When the Dutch gather on April 27, our national day, it is to celebrate the birthday of our King, His Majesty Willem Alexander. This day is about the relation between the nation and its head of state. All segments of our diverse society relate to the King since he stands above the parties as prescribed by the constitution. Thus, he is a strong symbol of unity for our nation. On that day, throughout the country everything and everybody will wear the color orange to honor the King, whose lineage is the House of Orange-Nassau. This color is part of our national identity as illustrated by the legions of supporters dressed in orange, rooting for Dutch teams, be it in football, in skating and cycling.
This year will not allow the usual open air extravaganzas, with their street parties, parades, concerts, flea markets, children’s games and canal tours. These celebrations are all the more valued since they coincide with the return of spring and the annual blooming of the multicolored tulips that attract millions of visitors to the flower bulb areas.
This year, King Willem Alexander, Queen Maxima and their daughters will visit the city of Eindhoven, which is a hub for innovation and state-of-the-art high tech. But no mass gatherings will be allowed and the nation will follow the live broadcasting or attend virtually.
In the Philippines the Dutch Club offers a virtual event and the embassy offers the virtual premiere of a ballet https://www.anotherkindofblue.nl/en/show/the-great-escape/
Today, we realize more than ever that we cannot thrive on our own. We are a proud founding member of the European Union, with its story of overcoming root causes of war and generating peace and prosperity. The EU is a community of values and gives us a voice in discussions on global affairs such as climate, development, rights and security. Through the EU we contribute to worldwide actions like the free delivery of vaccines to the Philippines through the COVAX initiative.
In the Philippines, King’s Day is the occasion to highlight our strong bilateral relations. Unsurprisingly, we are longtime maritime partners in the global trade. Filipino sailors take a highly valued position in the Dutch merchant navy and many Filipino officers graduated at Palompon Institute of Technology, with sponsoring by the Dutch Ship Owners Association. Rotterdam, the largest port in Europe, is home to an international maritime and logistics industry that is on the agenda of the next virtual roadshow organized by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.
Both countries are lined by coastal lowlands battered by seas and storms. This commonality explains why the Dutch share their expertise acquired over centuries of living below sea level. The Manila Bay Sustainable Development Master Plan showcases the cooperation of Filipino and Dutch engineers on the management of groundwater levels, waste water, waste and coastal ecosystems. This plan offers a reference for future interventions in Manila Bay. Other joint water related projects include designing coastal defense for areas prone to typhoons as well as drinking water projects.
This year we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and 155 years of consular relations. We look back on ever deepening economic ties, with the Netherlands invariably in the top five of foreign investors in the Philippines.
Sustainability is the key word that labels many of our actions. Agriculture is a focal sector for investment and the Dutch are bringing their state-of-the-art sustainable technology from Wageningen, the Sillicon Valley of food production. The Philippines offer a conducive environment where public and private partners show a keen interest in adopting new technologies. The Training Center of Pig Husbandry is an example. It started in the 90’s as a Dutch funded project and to this day, it continues to apply the training methods for hog production. Dutch agro-partners are looking into ways to make agriculture in the Philippines more profitable and how to raise farmers’ income in the interest of local production. That is the philosophy behind the current joint efforts with DA to create the National Seed Technology Park.
Those who visited the Netherlands are familiar with the omnipresence of bicycles. When public transport failed due to the pandemic, many Filipinos turned to biking for their commute. Ever since, our embassy has been solicited by civil society, government, private sector and international financial institutions to provide expertise. We are pleased to facilitate this grassroots’ movement in favor of sustainable urban transport, thus contributing to more livable cities, clean air and a healthier lifestyle.
Beyond official and business relations, the very fabric of our relations is made up of people-to-people contacts. The Philippine Dutch Fellows Network Inc. brings together those professionals who studied in the Netherlands and keep Dutch traditions alive. Annually, approximately 37,000 Dutch tourists fall for the natural beauty of the Philippines. Many Dutch citizens call the Philippines their home and an increasing number of Dutch-Filipino marriages are expressions of the high mutual esteem between our communities. Sadly, many have been separated due to travel restrictions. Our embassy will be there to facilitate, once the situation normalizes.
It’s in a crisis that you recognize your true friends. I salute the government of the Philippines for its unwavering efforts throughout the tourist repatriation and the maritime crew changes and for the inclusiveness of its vaccination campaign.
I wish you all a happy King’s Day 2021!
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Saskia de Lang is Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Philippines.