A FAREWELL MESSAGE FROM H.E. MR. DAAN HUISINGA, AMBASSADOR OF THE NETHERLANDS
H.E. Mr Daan Huisinga and Mrs Anne Huisinga-Paret
Dear friends,
The best farewells are the brief ones; therefore I will keep it short. Parting with Prague hurts, but still, this Ambassador leaves as a happy man.
Much has been achieved during my time here. Shipping LNG to Czechia through the Dutch port of Eemshaven significantly reduced Czechia’s dependence on Russian gas after Russia invaded Ukraine: a great example of what bilateral diplomacy can accomplish.
Another highlight is the joint effort to supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition it needs to counter Russian aggression. Since 2022, the Netherlands is one of the main customers of Czechia’s defence industry.
In 2023, we also joined the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine. Perhaps even more important is the openness and trust we built with our Czech partners, enabled by like-mindedness and a shared understanding that in a rapidly changing world we must work together to stay ahead. While good bilateral relations remain the basis, much of Dutch-Czech cooperation is taking shape in the context of the European Union. During the Czech EU Council Presidency, I especially appreciated Czechia’s leadership in furthering Europe’s resilience in the face of increased global competition. It showed the ownership and engagement that we need for a successful European Union.
The cherry on the cake of my tenure in Czechia was the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. President Petr Pavel and the First Lady Eva Pavlová demonstrated genuine warmth in their hospitality as they welcomed our royal couple at Prague Castle and accompanied them during their two-day program, which included visits to People in Need and Radio Free Europe, and the inauguration of the Freedom Bell in Saint Salvator Church.
My wife and I leave Czechia fulfilled and energised, ready for new discoveries in Türkiye, but also with a pang in our hearts as we leave many wonderful friends behind in the country we were honoured for four years to call “domov můj”.
Daan Huisinga
Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Czech Republic
(August 2021 – August 2025)