Remarks by U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Joe Popolo.

On 2 July 2026, U.S. Ambassador Joe Popolo and Mrs. Chris Popolo hosted the Freedom 250 Independence Day Celebration, with Prime Minister Rob Jetten in attendance as Guest of Honor.

THE HAGUE — Marking 250 years of American independence, U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Joe Popolo used his Independence Day remarks at The Louwman Museum to reflect on the long and deeply personal relationship between the United States and the Netherlands.

“It is an incredible honor to represent the United States here in the Netherlands,” Ambassador Popolo said, emphasizing the two countries’ shared commitment to freedom and democracy. He thanked Dutch government representatives, diplomats, international partners and members of the business community for strengthening the transatlantic relationship.

Ambassador Popolo also connected the evening to his own family history. Like many Americans, he described himself as the child of immigrants. His family came from Italy and Ireland, while Chris’ family has roots in England, Scotland and Wales. Their parents and grandparents arrived with little and built their lives through hard work and determination. For Ambassador Popolo, that experience represents the enduring promise of the American Dream: the belief that people from anywhere can create opportunities for themselves.

That philosophy also shapes his view of America’s role in the world. Referring to the Trump administration’s approach as “America First, but not America alone,” Ambassador Popolo stressed the importance of longstanding allies that share a commitment to the rule of law, democracy and opportunity.

Since arriving in the Netherlands in October, Ambassador Popolo said his relationship with the country has become increasingly personal. He recalled travelling across the Netherlands, from Leiden and Friesland to Limburg, Rotterdam, Eindhoven and Urk. In Limburg, he met people whose families experienced the liberation firsthand. “The bonds between our nations have become personal,” he said.

Economic ties are another important pillar of the relationship. According to Ambassador Popolo, two-way trade between the United States and the Netherlands amounts to approximately 180 billion dollars and supports more than one million jobs. Behind those figures, he said, are companies, families and communities on both sides of the Atlantic. Strengthening that interconnected partnership will be an important part of his mission as ambassador.

The relationship also reaches back well beyond the Second World War. Ambassador Popolo recalled that John Adams came to The Hague in 1782 and borrowed five million guilders from Dutch lenders at a critical moment in the American Revolution. His 13-year-old son, John Quincy Adams, studied at Leiden University and later became both U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands and the sixth President of the United States.

The Second World War remains another defining chapter. Reflecting on a recent visit to Normandy, Popolo spoke of the young Americans who crossed the Atlantic to fight for people they had never met. He also paid tribute to the 8,300 American service members buried at Margraten, whose graves are cared for to this day by Dutch families.

The evening also had a lighter side. A keen sports fan, Ambassador Popolo said he had visited 13 Eredivisie stadiums during his first nine months in the country. He spoke warmly about cheering alongside Oranje supporters in Dallas and joked about his growing appreciation for bitterballen and Dutch fries with mayonnaise.

Looking ahead, Ambassador Popolo presented the 250th anniversary not simply as a celebration of the past, but as a commitment to the future. For the United States and the Netherlands, he suggested, a long history of friendship also carries a shared responsibility to protect the values of freedom and democracy for generations to come.

https://www.diplomataffairs.nl/honouring-tradition-dutch-society-welcomes-new-ambassadors/

https://www.diplomataffairs.nl/ambassadors-spouses-association-asa-in-touch-with-the-dutch/