hungarian Country Morning on Monday, 23 November 2015, from 10.00-12.00 . a. m. at Worldhotel Bel Air, Johan de Wittlaan 30, The Hague.The International Women’s Contact, an international association under the patronage of the spouse of the mayor of The Hague, provides opportunities for expat women in the Netherlands to learn about other cultures and to build friendship. The club is non-political, non-religious and non-commercial. Current President, is Drs. Barbara Couwenbergh. Besides the monthly meetings and several activities for interest groups, the IWC hosts every year a country morning, in cooperation with the related embassy.Hungarian music, by Katalin Kovács, mezzo soprano and József Barkaszi, guitar, and dances in traditional dress, will entertain the guests, who can taste Hungarian cuisine and wine, while learning about the country.For further information please contact: Public Relations IWC: iwcthehaguepr@gmail.com
By Elizabeth Naumczyk.
A Romanian Coffee Morning was hosted by the Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, HE Mrs Ireny Comaroschi, for members of the International Women’s Contact The Hague. The event was held on Friday 13 November, 2015 between 10:00-12:00 at the Embassy of Romania, in The Hague.
The event was introduced by the Ambassador who first paid homage to the victims of the Bucharest nightclub fire of October, 30 and the reason for the flowers and candles outside the Embassy. She then explained that today’s coffee morning included a demonstration in the art of preparing sour dough bread, Romanian sweets as well as soap. It shows how Romanian women think about and are connected to food and soap. They put their soul into what they make and we can do likewise to connect more to the people in our lives.
For a picture album on the Romanian Coffee event, please click here:https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157660420224469Mrs Lavinia Tănase showed us how to make sour dough bread using preferably spelt and biological flour.
The sourdough starter, flour and water are the key and the recipe requires five steps of kneading, stretching and folding before it is baked. According to Lavinia, this is the soul of bread and the simplicity of life. Different ingredients can be added to the bread such as flaxseeds, cheese, pesto, dried garlic or tomatoes, kalamata olives only, beetroot with two green onions.
Mrs Ioana Voiculescu explained how to make sugar free Raw Vegan Raspberry and White Chocolate Cake. Using honey is optional. Raw means not cooked above 42 degrees. Vegan is without milk, is gluten free, lentils free and not related to animals.
Her recipe includes a crushed nut and raisin base, with a topping of raw food-grade cacao butter cooked at the correct temperature with raw dried raspberry power added. The cake can be decorated with dried coconut, lavender (fresh or dried), rose petals, dried chicory flower (using only the dried petals) dried strawberries and cacao nibs and so on.
Additionally, Mrs Patricia Radu, showed the cold process of making organic soap which involved a simple chemical reaction between caustic soda, water and fats. Once the process of saponification is over (up to 48 hours), the fats together with the caustic soda disappear. The advantage of making your own soap is that you can use plant-based oils, such as olive oil, cocoa oil, soya oil, as opposed to high animal fats and petroleum. Also no perfumes, flavours or synthetic dyes are being used in the preparation. The entire drying process takes up to 4 weeks before you can start using it.
The event was a success with the Embassy residence packed with women who enjoyed tasting the different sour dough breads with dips of grilled eggplant (Salata de Vinete) and another called Zacuscă (a grilled red pepper and eggplant spread). Gifts could also be purchased of sweets and soap. Recipes were on hand to take home.
A Romanian Coffee Morning was hosted by the Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mrs. Ireny Comaroschi, for members of the International Women’s Contact The Hague. The event was held on Friday 13 November, 2015 between 10:00 – 12:00 at the Embassy of Romania, in The Hague.
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 
Mrs Lavinia Tănase showed us how to make sour dough bread using preferably spelt and biological flour.
The sourdough starter, flour and water are the key and the recipe requires five steps of kneading, stretching and folding before it is baked. According to Lavinia, this is the soul of bread and the simplicity of life. Different ingredients can be added to the bread such as flaxseeds, cheese, pesto, dried garlic or tomatoes, kalamata olives only, beetroot with two green onions.
Mrs Ioana Voiculescu explained how to make sugar free Raw Vegan Raspberry and White Chocolate Cake. Using honey is optional. Raw means not cooked above 42 degrees. Vegan is without milk, is gluten free, lentils free and not related to animals.
Her recipe includes a crushed nut and raisin base, with a topping of raw food-grade cacao butter cooked at the correct temperature with raw dried raspberry power added. The cake can be decorated with dried coconut, lavender (fresh or dried), rose petals, dried chicory flower (using only the dried petals) dried strawberries and cacao nibs and so on.
Additionally, Mrs Patricia Radu, showed the cold process of making organic soap which involved a simple chemical reaction between caustic soda, water and fats. Once the process of saponification is over (up to 48 hours), the fats together with the caustic soda disappear. The advantage of making your own soap is that you can use plant-based oils, such as olive oil, cocoa oil, soya oil, as opposed to high animal fats and petroleum. Also no perfumes, flavours or synthetic dyes are being used in the preparation. The entire drying process takes up to 4 weeks before you can start using it.
The event was a success with the Embassy residence packed with women who enjoyed tasting the different sour dough breads with dips of grilled eggplant (Salata de Vinete) and another called Zacuscă (a grilled red pepper and eggplant spread). Gifts could also be purchased of sweets and soap. Recipes were on hand to take home.
A Romanian Coffee Morning was hosted by the Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mrs. Ireny Comaroschi, for members of the International Women’s Contact The Hague. The event was held on Friday 13 November, 2015 between 10:00 – 12:00 at the Embassy of Romania, in The Hague.
Mrs Lavinia Tănase showed us how to make sour dough bread using preferably spelt and biological flour.
The sourdough starter, flour and water are the key and the recipe requires five steps of kneading, stretching and folding before it is baked. According to Lavinia, this is the soul of bread and the simplicity of life. Different ingredients can be added to the bread such as flaxseeds, cheese, pesto, dried garlic or tomatoes, kalamata olives only, beetroot with two green onions.
Mrs Ioana Voiculescu explained how to make sugar free Raw Vegan Raspberry and White Chocolate Cake. Using honey is optional. Raw means not cooked above 42 degrees. Vegan is without milk, is gluten free, lentils free and not related to animals.
Her recipe includes a crushed nut and raisin base, with a topping of raw food-grade cacao butter cooked at the correct temperature with raw dried raspberry power added. The cake can be decorated with dried coconut, lavender (fresh or dried), rose petals, dried chicory flower (using only the dried petals) dried strawberries and cacao nibs and so on.
Additionally, Mrs Patricia Radu, showed the cold process of making organic soap which involved a simple chemical reaction between caustic soda, water and fats. Once the process of saponification is over (up to 48 hours), the fats together with the caustic soda disappear. The advantage of making your own soap is that you can use plant-based oils, such as olive oil, cocoa oil, soya oil, as opposed to high animal fats and petroleum. Also no perfumes, flavours or synthetic dyes are being used in the preparation. The entire drying process takes up to 4 weeks before you can start using it.
The event was a success with the Embassy residence packed with women who enjoyed tasting the different sour dough breads with dips of grilled eggplant (Salata de Vinete) and another called Zacuscă (a grilled red pepper and eggplant spread). Gifts could also be purchased of sweets and soap. Recipes were on hand to take home.
A Romanian Coffee Morning was hosted by the Ambassador of Romania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mrs. Ireny Comaroschi, for members of the International Women’s Contact The Hague. The event was held on Friday 13 November, 2015 between 10:00 – 12:00 at the Embassy of Romania, in The Hague.
