Agenda
2026
ONLINE GENERAL MEMBERS MEETING
The meeting aims to elect a new board. Due to the expiration of the terms of office of a few board members, who after several terms will no longer stand for re-election, a new board will be elected from among the members. An invitation has been sent by email to all members.
2025
LOOKING BACK – ANNUAL DINNER 2025
The board of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye, request the pleasure of the company of its members and partners at the festive Annual Dinner, an enjoyable evening in a refined setting at the location now familiar to our members. the renowned restaurant DE HARMONIE, Westersingel 95, 3015 LC, (Sofiezaal) in Rotterdam. An invitation is to all members send by mail.
ANNUAL DINNER 2025
The board of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye, request the pleasure of the company of its members and partners at the festive Annual Dinner, an enjoyable evening in a refined setting at the location now familiar to our members. the renowned restaurant DE HARMONIE, Westersingel 95, 3015 LC, (Sofiezaal) in Rotterdam. An invitation is to all members send by mail.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the association will be held at the De Rozenhof, Nesserdijk 368 – 370, 3063 NE Rotterdam. De Rozenhof is a historic and old farm house, green oasis in the city, looking out over the Rotterdam skyline.
The meeting includes a lunch. An invitation and the needed documents have been sent to all members by mail. During the lunch there will be opportunity to catch up, exchange experiences and make suggestions for topics that are for interest for the agenda for upcoming meetings.
CONCERT NIGHT – MEET THE NEXT GENERATION CONDUCTORS
Special Invitation to the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) – De Doelen, June 2025. Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra / Rotterdam Symphony Choir & 5 vocalists (laureates of the International Vocal Competition ’s-Hertogenbosch) We have arranged a pre-concert meet & greet with the director of the ICCR, Rob Hilbrink (also known from Liszt Concours) with the Union des Consuls group and a drinks reception between and after breaks.
Every three years a unique finale is organized of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam in The Doelen. From 200 applicants around the world, 24 talents have been invited in 2024 to attend the semi-finals. The jury picked 6 of them to perform in a range of music styles in front of the audiences, and playing with different orchestras during a two week period in June 2025 (1st-13th).
2024
ANNUAL DINNER 2024
The board of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye, request the pleasure of the company of its members and partners at the festive Annual Dinner, an enjoyable evening in a refined setting at the renowned restaurant DE HARMONIE, Westersingel 95, 3015 LC, (Sofiezaal) in Rotterdam. An invitation is to all members send by mail.
SUMMER MEETING
An informal summer meeting for members at Jachthaven Hillegersberg, a private venue in Rotterdam, a nice boat tour with Kees Jan Rietveld ’s sloop on the beautiful Bergseplas. Lunch and drinks on board included. An invitation is send by mail.
MEMBERS MEETING – 2024
On behalf of the Mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. Ing. A. Aboutaleb and the Board of the Union des Consuls a Rotterdam et La Haye, all members are invited to a special and exclusive event at the City Hall Rotterdam. During this interactive event, we would like to facilitate the exchange of ideas and points of interest between the various economic and cultural representative bodies in the Rotterdam region and the Consuls and their respective jurisdictions.
A personal invitation is sent by mail.
2023
ANNUAL DINNER 2023
The board of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye, request the pleasure of the company of its members and partners at the festive Annual Dinner 2023 to be held on Friday, 24 November, 2023, 18.00 to 21.30 h.
We are looking forward to a pleasant and interesting evening in a nice environment at the restaurant De Ster in Rotterdam Kralingen that has become one of the city’s favourite top culinary attractions. Guest speaker Mr Jorn Douwstra, Rotterdam Partners and a Musical intermezzo with Flavia Escartin cello and voice, Loek v.d de Berg saxophone. An invitation is sent by mail.
MEMBERS MEETING
The Greenery is an international fruit and vegetables company, representing over 300 Dutch and foreign growers, supplying and distributing a complete, fresh, year-round assortment of fruit and vegetables to (international) supermarkets, wholesalers, caterers and processing industry. An interesting company, especially for consuls as bridge builders between Dutch companies and the countries they represent, as the Dutch horticulture sector is already characterised by a high level of entrepreneurship and leading the market in terms of expertise and technological innovation.
The programme includes a presentation, a tour at the Greenery and a lunch.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
The Annual General Meeting of the association will be held at the Port of Rotterdam, Havenbedrijf, Wilhelminakade 965.
The meeting includes a boat tour with the Nieuwe Maze, the representation vessel of the Port of Rotterdam Authority, a Presentation on current issues and the challenges for Europe’s largest port. A lunch will be served. An invitation and the needed documents have been sent to all members by mail.
2022
LOOKING BACK – ANNUAL DINNER 2022
After a two-year brake due to restrictions because of the Covid pandemic, we were once again able to end the year festively with the annual dinner. It is with great pleasure that we look back on an enjoyable evening in the warm and cosy Yacht Club. The fantastic piano recital by Laurens van Rooyen, who played on a special for the evening arranged Fazioli piano added lustre to the evening.
ANNUAL DINNER 2022
The board of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye, request the pleasure of the company of its members and partners at the Annual Dinner 2022.
The meeting will be preceded by a short members meeting for voting the new board of the association. An invitation is sand by mail.
A musical intermezzo is part of the programme: We welcome our special guest Mr Laurens van Rooyen, the well-known composer and pianist for a beautiful recital.
LOOKING BACK ON THE CELEBRATIONS 115-YEAR ANNIVERSARY
The celebration of the 115th anniversary of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam on September 9, held in the at the Depot Museum Boijmans van Beuningen has been a great succes.
Welcomed by the director of the museum, Mrs Ina Klaassen, consuls, ambassadors and all guests enjoyed together a guided tour discovering the beautiful art works cherished in the new building, the Depot, the new architectural icon of Rotterdam. The representative of the City Council, Mr Said Kasmi, vice mayor of Rotterdam noticed in his speech the appreciation of the city council for the work of honorary and career consuls as bridge builders between countries, with a valuable contribution in the economic, cultural and social relations.
Special thanks to our colleagues’ sponsors for their contributions at this remarkable day. Ben Melissa (Danser), honorary consul of Switzerland, Dirk van Wassenaer (M&R De Monchy), honorary consul of Spain, Jan Valkier (Anthony, Veder), honorary consul of Finland.
Celebrations 115-year anniversary of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye
Union des Consuls à Rotterdam, founded on Avril 25, 1906 is the oldest, consul’s (career and honorary) association in the Netherlands. In 2019 the association unified with the sister association, Union des Consuls La Haye, to consolidate the good cooperation between the two associations and to respond to the actual strategies of local government to more regional cooperation.
We have chosen to celebrate the anniversary in the beating heart of Rotterdam, where Union des Consuls a Rotterdam has been founded, by the leading businessman and notables at that time. The Depot of Boijmans van Beuningen museum is the newest design icon of the city, and an evidence of the great development that the city is going through.
The festivities include several guided tours, a reception among friends, culinary surprises, and special guests. A personal invitation is sent to the members and invitees.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
Annual meeting, lunch included
The Annual Meeting will be held at the Port of Rotterdam headquarters and will be followed by a presentation. We are honoured Mr Drs. Allard Castelein; CEO Port of Rotterdam has accepted the invitation to present the latest developments within the Port of Rotterdam and the impact of the Russia Ukraine conflict for the port activities.
An invitation and the needed documents have been sent to all members by mail.
2021
LOOKING BACK ON 2021
Season’s Greetings
Looking back 2021 will be remembered as a year full of challenges and marked by the pandemic. For many honorary consuls this meant more work than usual because all travel in and outside Europe remained problematic and people needed to be informed adequately and helped if necessary. Due to the restrictions and the lockdowns, we had no choice but to postpone some activities. Since working from home and online meetings became the “new normal” we moved to Zoom and Teams meetings.
ANNUAL DINNER 2021
The board of Union des Consuls à Rotterdam et La Haye, request the pleasure of the company of its members and partners at the Annual Dinner 2021. An invitation is sand by mail. On this evening we will also remember that our union celebrates its 115 years anniversary, as the former Union des consuls à Rotterdam that merged with the Association des consuls La Haye in 2019, was founded in April 1906. We welcome our special guest speaker, Mrs Jantje Steenhuis, director of the City Archive. It is interesting to memorise that some announcements from 1906 about the foundation of Union des consuls à Rotterdam have been discovered in the archives, to be shown during the evening. A musical intermezzo is part of the programme: Anna Majchrzak, soprano and Vera Kool harp.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
Annual meeting, lunch included
After two interesting Online meetings in March and June 2020 we are happy to have the opportunity to organise a meeting in real life, to see each other, to talk and share experiences we got during the last months.
An invitation and the needed documents has been sent to all members by mail.
ONLINE MEMBERS MEETING – HONORARY CONSULS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Jan Valkier, Honorary Consul of Finland, Chief Executive Officer of Anthony Veder Group and “the Port Man of 2019, Vice-President of Royal Dutch Shipowners Association and holds additional positions at other companies and organisations as well.
Bernard Menken, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka, Managing director and owner Menken Maritiem, member of the city counsel of Wassenaar
Union des Consuls à Rotterdam, founded on April 1906, celebrates this year her 115 years anniversary. A remarkable age and a remarkable achievement that we would like to celebrate together during a festive summer meeting in Rotterdam. More details will follow. As the association is built up by her members, we would like to put our members in the spotlight in an effort to bring you, our unique and diverse group of members. This meeting is the first one of a series that we would like to present in 2021.
ONLINE SPRING MEETING – PRESENTATION ON CYBERCRIME
By Mr. Klaus Meyer-Cabri, Vice president Eurojust
As we cannot foresee how long the restrictions for meetings and gatherings in groups will be maintained we decided to organise our spring meeting online with a presentation on
Cybercrime and current trends. We are honoured that the vice-president of Eurojust,
Mr. Klaus Meyer-Cabri, has accepted our invitation to address us on the importance of this extremely serious and hot topic. Eurojust helps national authorities cooperate to combat organised crimes involving more than one EU country and to make use of available cross border investigations tools. Eurojust also hosts the European Judicial Cybercrime network.
An invitation to our members and invités will be sent by mail.
2020
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING AND THE ANNUAL DINNER 2020
The Annual Meeting will be followed by the Annual Dinner, and will be held this year in the Hague.
Please save the date, detailed information and an invitation is following.
SUMMER MEETING
An informal summer meeting at Jachthaven Hillegersberg, a private venue in Rotterdam. Followed by a farewell drink honouring Gert Zandsteeg and Ehsan Turabaz, two of our distinguished board members whose term as board member is finished. As appreciation for their valuable contribution within the association the board will offer, on behalf of the association a nice art work made by a Dutch artist.
An invitation to all our members is sent by mail.
PRESENTATION / BREXIT – experts meeting
Brexit, the transition period: Presentation by: Roel in het Veld,
EU Customs Policy Lead at National Office Dutch Customs, Brexit coordination
Insight in the transition period until the end of 2020 while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements and the way the current rules on trade, travel, and business for the UK and EU will continue to apply during the transition period.
The Post Brexit: Presentation by: Mark Dijk,
Manager External Affairs, Port of Rotterdam
New rules will take effect on 1 January 2021. The meeting, followed by a Lunch.
2019
ANNUAL DINNER
Welcome by the new chairmen, Mr. Eliseo de la Fuente Gonzales and a very interesting presentation by Mr. Prof. Rob de Wijk, Center of Strategic Studies Presentation about the “The new world order” regarding the growing Chinese influence in the world. The Chinese world order is coming. In October 2017, President Xi outlined the route: if in 2049 the People’s Republic celebrates its centenary, its ‘ Chinese dream ‘ must have come true: China is the leader of the world. In A fascinating speech with many examples, Rob de Wijk argues that this will succeed.
As a gift at the end of the year, all our members receive a signed exemplar of Rob van Wijk´ s book “The new world order”
VISIT PEACE PALACE – THE HAGUE
Organised by Corps Consulair Netherlands for the Dutch consuls and the colleagues from Belgium. Seminar titled “The impact of geopolitical unrest and conflicts on commercial, economic, cultural and scientific relations”, a visit to the Peace Palace in the Hague, seated déjeuner dînatoire. Thanks to CC Nederland and Steven van Hoogstraten, former director Peace Palace, who made our visit at the temple of peace and justice possible and very interesting.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
The annual members meeting followed by a
Presentation: Development and challenges for a world class port by Mark Dijk, head of International Affairs Port of Rotterdam
With special attention for the international relations, the Brexit and the role of consuls for the region and the Port of Rotterdam.
Followed by a lunch and discussion.
FAREWELL MEETING / GUSTAVO LEIGNADIER, CHAIRMEN
The board organized a farewell drink for the departing chairmen, Mr. Gustavo Leigdnadier, Consul General of Panama, who finished his appointment as Consul General of Panama in Rotterdam and returned to Panama.
As appreciation for his involvement in the association and his work in Rotterdam, the board offered Mr. Gustavo Leigdnadier a nice sculpture made by a Dutch artist.
ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
The Annual Meeting followed by a Presentation about Eurojust, guest speaker Mr. Klaus Meyer-Cabri, vice/president Eurojust
Eurojust – the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation – supports and strengthens coordination and cooperation between national investigating and prosecuting authorities. Eurojust assists prosecutors and other investigators from EU Member States in cases of serious crime where that crime affects two or more Member States, or requires prosecution on common bases. Crime areas Eurojust deals with; Cybercrime, Drug trafficking Financial crime Migrant smuggling Terrorism Trafficking in human beings.
ANNUAL DINNER
2018
