About the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

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Today, the whole world seems just one click away.

One click that removes borders and connects us.

Making the world smaller and our world bigger.

But that can make us feel vulnerable, as we face the unknown.

Events happening far away, feel closer to home.

Jan-Kees Goet (Ministry of Security and Justice, Director-General for Immigration):

If I have time in the evenings I watch the 8 o’clock news.

And I can be pretty sure it will open with a story about migration.

It’s a serious subject that puts big demands on our staff.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Security and Justice are a team.

And that togetherness is the key to our success right now.

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We know that what we have learned here, can be of great value elsewhere.

Felix Hoogveld (Ambassador to South Sudan):

So there’s flooding in a large camp for displaced persons.

The Netherlands can help because we have the know-how to develop the area.

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That that are places in the world, where human rights are at stake.

Sebastiaan van der Zwaan (Director Justice and Peace):

If human rights defenders are under pressure in their own country we step in to help.

As part of our Shelter City initiative we offer them temporary shelter in the Netherlands.

Justice and Peace works closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry’s large network makes it easier to figure out who needs our help the most.

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We know there are people fighting for freedom, and that we need to protect them.

We want to cross borders to share what we are good at with the rest of the world.

Paul Polman (CEO Unilever):

The Dutch are at the forefront for setting the world on a new pathway for a sustainable future.

One example for this has been the joining of the Ministries of Aid and Trade, which I believe has been a smart decision.

As we need both to reach the world’s poorest 2.5 billion people.

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If we work together, we can achieve more.

Without the result being at the expense of others.

Henk-Jan Beltman (Chief Chocolate Officer Tony Chocolonely):

We want our company to grow. We want to make an impact.

The Orange Trade Mission Fund is helping us gain a commercial foothold in the US.

With support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A partnership that energises me.

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If you go abroad, where it’s safe and where it is not.

Frank Oostdam (Director, Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators, ANVR):

We regularly discuss travel advice with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It helps us provide our customers with good, up-to-date advice.

Pepijn Trapman (regional manager, ICCO, Nepal):

I will never forget Saturday 25 April.

The day started off so well.

We were celebrating King’s Day with the local Dutch community.

Suddenly, everything started shaking.

People were panicking and screaming.

We kept getting wet as water sloshed out of the swimming pool.

I just managed to grab my son Daniel and hurl him to the ground.

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And if you do get into difficulties, you need to know that there is someone who can bring you back to safety

Pepijn Trapman (regional manager, ICCO, Nepal):

We were lucky. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs got us out of the country to safety.

They did a fantastic job.

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Right now, as the world becomes both smaller and bigger it’s important that we are there for the Netherlands, world wide.