Toespraak van Koning Willem-Alexander tijdens het Corps Diplomatique diner in het Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam

Toespraak | 24-06-2015

Distinguished guests,

My wife and I are delighted to be hosting this evening's dinner here at Amsterdam's Royal Palace. A very warm welcome to you all.

As you may know, this was originally not a palace, but Amsterdam's city hall. Built at the height of the Dutch Golden Age, it was a symbol of the city's self-assured place in the Republic of the United Netherlands.

It was a building dedicated to peace. The first stone was laid in 1648, the year that saw the signing of the Treaty of Münster, which brought an end to eighty years of war.

The town hall became a palace only much later, in the early nineteenth century. Thanks, not to a Dutch king, but a Frenchman: King Louis Bonaparte.

The republican origins of the palace are still evident today. The most impressive chamber - where we are now - is called the Burgerzaal, or Citizens' Hall. There is also a Throne Room, but that is a great deal smaller!

Yes, we Dutch sometimes do things a bit differently… And the way we've organised this dinner is a good example. Our guests from the Diplomatic Corps will recall this from last year. Rather than keeping things private, we like to give you the chance to get to know an influential section of Dutch society.

Last year you met representatives of the Netherlands' public administration bodies. Tonight we are joined by almost 70 members of the Dutch artistic and cultural community, in the broadest sense of the term.

For inspiration, let me quote Johann Wolfgang von Goethe:
'Wissenschaft und Kunst gehören der Welt an. Vor ihnen verschwinden die Schranken der Nationalität'.
'Science and art belong to the whole world, and before them vanish the barriers of nationality.'

The Netherlands is only too glad to share its culture.
Rembrandt. Van Gogh. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The Dutch National Ballet. The Keukenhof.
Our literature, films, architecture, fashion and creative industry.
They belong to you too!

From our old masters to our new media: we're proud of them all, and we love sharing them with the world.

Last year, around 3,700 Dutch artists and cultural organisations were involved in some 13,000 activities around the world. Dutch DJs are especially hot right now, as we saw earlier this month when we visited a major dance music event in Chicago, the home of House. And in our capacity as the House of Orange,  we were able to make a modest contribution to the evening…

But the true Dutch superstar of recent times has been Johannes Vermeer's painting, Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been on a world tour of six top international museums, attracting 2.2 million visitors.

The countries where Dutch artists are especially active include the US and Germany, as well as Japan and China. And artists and cultural groups from all over the world work closely with partners here in the Netherlands.

Time and again, art and culture have bridged gaps and differences between people and nations. Art fascinates and intrigues us. And that often sparks mutual interest and dialogue.      

Mutual interest and dialogue are needed more than ever at a time when international differences of opinion can easily become full-blown controversies.
When points of view seem entrenched and interests collide, creativity can help foster new solutions.

The Netherlands firmly believes that international cooperation and openness are essential conditions for peace and development. And that the international legal order provides the foundation.

This conviction will underpin the Dutch EU Presidency in the first half of next year. And it is central to our candidacy for a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2017 to 2018 period.

Last year I had the pleasure of receiving 39 new ambassadors at Noordeinde Palace when they presented their letters of credence. Many of them are here with us tonight.   

Let me just say - to you and to those of your colleagues who have been here longer - thank you for working so hard to maintain strong and open ties between our countries. Your efforts are extremely valuable. They benefit not only our bilateral relations, but also the international community as a whole.

I hope that this evening will help encourage the atmosphere of curiosity, openness and engagement that the world so badly needs.

Let me now ask you all to raise your glass with me.
To the arts, in all their forms.
To creativity.
And to the partnerships between us!