The trial of Uhuru Kenyatta before the ICC
Caravaggio in The Hague
Make sure you donât miss it.
The painting is in The Hague courtesy of the National Gallery in London
MIJN DERDE LAND / MY THIRD COUNTRY
By John DunkelgrĂŒn.
The Netherlands has many surprising hidden gems, from âHofjesâ to small ancient cities, seemingly unchanged over hundreds of years. One of these gems is Huize Frankendael, the last remaining manor house within Amsterdam. It was built in the middle of the 17th century in the new polder of Watergraafsmeer deeper below sea level than any other point in Amsterdam. At the time more than 50 such estates were built outside the ring of canals to escape the stink and pestilence of the city center in summer. Frankendael, which was privately owned and inhabited until 2006, is the only such house still standing. Today it is beautifully restored with gold colored brocade wall covering and is used as an exhibition space. It also houses Merkelbach, a remarkable restaurant that serves slow cooked seasonal foods from the best purveyors and some great wines. At this moment there is an exposition curated by the Frankendael curator Nathanja van Dijk together with Carolyn Drake. The theme is âMy third landâ after a poem by the Dutch (former) Poet Laureate Gerrit Komrij, âCounterweightâ (Contragewicht). The poem deals eloquently with the problem of having moved to another country and not feeling totally at home in either place. This is something that must resonate with the expat community anywhere. Komrij solves it by creating an imaginary âthirdâ country in his head. The exhibition shows works of such imaginary countries, ranging from a childâs private world in a tent made from a sheet over a couple of chairs by Ryan Gander (executed in marble!) to a marvelous series of maps of non-existent islands that date from classical Greek times to the 19th century. There are the haunting pictures of the islands of Charles Avery as well as his mesmerizing imaginary tree. Of course there are far more works to see, but the house itself and its 17th century garden are in themselves well worth a visit, as is restaurant Merkelbach. The exhibition runs until December 2nd and is open from Thursday through Sunday from 12.00 to 18.00. There is a film evening and several night openings. It is located on the Middelweg 72 in the Watergraafsmeer area of Amsterdam. For more information see www.huizefrankendael.nlExplore the Zaanse Schans

First Industrial Site in the World
Some 250 years ago, well over 600 windmills were cramped into this relatively small area. Together they formed the first industrial site in the world. They performed a wide range of industrial duties, such as producing shelves, paint, mustard, oil and paper. Today the mills offer wonderful views, best seen from a boat tour on the Zaan river. You can also visit three of these age-old mills and have a look inside. SPECIFICATIONS for Visitors Free entrance except for Musea and windmils. AutoParking is close to entrance but not free. You may do the payment with credit card Travelling with train : Take the stoptrain from Amsterdam CS direction Alkmaar untill station Koog-Zaandijk and few minutes walking to Zaanse Schans. Travelling with Bus : From Amsterdam CS. Bus 91 Travelling with auto : A8 exit Purmerend A7 en follow indication Zaanse Schans www.zaanseschans.nl Adres Schansend 7 1509 AW Zaandam 075-6810000Krophollerâs 1913 âKerkdorpâ
Dr. Vjosa Dobruna, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Dr. Vjosa Dobruna was designated as the Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in June, 2013. She presented her credentials to His Majesty the King of the Netherlands on October 16, 2013.
Dr. Dobruna joined Kosovo diplomatic service in 2012, when she was nominated as ambassador at-large for Latin America.
Prior to the diplomatic assignment, Dr. Dobruna served as the Chair of the Board of Governors of the Public Radio and Television of Kosovo (RTK), the National Head of the Department for Democratic Governance, Civil Society, and Independent Media-UN Joint Interim Administrative Structure of Kosovo; mandated to monitor and recommend regulations on human and minority rights, equal opportunity, good governance, and independent media.
She also practiced pediatrics and worked as human right advocate and campaigner.
She contributes to several organizations, including Woman Waging Peace /Inclusive Security Network, Safe House for Battered Women, and in the past served as board member to the Open Society Foundation, OSCE Mission in Kosovo as media advisory board member, American University in Kosovo as board of trustees, Courts of Women Against Violence as a judge, Council for the Defense of Human Rights and Freedoms, Network of East-West Women, Women for Peace in Mediterranean, Mother Teresa Association.
Through her career she has founded several health and human rights organizations, such as Center for the Protection of Women and Children in Prishtina, Safe House for Women in Gjakova, and Womenâs Center in Tetovo.
She received several awards, such as: National Honor Society in US, Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights, Washington DC, Alexander Langer Award for Minority Rights, Bolzano/Bozen, Italy, Edward Barsky Award for Courageous Physician, Chicago, ILL, U.S.A, International Woman of The Year, finalist for 1999, Valle d’Aosta, Italy, Medalio dell’oro, Bologna, Italy.
Dr. Dobruna has graduated from University of Pristina in Kosovo, Postgraduate Studies from University of Zagreb in Croatia and fellowship from Harvard University, KSG Carr Center on Human Rights.
Ambassador Dobruna is fluent in Albanian, English, Croatian, Serbian, and has working knowledge of Italian.
Clingendael Institute, Public Lecture
Democracies, Non – Democracies and Democratization in Asia
Monday 28 October 2013 / 15.00Â – 16.30 hrs. / the Clingendael Institute / The Hague
______________________________
The Clingendael Institute and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in The Hague are very pleased to invite you to this public lecture, which will be delivered by:
Dr. Nur Hassan Wirajuda
(Dr. Wirajuda was the Foreign Minister of Indonesia from 2001 to 2009. Currently he is member of the Council of Presidential Advisors of the Republic of Indonesia and the editor-in chief of Strategic Review â The Indonesian Journal of Leadership, Policy and World Affairs. He is also patron to the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD)âthe implementing agency of the Bali Democracy Forum, and member of the Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security chaired by Kofi Annan).
Registration
If you would like to attend this event, please register with:
Claudia ten Have (secretariat) / e-mail:Â chave@clingendael.nl Course for Diplomats
Last call for subscription.
One month course for Diplomats.
The Hague Political Academy.
The HaguePoliticalAcademy starts next Monday with a high level course on domestic Dutch politics for foreign diplomats. Â Schedule: Â five consecutive Mondays from 5pm until 7pm. From October 21st until November 18st. Subscription is still possible ! Information: www.thehaguepoliticalaca
The sessions will provide participants with a better understanding of Dutch society and the way in which politics works in public and behind the scenes. After an introduction to the historical background, attention will be paid to the governmental and opposition parties and their policies. Also the impact of the media on policymaking will be explained.
Special focal points will be the Dutch foreign policy and the role played by the Netherlands in the European Union. Finally, the policies of the present VVD/PvdA cabinet will be explained and discussed. At the end of the course the participants will visit the Dutch Parliament.
The lectures will enable participants to report with more authority on Dutch politics and to participate at a high level in discussions on Dutch domestic issues. As course supervisor Dr Bob van den Bos will draw on his extensive personal political experience as a Member of the national and European Parliament. Moreover, several distinguished guest speakers  are invited to share their views with the participants.
During and after the sessions there will be ample opportunity to maintain informal contacts with other participants. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance at the last session.
Venue: Prinsevinkenpark 24 , 2585 HL The Hague
Course manager is Mr Boy Frank, boy.b.frank@gmail.com   Phone 06-23450937
PROGRAMME:
Programme Course Oktober 21 â November Oktober  21 Introduction. Current developments, historical overview. No guest speaker. Oktober 28 . Political system and culture. VVD- PvdA coalition policies. Guest speaker: Benk Korthals, Party President of VVD, Liberal Coalition Partner, former minister of Justice and of Defence. November 4 Dutch European and foreign policy. Historical introduction and current policies. Guest speaker: Professor Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, former deputy prime minister, minister of economic affairs, minister of agriculture and State Secretary for European Affairs. November 11 Political system and culture II. Opposition to present cabinet policies. Guest speaker: Thom de Graaf, member of Parliament/ First Chamber, former deputy prime minister and minister of constitutional affairs. Ronald vd Raak ? November 18 Role of the media and lobby groups Introduction Guest speakers Mark Kranenburg, senior editor NRC-Handelsblad diplomatic affairs, former correspondent in Brussels and Jan van Groesen, President of the Board Netherlands Media Ombudsman Foundation, former deputy editor-in chief of Dutch National Press agency ANP ,former president of International Press Center Nieuwspoort. November 25 Visit to Parliament. Meetings with several political parties.