Swedish New Year’s Reception
On January 23 the The Swedish Chamber of Commerce and the Ambassador of Sweden Mr. Håkan
Emsgård welcomed the members of the Swedish Chamber and distinguished guests at a New
Year’s Reception at the beautiful Museum Escher in Het Paleis in The Hague. More than 100 guests
representing the Swedish and Dutch Business network in the Netherlands were attending the reception
together with the Swedish Consul of North Netherlands, Mr. Lukas Joel, and Honorary Members of the
Swedish Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Clas-Ivar Schultz, Mr. Gerard Perik and Mr. Henk Lokin.
In their New Year’s speeches, Mr. Nils van Dijkman, Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce
and Mr. Ambassador Mr. Håkan Emsgård both emphasized 2014 as year of excellence celebrating the
400 years diplomatic relations between Sweden and the Netherlands. The reception was accompanied
by a performance by the Swedish/Dutch group De Andersons.
From the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
Special message from H.E. Carlos Arguello, Ambassador of Nicaragua and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in The Hague.
SPACES 2014 Together
For more pictures click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98057281@N02/sets/72157640091659253/
On 23 January Spaces Den Haag organized a well attended 2914 Together for business partners in a warmth atmosphere. It was a unique opportunity to meet each other and raise member’s glasses to celebrate “2014 Together”. General Manager Lieke Otten, who is almost in maternity leave, received her guests with wine, bubbles & bites inside the atrium. Spaces offers energy and inspiration for entrepreneurs to be successful in what they do best, including opportunities for members of the diplomatic corps, embassies, international organizations and the like. 
Spaces is an inspiring environment where ideas develop, businesses build and relationships evolve. Spaces is a creative place where you can work, check your email, and meet with clients. A place you can pause to enjoy a really good cup of coffee or a healthy lunch, and where high-speed secured Internet ensures you can work quickly and safely. Take inspiration from the beautifully designed space while ordering a really good coffee at the café deli, and kindle your entrepreneurial spirit with the enthusiasm of the other workers you will meet and network with at one of Spaces events. Not only is Spaces stimulating, it’s professional. They make your work life easier by providing a wide variety of services, so you can simply focus on getting down to business. The diplomatic corps in The Hague is starting to discover the secrets of Spaces.
For additional information, contact Spaces at: www.spaces.nl +31 070-2400 800.
President Hollande visits The Netherlands
By Nicole H Pierre.
It was with great enthusiasm that the members of the French community in The Netherlands welcomed the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, at the Scheepvaartmuseum (the National Maritime Museum) in Amsterdam on Monday January 20th 2014. The event culminated the one day visit of the President during which he met with King Willem-Alexander, Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other leaders of parliament, as well as a visit to the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, in The Hague.There were more than 600 invited guests in attendance and President Hollande highlighted the importance of the long standing economic ties between the two countries. While he addressed certain pressing political issues, he did so with a humor which is very characteristic of the president. At the end of the evening, which was organized by the French Embassy of The Netherlands and the General Consulate of France to the Netherlands, President Hollande took the time out to interact with, and thank, members of the audience. 
![hollande-présidentes-ménat[2]](https://i0.wp.com/diplomatmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/hollande-pr%C3%A9sidentes-m%C3%A9nat2.jpg?w=248&h=140&ssl=1 "hollande-présidentes-ménat[2]")
The new Rijksmuseum and Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos
By Eva Maria Elisabeth Mennes.
The CEO of the architect office Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos of Seville, Mr. Antonio Cruz and director of the project gave an extremely interesting power point presentation of the renovation of the Rijksmuseum for the members of the Spanish community. The event was organized by Cruz y Ortiz and the Spanish Association of Professionals in the Netherlands chaired by Mr. Rogelio Vargas Sánchez, who is also the director of the Spanish Agency of International Trade. Project architect of Cruz y Ortiz, Mrs. Muriel Huisman showed us the building, and at the same time we had the chance to view the beautiful arte facts of the museum. Following a European tender process, the Spanish architects Cruz y Ortiz Arquitectos of Seville were chosen by a committee chaired by the chief government architect Jo Coenen to lead the transformation of the Rijksmuseum. Cruz y Ortiz proposed minimal alterations to the building itself.
The firm has recreated the clear layout conceived by the museum’s original architect, Pierre Cuypers, stripping the building of its later transformations to ensure that it is once again a coherent whole. By adding a floor under the existing building the new Rijksmuseum features now an impressive new entrance area. Added were firther a new Asian Pavilion, a new outdoor exhibition space and garden, state-of-the-art facilities including new dining spaces, a shop, a restored library and auditorium; renewed education facilities, a new service entrance, a separate building for the conservation of the collection; and climate-control and security features, which are in line with today’s requirements. The result transforms the 19th century building into a bright and spacious 21st century museum.
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