Le Club de Droit International is born
Le Club de Droit International (Le Club) was launched on Tuesday 21 January at the Embassy of Germany situated at at Groot Hertoginnelaan 18-20 in The Hague. The first speaker was H.E. Mr. Peter Tomka, President of the International Court of Justice.
The aim of Le Club is to provide an informal forum for discussion to the benefit of diplomats in charge of the legal affairs of the Embassies represented in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as to promote an understanding of international law in a city that has become “the legal Capital of the World”, through active and dynamic meetings between diplomats and the broader legal community.
We took the initiative to launch Le Club because we consider that there is an interest in having a forum for informal discussions on legal topics of relevance to the work of diplomats in charge of the legal affairs.
Contact: leclubdedroit@gmail.com
Mr. Klaus Keller
Embassy of the Federal
Republic of Germany
Ms. Thanisa Naidu
Embassy of the Republic of South Africa
Mr. Sasa Obradovic
Embassy of the Republic of Serbia
Mr. Edgardo Sobenes
Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua
BID 2014: John Fentener van Vlissingen calls for changes
For photo album of this magnificent event click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/
• Links between the government, the private sector, education and the public stronger than ever
• International business opportunities and local inspiration
• Launch of BIDNEX
• Award winners announced
• Record number of 796 visitors
The Hague, 22 January 2014 – The seventh edition of ‘Big Improvement Day’ was held yesterday
at the RAI in Amsterdam. In addition to Dutch business leaders, seven Ministries took part in BID
2014. Under the leadership of Mark Frequin, Director General of Housing and Construction at the
Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, many innovative initiatives and special issues were
presented to the private sector, showing the government’s enterprising side. Leading entrepreneur John
Fentener van Vlissingen then challenged the government with a ten-point plan with which he called
for a number of substantial corrections to our current political system.
John Fentener van Vlissingen: ‘How do we make the Netherlands workable again?’
As presented at BID 2014
Ten-point plan
1. Set the election threshold at 5% of the votes.
2. Admit new political parties with 1 seat if they win the required number of votes but do not
attain the 5% election threshold.
3. After 4 years in Parliament, a new party also has to attain the election threshold of a minimum
of 5%.
4. Reduce the number of election districts to 6. This will increase the local involvement of
people’s representatives.
5. MPs must live in the districts in which they are elected.
6. The Senate should lose the right to reject a Bill.
7. The Senate should be given the right to alter a Bill.
8. The Lower House will then adopt or reject the Bill in a second round.
9. Reduce the number of seats in the Senate from 75 to 50.
10. Reduce the number of seats in the Lower House from 150 to 100. 
Worldhotel Bel Air hosting violin competition
By Marjolein Sosef – Van den Berg
Marketing Executive, Worldhotel Bel Air The Hague.
Discover new violin talent at Iordens Violin Competition.
The Dutch Iordens Violin Competition is thé place to discover new violin stars. From 11 to 25 January dozens of young violinists compete for the prizes and on Sunday January 26th over 80 violin-players will perform together in a large violin orchestra.
In every edition of the competition a number of highly talented young violin-players has emerged, becoming successful violinists later in life. Accordingly, discovering talent is an important goal of the competition.
The exciting Final and the Listening Competition afterwards will be held January 25th at Worldhotel Bel Air. In the Final 6 finalists aged 10 to 14 years will strive for the title of Winner of the 2014 Iordens Violin Competition. In addition, Amarins Wierdsma, winner of the 2006 Iordens Violin Competition and 2007 Davina van Wely Violin Competition, will recite Debussy and Chausson.
The Listening Competition is an event especially for violin lovers. The audience will compete in recognizing 5 violins that renowned British-Dutch violinist Daniel Rowland will play.
For the full program and tickets, please visit: http://www.vioolconcoursen.nl/event/finale-iordens-vioolconcours-2014/
Big Improvement Day
By Bonnie Klap.
As a prelude to the Big Improvement Day, which actually takes place on Tuesday, January 21, Mr. Ralph van Hessen, Director of Winkelman van Hessen and a driving force behind the Big Improvement Day in The Netherlands, hosted a beautiful lunch at the elegant “Castle de Wittenburg” in Wassenaar. Big Improvement Day is – in short – a unique event, where the top echelon of the Government and business community get together to exchange ideas and strive for improvement in general. One of the attendees was, amongst others, the highly succesful and well known entrepeneur Mr. John Fentener van Vlissingen of BCD Holdings, as well as Mrs. Tasoula Hadjitofi, an impressive business woman from Cyprus, who is nominated to be the next European Woman of the Year. CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/72157640010934266/
Passing of former ICC Judge Karl T. Hudson-Phillips
It is with great sadness that the International Criminal Court (ICC) learnt of the passing of Karl T. Hudson-Phillips (Trinidad and Tobago), one of the first judges of the ICC, on 15 January 2014. The Court presents its deepest condolences to his family and friends in this time of sorrow.
“Judge Hudson-Phillips made important contributions to establishing the judicial foundations of the Court. He chaired the first meetings of judges before the election of the Presidency and was influential in drafting the Regulations of the Court as well as the Code of Judicial Ethics. His passing is a great loss to us all and his contribution will be cherished for a long time to come”, said ICC President Judge Sang-Hyun Song.
National of Trinidad and Tobago, Judge Hudson-Phillips was elected by the States Parties to the Rome Statute from the Latin American and Caribbean Group of States (GRULAC) in February 2003 and served until September 2007. Judge Hudson-Phillips had extensive private practice experience in his home country and throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean. He also served as Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago. In 2010, he was named Chair of the Human Rights Council fact-finding mission to investigate the Gaza flotilla events of 31 May 2010
Catch by Simonis, Top Resto
Welcome to Catch by Simonis
We proudly present our new restaurant: Catch by Simonis. Catch is located directly on the water, in the most beautiful place in the second inner harbor, and offers fantastic views over the marina.
Catch restaurant is spread over 4 floors and features an indoor elevator that can take you to any floor, including the toilets in the basement. We can seat up to 500 guests, inside and outside, for a welcome breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks or big event.
On the upper floor of the characteristic property, is an exclusive venue that is ideally suited for parties, business meetings, conferences and weddings. Step outside and you are on our roof terrace with breathtaking views over the harbor and even the sea.
CATCH BY SIMONIS
- DR. LELYKADE 43
- 2583 CL SCHEVENINGEN 070-3387609
- INFO@CATCHBYSIMONIS.NL
Da Sebastiano Trattoria
Welcome to the Italian Restaurant Da Sebastiano (Da Sebastiano 1) . Located in the Hague Archipelbuurt, it aims to serve and provide real authentic Italian cuisines. Whether it is for a quick bite or an extensive dinner party, we are open every day. You start with antipasto, followed by primo, secondo and finally a dolce with caffe and limoncello.
Javastraat 138.
The Hague.
070-345-5291
www.dasebastiano.nl
RISTORANTE-PIZZERIA.
Sebastiano has the top real Italian pizza in The Hague. Please visit our Website.
Lan van Meerdervoort, 214.
The Hague. 070-392-5585
http://www.dasebastiano.nl/
RISTORANTE-PIZZERIA.
Sebastiano has the top real Italian pizza in The Hague. Please visit our Website.
Lan van Meerdervoort, 214.
The Hague. 070-392-5585
http://www.dasebastiano.nl/ Thais Restaurant Phuket
The unique and charming restaurant Phuket lies at the top of the second harbour of Scheveningen. The Thai chef guards over his ingredients, much of which is directly imported from Thailand. With the luxurious interior and friendly service, you imagine yourself to be in the heart of Thailand. Welcome.
Opening times
Mon to Fri 12.00 – 14.30 & 17.00 – 23.00
Sat to Sun 12.00 – 23.00 open throughout the day
Tables of 1-6 people may be booked online. For larger parties or same-day bookings, please contact us by telephone.
Tel: +31 (0)70 306 38 88
We also offer take-away service.
http://www.restaurant-phuket.nl/
Opening times
Mon to Fri 12.00 – 14.30 & 17.00 – 23.00
Sat to Sun 12.00 – 23.00 open throughout the day
Tables of 1-6 people may be booked online. For larger parties or same-day bookings, please contact us by telephone.
Tel: +31 (0)70 306 38 88
We also offer take-away service.
http://www.restaurant-phuket.nl/ Clingendael training courses
TRAINING and COURSES
Open Registration Courses 2014
Overview of all open courses on e.g. cyber security, EU institutions, negotiation behaviour, European Union, international security, protocol and etiquette, and nuclear security.
Clingendael Academy is responsible for all courses and training programmes on diplomacy, European affairs,security and conflict management,
and negotiation for various target groups, both in the Netherlands, as well as abroad.
For more information on all Clingendael courses, please visit
Dies natalis 2014 of the Universiteit Leiden
By Drs. Eva Maria Elisabeth Mennes-Wuesten, Key holder of Leiden University.
Dies Natalis 2014.
The celebration of the 439th Dies Natalis will take place on Friday, February 7, at 15.00 hrs. in the Pieterskerk Leiden, Pieterskerkhof 1A. The programme will commence at 15.00 hrs precisely. There will be a live video broadcast of the ceremony, and a simultaneous translation will be provided in English.
The dies lecture will be delivered by Corinne Hofmann, Professor of Caribbean Archaeology and Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, and is entitled: The Future of the Past. Subsequently, Honory Doctorates will be conferred on: Josef S. Smolen, Professor of Rheumatology, Chairman of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, for his impressive contribution to fundamental and clinical research in the field of rheumatology.
The Honorary Supervisor is Professor Tom W.J. Huizinga, Head of the Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The Dean of the Faculty is Professor Pancras C.W. Hogendoorn. Herbert Waldmann, Professor of Chemical Biology at the Max Planck Institute in Dortmund, for his scientific work in the field of chemical biology. The Honorary Supervisor is Hermen S. Overkleeft, Professor of Bio-organic Sysnthesis, Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) at the Faculty of Science. The Dean of the Faculty is Professor Geert R. de Snoo. The guitarist and composer, Marlon Titre will perform the musical interlude.
He received his Leiden University PhD in December 2013 after having completed the docARTES Doctoral Programme in Music, organized by the Orpheus Institute in Ghent. The Chairman of the Leiden University Student Platform, Marc Newsome, will present the Leiden 2014 Teaching Prize.
Marjolein Soethoudt, master’s student of Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and winner of the Unilever Research Award 2013, will then present her award-winning graduate research. During the reception following the official ceremony there will be the opportunity to congratulate the members of the Executive Board of the University, the Dies lecturer, the Honorary Doctors and their Supervisors, the Deans, the prize winners, and their partners. The reception will start at approximately 16:30 hrs.