By Ambassador Batjargal Gunaajav, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the OSCE.
Mongolia became the Organization for Security Cooperation (OSCE)’s newest, 57th participating State in November 2012, following eight years in the status of the Organization’s Asian Partner for Cooperation. Within a record short period of two and half years since its ascension Mongolia already faced the task of chairing the Organization’s Forum for Security Cooperation (FSC) in the first trimester of 2015.
In close cooperation and coordination with the OSCE Secretariat and the 2015 Serbian OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office, the Mongolian FSC Chairmanship was able to facilitate vigorous and frank exchange of ideas at the Forum and promote its role to enhance dialogue and cooperation in wide-ranging aspects of common security in the OSCE area and beyond.
Stating that “the security of Europe and Asia are indivisible,” in his opening address of the Mongolian FSC Chairmanship on 20 January 2015 the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia, H.E. Lundeg Purevsuren, outlined the nation’s priorities focusing on the implementation of the decisions related to politico-military aspects of security adopted by the OSCE Ministerial Council in Basel at the end of 2014. These included decisions on small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition, countering terrorism, the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security and enhancing women’s role in conflict prevention.
The key Chairmanship event was the Conference on OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security co-organized with the OSCE Conflict Prevention Center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 10-12 March 2015. The OSCE Code of Conduct, adopted in 1994, is a unique, norm-setting document and hailed as “hidden jewel” of the Organization in advancing confidence and security building among its participating States.
Hosting this conference attended by senior diplomatic and military delegates from fellow participating States in Central Asia and Asian Partners for Cooperation was an honorable duty for Mongolia symbolizing the nation’s contribution in promoting the OSCE values and principles in its adjacent neighborhood.
The Chairmanship coincided with a very dynamic and challenging period in the OSCE region; statements and discussions at the FSC plenary meetings featured intense exchange on facts and clear positions of participating States. The two highlights of the Security Dialogue series under Mongolian Chairmanship were the presentations of their countries’ vision of European security by Mr. Robert Bell, the Senior Defense Advisor to the U.S. Mission to NATO and Ambassador Alexander Grushko, the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to NATO.
During the Chairmanship and beyond, Mongolia strives to make a positive contribution to the Helsinki+40 process, in which participating States are charting the OSCE’s future as it approaches the 40th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Mongolia’s engagement and leadership within the OSCE will continue throughout this year, most notably with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly fall meeting to be held in 16-18 September 2015 in Ulaanbaatar.
By Henry Arvidsson.
Imagine the clapper of hoof’s against cobblestones as your carriage cross the Noord Singelsgracht at Mauritskade. It is 1881 and you are just about to see the biggest spectacle the city of The Hague has to offer. The horses come to a stop at Zeestraat 65 and you disembark the shiny black limousine carriage in front of a roundish industrial looking building with a dome shaped glass roof. Mesmerized you enter and make your way through the crowd and into a dark corridor.
The light at the end of the tunnel comes down through a spiral staircase that appears covered by a canopy of cloth and wood. Then all of a sudden at the top of the stairs you are in the middle of the city transported to the beach at Scheveningen.
There is real sand on the ground around your vantage point. As your eyes look to the sea and in to the land the light shining through the invisible glass roof above change the landscape in front of you. It is just as if you were standing there on top of the tallest of dunes, the Seinpost. Then you realize that it is all a carefully constructed illusion designed to trick your brain. This was the intention of Hendrik Willem Mesdag who painted parts of the panorama in front of you.
Mesdag was born in Groningen 1831. After a sixteen year career in his father’s merchant and banking business his wife Sintje received a substantial inheritance. This allowed Mesdag to pursue his passion of painting full time from 1864. Growing up in the inland he was drawn to the sea and moved to The Hague in 1868. A quick study his painting talent was lauded with a Gold medal at the Paris salon in 1870 which established him as a marine painter in art circles. In 1881 even the master Vincent van Gogh took notice and mentioned a Mesdag water colour (Aquarelle) in a letter to his brother Theo.
In it’s hay-day there were countless panoramas throughout Europe and as the popularity hit a second wave a few businessmen from Brussels saw an economic opportunity, bought the land on Zeestraat and financed the building. Mesdag was commissioned to paint a “Hague maritime Panorama”. Together with six others including his wife Sientje (who is also painted into the panorama) took up pens and brushes in May 1881 to paint the 14.5 metres high and 114.5 metres long canvas in a matter of months.
The panorama opened on 1 August 1881 a day after a competitor located in Bezuidenhout. However after four rocky and loss making years the Zeestraat panorama went bankrupt (as did the competitor a few years later). Mesdag was very upset and as he considered the panorama amongst his major works, he bought it in 1886. However until his death in 1915 it continued to operate at a loss so he used his personal funds to keep it afloat.
Over the years he added the green and red halls which where his mostly maritime paintings hang today. After a multi-year renovation and to commemorate hundred years after Mesdag’s death the doors (or should we say the electronic gates) are now opened to show off much more than sea and sand. Mesdag also painted portraits, designed elaborate party invitations and illustrated books. His wife Sientje herself a very talented artist is also exhibited as are other family members of varying fame in the new hall. The additions to the museum are not just more exhibition space but also an airy café and restaurant available for events and meetings. For those who want to take a piece home the well-stocked gift shop offers a variety of books, posters, cards, apparel and toys.
Now you do not have to go to the beach to see the sea just come to the aptly named Zeestraat to experience the sea and get the taste of salt on your tongue.
For those who want to see what inspired Mesdag the impressive Mesdag art collection is on display at their former residence a few blocks away.
For World Trade Center The Hague it has become a tradition to host the WTC The Hague International Trade & Investment Gala at the end of each year and this year will be no exception. On Friday October 30th, WTC The Hague accentuates the bridging role of the WTC between commerce, government and politics at a regional and international level by bringing together the key people in the international trade and investment sectors during this prestigious event held at the WTC The Hague. For the first time, the gala will directly benefit a charity, namely UNICEF. Each year WTC The Hague also welcomes representatives of other Dutch WTC’s and foreign WTC’s for the gala. Especially for them an afternoon program before the gala is set up, which gives them a chance to get in contact with each other. The World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) is one of the largest trading networks in the world (331 WTC’s all over the world).Every year a country is chosen as a central theme. This theme is reflected in all the culinary elements of the evening, in speeches during dinner and is accentuated by the presence of mutual Ambassadors of the theme country and companies interest in the subject country. This year’s theme is the United States of America. WTC The Hague is delighted that The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) and the American Embassy in The Hague are special partners of the gala. Another special fact is that Mr Timothy Broas the Ambassador of the United States in the Netherlands will be the key note speaker. Apart from the key note speaker, the evening program will feature welcoming remarks by special guests and beautiful performances. Of course special attention will also be given to the charity. During the first WTC The Hague International Trade & Investment Gala the highlighted country was Germany, “Germany, Dutch most important economic partner.” Last year’s theme was Great Britain and underlined the trade relations between the Netherlands and the neighboring country. Alderman Van Engelshoven said during the ceremony: “WTC The Hague is important for the economic growth of The Hague, this is where the international business community comes together and new ideas flourish.”Would you like to participate in this year’s gala and offer you clients a great opportunity to mingle with those that are important in International Business and Investments while enjoying an exquisite dinner with excellent wines, very good company, a compelling keynote speaker and a unique atmosphere? Please visit the website www.wtcthehaguegala.com for all information about the program and attendance.
By Ann Daly.Team Brunel won the last “long leg” of the Volvo Ocean Race (VOR) crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Newport, Rhode Island to Lisbon, a distance of some 2,800 nautical miles, in a tight finish on May 27 following an exhausting ten days at sea. The “Organizing Comité” for the upcoming Volvo Ocean Race Festival The Hague (June 18, 19 and 20) might even be tempted to conclude that the warm wishes of the “home team” celebrating Team Brunels’s departure from Newport on a “big screen” at the official accommodation sponsor for the event, the Worldhotel Bel Air, put enough extra wind in the boat’s sails to put the Dutch team first across the finish line after having left the comforts of land precisely 9 days, 11 hours, 9 minutes and 49 seconds earlier.
The Sunday afternoon, May 17, “Departure Celebration” at the Worldhotel Bel Air was made possible by the generous support of American Chamber of Commerce and the Volvo Ocean Race Festival The Hague.
For a photo-album on this exciting event, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157652061883924 Karin Hazelhoff Roelfzema was among the special guests who watched Team Brunel’s departure from Newport.
The name Hazelhoff Roelzema, may not be well known by some of the international community in The Hague, but, for the Dutch, it is a widely recognized and highly honored name. Her husband, Erik Hazelhoff Roelzema (1910-2007) wrote the book “Soldaat van Oranje” (Soldier of Orange) over his experiences as a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II and his story later inspired a film. Currently, a musical adaptation, by the same name, is being performed in a unique theater near Wassenaar.
Stephen van der Meulen, the hotel’s General Manager, welcomed the invited guests to enjoy a traditional “American” summer picnic menu, described as a “Walking Captain’s Dinner.” A local “American” cheerleading gymnastics squad entertained the guests by performing a Volvo Ocean Race cheer, which had been specially written for the occasion.
Klaas Wiersma, of Klaas Wiersma Media, a sailor and professional water-sports photographer, spoke briefly about what the teams could expect during the trans-Atlantic race to Lisbon and Team Brunel’s race to The Hague. Wiersma’s photography is regularly featured in a number of Dutch water-sports publications such as “Zeilen” and “WaterKampioen.”
Team Brunel’s “On Board” reporter Mark Antony Taminiau, of August & Louis, reported on the crew’s life aboard the ocean racer and some of the dangers, which could be encountered during Leg 7 to Lisbon.
Simone Keijzer, the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Volvo Ocean Race Festival Den Haag, presented the three-day festival program to the group gathered for the occasion. The complete festival program can be viewed here. The festival programs will be held in four areas: the race village, the beach, the harbor are the concert grounds. Day programs will be open to the public. Entrance tickets for the evening concerts can be purchased electronically via the festival website. Use the registration form on the festival’s website or contact a member of the Organizing Comité for information on the various V.I.P. programs which are still available for both individuals and groups.
The biggest water-sports celebrations ever held in The Hague will open in less than two weeks and the Volvo Ocean Race “Pit Stop” and Festival are certain to put The Hague on the map in the world of international water-sports. Be sure to join the city in welcoming all seven teams and, especially, Team Brunel, briefly home to The Hague before embarking on the final run to the race’s finish in Gothenburg.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
To welcome the new Head of Mission appointed to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Diplomat Magazine, in collaboration with the Residentie Orkest, entertained on May 8th the newly accredited Ambassadors and spouses at a magnificent concert. The Residentie Orkest is The Hague’s most renowned Philharmonic Orchestra.
This special occasion was hosted by Diplomat Magazine in conjunction with the Residentie Orkest at Dr Anton Philipszaal / Lucent Danstheater.
The Hague Philharmonic played Weber and Schubert.-Jérémie Rhorer, conductor-Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano-Leo Samama, narrator
On the picture, Ambassador Dr. Christoph Israng and OPCW Director General H. E. Ahmet Üzümcü.By Ambassador Dr Christoph Israng, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OPCW.
One hundred years ago in World War I, the German military command broke a taboo by ordering the first use of chemical weapons on a large scale near Ypres, Belgium. Unfortunately, other states followed this bad example not only in World War I, not only in Europe. In total, chemical weapons have killed far more than 100,000 soldiers and civilians in the past century, while more than 1 million people have been severely harmed by these terrible weapons.
After 1945, immense stockpiles of chemical weapons were built up. Many still remember the tragic use of chemical weapons in the Middle East in the 1980s that claimed thousands of victims. With the end of the Cold War, the window of opportunity was finally open to reach an international agreement on banning chemical weapons all over the world. The Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) that entered into force in 1997 was the right answer. It is administered by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
The parties’ main obligation under the convention is to prohibit the use and production of chemical weapons, as well as the destruction of all existing chemical weapons. Since the entering into force, 90 % of the declared 70,000 tonnes of chemical weapons have been destroyed – an incredibly large amount given that just one drop of Sarin would be enough to kill an adult. The CWC is indeed a success story. In fact, one could argue that the CWC is the most successful disarmament treaty in history as it has almost universal validity. 190 states have joined the convention so far. Moreover, it is backed by international verification.
Ambassador Dr. Christoph Israng (center) with OPCW inspectors, officers of the German Armed Forces and GEKA staff at the GEKA Facility in Munster / Germany, where more than 333 MT of Syrian Sulfur Mustard effluent were destroyed.
For the Federal Republic of Germany, disarmament and non-proliferation have always been a top foreign policy priority. That is why Germany actively contributes to the CWC. This is not only shown by the existence of a separate Permanent Representation, which is one of the very few diplomatic missions in The Hague dealing exclusively with the OPCW. Here are just a few further examples of our contributions: Germany provided Russia with four industrial-size plants to destroy their chemical weapons in the last decade amounting to EUR 400 million. It is also contributing to several projects in the Near and Middle East. In addition, Germany engaged in the commemoration of Ypres by hosting a scientific conference and contributing to an exhibition at the OPCW. Furthermore, Germany has initiated the establishment of ethical guidelines for chemists, comparable with the Hippocratic Oath.
Although almost all countries in the world have subscribed to the ban of chemical weapons, their threat is still present. Clearly, the fact that Syria joined the CWC in 2013 and was subsequently obliged to dismantle its chemical weapons programme is a success. However, there have been ongoing reports that chemicals such as chlorine are still used as chemical weapons, killing and injuring mainly innocent civilians. Even though chlorine is a common industrial chemical, its use as a weapon is banned under the CWC and absolutely unacceptable. It is essential that the use of these chemicals is investigated and the culprits held accountable for their actions.
The Federal Republic of Germany contributed to the joint efforts of the OPCW family to end the threat posed by the Syrian chemical weapons programme by destroying more than 333 tonnes of residual products of mustard gas hydrolysate at GEKA in Munster, Germany. This operation was successfully completed in April 2015. Moreover, the German Armed Forces have run several safety training courses for OPCW inspectors. Germany has financed two projects to improve the protection and the treatment of civilian chemical weapons victims in Syria. Germany also contributed EUR 5 million to the OPCW Trust Fund to destroy the rest of Syria’s declared chemical weapons.
With our contributions to a world free of chemical weapons, we are endeavouring to face up to our historical responsibility. Even if this has been a long and stony road, we are optimistic that we will achieve our aim and ban the threat of chemical weapons in this world once and for all. Further challenges remain, such as non-state actors and incapacitating agents. Therefore, we strongly endorse the efforts of the OPCW’s Director General Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü to advance the discussion on the organisation’s future. Germany will play an active role in this discussion.
By His Excellency Lambert Grijns – Ambassador for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and HIV/AIDS at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Would you have ever guessed that a Ministry of Foreign Affairs works on issues such as maternal mortality and sexuality education? I certainly did not when I applied for diplomatic service.
But whilst working as a diplomat in different countries in Asia, Sub-Sahara Africa and Latin America I came to understand how important it is that people, especially adolescents, can make informed decisions and have access to services when it comes to love, (sexual) relationships and pregnancy. So when I was asked to become the Ambassador for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and HIV/AIDS in 2013 I did not hesitate for a second.
In our Dutch SRHR policy we focus on youth, on access to information, commodities and services as well as the promotion of rights (including for sexual minorities). In order to progress on these four goals we work with a variety of different actors; multilateral organizations, governments, civil-society organizations, companies and faith-based organizations.
I think in this work it is crucial to recognize that there is no right or wrong. As a diplomat, I learned that to work effectively with others you have to be able to listen, to find a common language and to treat diverging views with respect. And to share what you are proud of: in my case the Dutch experiences with SRHR, resulting in one of the lowest rates of teenage pregnancies and abortions in the world.
Another success I would like to share with you is about the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam in 2018. The Netherlands won the bid for this great event, which will bring more than 20,000 people to the Netherlands to discuss the future of the AIDS epidemic, including world leaders, pop stars and VIPs. We need their, and our, prominent and collective attention to keep HIV/AIDS high on the international agenda. The conference is a platform and an instrument. It cements our political commitment to women and girls in Southern Africa, who are especially vulnerable to HIV. The same applies to the status of key populations, such as sexual minorities, who primarily live in middle-income countries.
The vulnerability of young girls and key populations has been on the Dutch agenda for some time. Most recently, during a high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS on April 9th, here in The Hague. Minister Ploumen for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation discussed strategy with UNAIDS, the Global Fund to fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Aids Funds, a prominent Dutch civil-society organization. Conclusions at the end of the day were ambivalent. Positive in the respect that the number of deaths has been greatly reduced, thanks to medication, education, testing and condom use. But also worrisome: still, every hour 30 people are newly infected with HIV, particularly teenage girls.
Even in the Netherlands we see 1100 new cases of HIV every year. And some countries, for example in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, even face an increase in new infections, especially among key populations. Worldwide, adolescents are the only group amongst whom AIDS-related deaths are not declining and just one in four infected children and adolescents under the age of 15 years has access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment.
That is why it is so important that HIV/AIDS is kept high on the international agenda. If we want to bring a halt to new infections, we need strong political will and to work on a number of fronts simultaneously: treatment, care and prevention. This means making ARTs as affordable and widely available as possible and maintaining proper care for the people who have contracted HIV. But just as importantly, we should keep working on prevention. We cannot accept that people, especially young people, get sick- only to start treating them later in life.
So yes, there is still so much to be done. I invite all of you to join us at AIDS2018 in Amsterdam and see how we can move forward further, together. And to join us in our work as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
First vice-president Karl-Heinz Lambertz leads the CoR delegation at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga.
The Heads of State and Government of 28 EU Member States and six Eastern Partnership countries gather at the fourth Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga this week. The participation of local and regional levels of government will be assured by the Conference of the Regional and Local Authorities for the Eastern Partnership (CORLEAP), represented by Karl-Heinz Lambertz, first vice-president of the European Committee of the Regions, and Emin Yeritsyan, co-chair of CORLEAP.
Enhancing cooperation with the Eastern Partnership countries to promote stability and development in the EU’s neighbourhood is among the priorities of the current Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU, and this week’s summit is set to reaffirm the strategic importance of the Eastern Partnership as part of European Neighbourhood Policy. Following the guidelines established at the previous EaP summit in Vilnius in 2013, it should also recall the significant role of multi-level governance, local democracy and public participation in pursuing the goals of the Eastern Partnership. “In Riga we will confirm the contribution of regional and local authorities to building positive partnerships and fruitful territorial cooperation, including cross-border and macro-regional projects. Reforms to promote administrative and financial decentralisation and consequent capacity building measures must be assured in the future of the Eastern Partnership”, said CoR first vice-president Karl-Heinz Lambertz.
In the recommendations for the Heads of State and Government, adopted at the CORLEAP annual meeting in April, local and regional leaders call for the scope of the Local Administration Facility (LAF) to be extended to the Eastern Neighbourhood, in order to facilitate the exchange of best practice in decentralisation reforms, capacity building and institutional efficiency. Ahead of the meeting, Emin Yeritsyan, president of the Union of Communities of Armenia, stated: “We are encouraging a multi-stakeholder approach to local and regional development in the Eastern Partnership countries, based on close cooperation between local and regional authorities, civil society organisations and citizens. Specific programmes should provide direct and accessible support for local and regional authorities in partner countries.”
CORLEAP was established by the Committee of the Regions in 2011 to bring a local and regional dimension to the EU’s cooperation with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. CORLEAP has 36 members; 18 representing the EU and 18 representing the partner countries.
The Committee of the Regions
The European Committee of the Regions is the EU’s assembly of regional and local representatives from all 28 Member States. Created in 1994 following the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, its mission is to involve regional and local authorities in the EU’s decision-making process and to inform them about EU policies. The European Parliament, the Council and the European Commission consult the Committee in policy areas affecting regions and cities. To sit on the Committee of the Regions, all of its 350 members and 350 alternates must either hold an electoral mandate or be politically accountable to an elected assembly in their home regions and cities.
By Baron Henri Estramant.Emiri Decree no. 25 of 2015 issued by His Highness The Emir of Qatar set forth the appointment of Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Mannai as President of the “Communications Regulatory Authority” (CRA). Mr Al Mannai was previously the CEO of Qatar National Broadband Network (QNBN). Under his leadership, it made progress towards the roll-out of its high-speed, fibre optic broadband infrastructure. Mohammed Al Mannai also served as senior director for the network rollout at Oordeoo (formerly Qtel), and was responsible for the design and implementation of both fixed and wireless networks. Since 2010, Mr Al Mannai has also served on the board of the Al Jazeera Network. As president, Al Mannai will be responsible for leading all technical, financial and administrative affairs of the CRA, established last year to regulate the communications and postal sectors, as well as access to digital media, a statement from the CRA wrote. Al Mannai’s immediate focus will be to engage with the service providers and stakeholders to develop initiatives to ensure that competition in the market is on a level playing field, it was added.For more information:
Presentation of Hungarian wines at the Hungarian Embassy in The Hague by ten Dutch importers of Hungarian wine
On 1 June 2015, the Embassy of Hungary in The Hague organized, together with ten Dutch wine importers, a Hungarian wine tasting. The Dutch importers presented over 100 different wines and offered these to the Dutch experts, such as journalists, wine retailers, purchasers of restaurants and hotels. The number of participants reached over 150. Next to widely produced grape varieties, the visitors of the presentation of wines were also able to taste varieties only produced in Hungary. In the evening, the diplomatic community, among who many ambassadors, and other dignitaries enjoyed the Hungarian wines during a special wine-tasting reception. The former Dutch Minister of Defence, Mr Van Eekelen, was present as well and won a bottle of Hungarian wine in the lottery.
‘Tradition, quality and unique character’ That is how the wines that were presented can be described. The Embassy emphasized that Hungary has a long tradition of producing wine with an outstanding quality. This was already acknowledged by Louis XIV of France who has called the Tokaji Aszú: ‘Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum – Wine of Kings, King of Wines’. The unique character of Hungarian wines is an effect of the six big wine regions of Hungary, each with a different microclimate resulting in different tastes and styles.
The Ambassador of Hungary in the Netherlands, H.E. Ms Orsolya Szijjártó, sincerely thanked the Dutch importers for their participation and contribution and expressed her hope that, by facilitating this presentation of Hungarian wines, further impetus to the trade relations between Hungary and the Netherlands can be given and new gastronomic business opportunities can be created. The Ambassador stated that by further increasing knowledge about Hungarian wines in the Netherlands, through events like these, these numbers can go up.
The participating Dutch importers were: 4-Trading, Bon Importer , Imperial Wijnkoperij, Lekkers uit Hongarije (LUH), Le Vin en Direct, Miranda Beems Wine Import, Sauter Wijnen, Schouten Wijn en Gedestilleerd Import , Uw Wijn op Tafel, Wijnhuis Kastelein.
There is real sand on the ground around your vantage point. As your eyes look to the sea and in to the land the light shining through the invisible glass roof above change the landscape in front of you. It is just as if you were standing there on top of the tallest of dunes, the Seinpost. Then you realize that it is all a carefully constructed illusion designed to trick your brain. This was the intention of Hendrik Willem Mesdag who painted parts of the panorama in front of you.
Mesdag was born in Groningen 1831. After a sixteen year career in his father’s merchant and banking business his wife Sintje received a substantial inheritance. This allowed Mesdag to pursue his passion of painting full time from 1864. Growing up in the inland he was drawn to the sea and moved to The Hague in 1868. A quick study his painting talent was lauded with a Gold medal at the Paris salon in 1870 which established him as a marine painter in art circles. In 1881 even the master Vincent van Gogh took notice and mentioned a Mesdag water colour (Aquarelle) in a letter to his brother Theo.
In it’s hay-day there were countless panoramas throughout Europe and as the popularity hit a second wave a few businessmen from Brussels saw an economic opportunity, bought the land on Zeestraat and financed the building. Mesdag was commissioned to paint a “Hague maritime Panorama”. Together with six others including his wife Sientje (who is also painted into the panorama) took up pens and brushes in May 1881 to paint the 14.5 metres high and 114.5 metres long canvas in a matter of months.
The panorama opened on 1 August 1881 a day after a competitor located in Bezuidenhout. However after four rocky and loss making years the Zeestraat panorama went bankrupt (as did the competitor a few years later). Mesdag was very upset and as he considered the panorama amongst his major works, he bought it in 1886. However until his death in 1915 it continued to operate at a loss so he used his personal funds to keep it afloat.
Over the years he added the green and red halls which where his mostly maritime paintings hang today. After a multi-year renovation and to commemorate hundred years after Mesdag’s death the doors (or should we say the electronic gates) are now opened to show off much more than sea and sand. Mesdag also painted portraits, designed elaborate party invitations and illustrated books. His wife Sientje herself a very talented artist is also exhibited as are other family members of varying fame in the new hall. The additions to the museum are not just more exhibition space but also an airy café and restaurant available for events and meetings. For those who want to take a piece home the well-stocked gift shop offers a variety of books, posters, cards, apparel and toys.
Now you do not have to go to the beach to see the sea just come to the aptly named Zeestraat to experience the sea and get the taste of salt on your tongue.
For those who want to see what inspired Mesdag the impressive Mesdag art collection is on display at their former residence a few blocks away. 
There is real sand on the ground around your vantage point. As your eyes look to the sea and in to the land the light shining through the invisible glass roof above change the landscape in front of you. It is just as if you were standing there on top of the tallest of dunes, the Seinpost. Then you realize that it is all a carefully constructed illusion designed to trick your brain. This was the intention of Hendrik Willem Mesdag who painted parts of the panorama in front of you.
Mesdag was born in Groningen 1831. After a sixteen year career in his father’s merchant and banking business his wife Sintje received a substantial inheritance. This allowed Mesdag to pursue his passion of painting full time from 1864. Growing up in the inland he was drawn to the sea and moved to The Hague in 1868. A quick study his painting talent was lauded with a Gold medal at the Paris salon in 1870 which established him as a marine painter in art circles. In 1881 even the master Vincent van Gogh took notice and mentioned a Mesdag water colour (Aquarelle) in a letter to his brother Theo.
In it’s hay-day there were countless panoramas throughout Europe and as the popularity hit a second wave a few businessmen from Brussels saw an economic opportunity, bought the land on Zeestraat and financed the building. Mesdag was commissioned to paint a “Hague maritime Panorama”. Together with six others including his wife Sientje (who is also painted into the panorama) took up pens and brushes in May 1881 to paint the 14.5 metres high and 114.5 metres long canvas in a matter of months.
The panorama opened on 1 August 1881 a day after a competitor located in Bezuidenhout. However after four rocky and loss making years the Zeestraat panorama went bankrupt (as did the competitor a few years later). Mesdag was very upset and as he considered the panorama amongst his major works, he bought it in 1886. However until his death in 1915 it continued to operate at a loss so he used his personal funds to keep it afloat.
Over the years he added the green and red halls which where his mostly maritime paintings hang today. After a multi-year renovation and to commemorate hundred years after Mesdag’s death the doors (or should we say the electronic gates) are now opened to show off much more than sea and sand. Mesdag also painted portraits, designed elaborate party invitations and illustrated books. His wife Sientje herself a very talented artist is also exhibited as are other family members of varying fame in the new hall. The additions to the museum are not just more exhibition space but also an airy café and restaurant available for events and meetings. For those who want to take a piece home the well-stocked gift shop offers a variety of books, posters, cards, apparel and toys.
Now you do not have to go to the beach to see the sea just come to the aptly named Zeestraat to experience the sea and get the taste of salt on your tongue.
For those who want to see what inspired Mesdag the impressive Mesdag art collection is on display at their former residence a few blocks away. 
During the first WTC The Hague International Trade & Investment Gala the highlighted country was Germany, “Germany, Dutch most important economic partner.” Last year’s theme was Great Britain and underlined the trade relations between the Netherlands and the neighboring country. Alderman Van Engelshoven said during the ceremony: “WTC The Hague is important for the economic growth of The Hague, this is where the international business community comes together and new ideas flourish.”
Would you like to participate in this year’s gala and offer you clients a great opportunity to mingle with those that are important in International Business and Investments while enjoying an exquisite dinner with excellent wines, very good company, a compelling keynote speaker and a unique atmosphere? Please visit the website www.wtcthehaguegala.com for all information about the program and attendance.
During the first WTC The Hague International Trade & Investment Gala the highlighted country was Germany, “Germany, Dutch most important economic partner.” Last year’s theme was Great Britain and underlined the trade relations between the Netherlands and the neighboring country. Alderman Van Engelshoven said during the ceremony: “WTC The Hague is important for the economic growth of The Hague, this is where the international business community comes together and new ideas flourish.”
Would you like to participate in this year’s gala and offer you clients a great opportunity to mingle with those that are important in International Business and Investments while enjoying an exquisite dinner with excellent wines, very good company, a compelling keynote speaker and a unique atmosphere? Please visit the website www.wtcthehaguegala.com for all information about the program and attendance.
Karin Hazelhoff Roelfzema was among the special guests who watched Team Brunel’s departure from Newport.
The name Hazelhoff Roelzema, may not be well known by some of the international community in The Hague, but, for the Dutch, it is a widely recognized and highly honored name. Her husband, Erik Hazelhoff Roelzema (1910-2007) wrote the book “Soldaat van Oranje” (Soldier of Orange) over his experiences as a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II and his story later inspired a film. Currently, a musical adaptation, by the same name, is being performed in a unique theater near Wassenaar.
Stephen van der Meulen, the hotel’s General Manager, welcomed the invited guests to enjoy a traditional “American” summer picnic menu, described as a “Walking Captain’s Dinner.” A local “American” cheerleading gymnastics squad entertained the guests by performing a Volvo Ocean Race cheer, which had been specially written for the occasion.
Klaas Wiersma, of Klaas Wiersma Media, a sailor and professional water-sports photographer, spoke briefly about what the teams could expect during the trans-Atlantic race to Lisbon and Team Brunel’s race to The Hague. Wiersma’s photography is regularly featured in a number of Dutch water-sports publications such as “Zeilen” and “WaterKampioen.”
Team Brunel’s “On Board” reporter Mark Antony Taminiau, of August & Louis, reported on the crew’s life aboard the ocean racer and some of the dangers, which could be encountered during Leg 7 to Lisbon.
Simone Keijzer, the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Volvo Ocean Race Festival Den Haag, presented the three-day festival program to the group gathered for the occasion. The complete festival program can be viewed here. The festival programs will be held in four areas: the race village, the beach, the harbor are the concert grounds. Day programs will be open to the public. Entrance tickets for the evening concerts can be purchased electronically via the festival website. Use the registration form on the festival’s website or contact a member of the Organizing Comité for information on the various V.I.P. programs which are still available for both individuals and groups.
The biggest water-sports celebrations ever held in The Hague will open in less than two weeks and the Volvo Ocean Race “Pit Stop” and Festival are certain to put The Hague on the map in the world of international water-sports. Be sure to join the city in welcoming all seven teams and, especially, Team Brunel, briefly home to The Hague before embarking on the final run to the race’s finish in Gothenburg.
Karin Hazelhoff Roelfzema was among the special guests who watched Team Brunel’s departure from Newport.
The name Hazelhoff Roelzema, may not be well known by some of the international community in The Hague, but, for the Dutch, it is a widely recognized and highly honored name. Her husband, Erik Hazelhoff Roelzema (1910-2007) wrote the book “Soldaat van Oranje” (Soldier of Orange) over his experiences as a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II and his story later inspired a film. Currently, a musical adaptation, by the same name, is being performed in a unique theater near Wassenaar.
Stephen van der Meulen, the hotel’s General Manager, welcomed the invited guests to enjoy a traditional “American” summer picnic menu, described as a “Walking Captain’s Dinner.” A local “American” cheerleading gymnastics squad entertained the guests by performing a Volvo Ocean Race cheer, which had been specially written for the occasion.
Klaas Wiersma, of Klaas Wiersma Media, a sailor and professional water-sports photographer, spoke briefly about what the teams could expect during the trans-Atlantic race to Lisbon and Team Brunel’s race to The Hague. Wiersma’s photography is regularly featured in a number of Dutch water-sports publications such as “Zeilen” and “WaterKampioen.”
Team Brunel’s “On Board” reporter Mark Antony Taminiau, of August & Louis, reported on the crew’s life aboard the ocean racer and some of the dangers, which could be encountered during Leg 7 to Lisbon.
Simone Keijzer, the Marketing and Communications Manager for the Volvo Ocean Race Festival Den Haag, presented the three-day festival program to the group gathered for the occasion. The complete festival program can be viewed here. The festival programs will be held in four areas: the race village, the beach, the harbor are the concert grounds. Day programs will be open to the public. Entrance tickets for the evening concerts can be purchased electronically via the festival website. Use the registration form on the festival’s website or contact a member of the Organizing Comité for information on the various V.I.P. programs which are still available for both individuals and groups.
The biggest water-sports celebrations ever held in The Hague will open in less than two weeks and the Volvo Ocean Race “Pit Stop” and Festival are certain to put The Hague on the map in the world of international water-sports. Be sure to join the city in welcoming all seven teams and, especially, Team Brunel, briefly home to The Hague before embarking on the final run to the race’s finish in Gothenburg.
This special occasion was hosted by Diplomat Magazine in conjunction with the Residentie Orkest at Dr Anton Philipszaal / Lucent Danstheater.
The Hague Philharmonic played Weber and Schubert.
-Jérémie Rhorer, conductor
-Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano
-Leo Samama, narrator 
This special occasion was hosted by Diplomat Magazine in conjunction with the Residentie Orkest at Dr Anton Philipszaal / Lucent Danstheater.
The Hague Philharmonic played Weber and Schubert.
-Jérémie Rhorer, conductor
-Christianne Stotijn, mezzo-soprano
-Leo Samama, narrator 
‘Tradition, quality and unique character’ That is how the wines that were presented can be described. The Embassy emphasized that Hungary has a long tradition of producing wine with an outstanding quality. This was already acknowledged by Louis XIV of France who has called the Tokaji Aszú: ‘Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum – Wine of Kings, King of Wines’. The unique character of Hungarian wines is an effect of the six big wine regions of Hungary, each with a different microclimate resulting in different tastes and styles.
The Ambassador of Hungary in the Netherlands, H.E. Ms Orsolya Szijjártó, sincerely thanked the Dutch importers for their participation and contribution and expressed her hope that, by facilitating this presentation of Hungarian wines, further impetus to the trade relations between Hungary and the Netherlands can be given and new gastronomic business opportunities can be created. The Ambassador stated that by further increasing knowledge about Hungarian wines in the Netherlands, through events like these, these numbers can go up.
The participating Dutch importers were: 4-Trading, Bon Importer , Imperial Wijnkoperij, Lekkers uit Hongarije (LUH), Le Vin en Direct, Miranda Beems Wine Import, Sauter Wijnen, Schouten Wijn en Gedestilleerd Import , Uw Wijn op Tafel, Wijnhuis Kastelein.
‘Tradition, quality and unique character’ That is how the wines that were presented can be described. The Embassy emphasized that Hungary has a long tradition of producing wine with an outstanding quality. This was already acknowledged by Louis XIV of France who has called the Tokaji Aszú: ‘Vinum Regum, Rex Vinorum – Wine of Kings, King of Wines’. The unique character of Hungarian wines is an effect of the six big wine regions of Hungary, each with a different microclimate resulting in different tastes and styles.
The Ambassador of Hungary in the Netherlands, H.E. Ms Orsolya Szijjártó, sincerely thanked the Dutch importers for their participation and contribution and expressed her hope that, by facilitating this presentation of Hungarian wines, further impetus to the trade relations between Hungary and the Netherlands can be given and new gastronomic business opportunities can be created. The Ambassador stated that by further increasing knowledge about Hungarian wines in the Netherlands, through events like these, these numbers can go up.
The participating Dutch importers were: 4-Trading, Bon Importer , Imperial Wijnkoperij, Lekkers uit Hongarije (LUH), Le Vin en Direct, Miranda Beems Wine Import, Sauter Wijnen, Schouten Wijn en Gedestilleerd Import , Uw Wijn op Tafel, Wijnhuis Kastelein.