On 29 April 2026, Diplomat Club Wassenaar marked the 12th anniversary of its longstanding tradition of welcoming newly appointed Ambassadors to the Netherlands. The reception, held at Kasteel De Wittenburg, gathered distinguished guests while celebrating a remarkable milestone: over the past 12 years, more than 200 Ambassadors have been welcomed as Honorary Members to Diplomat Club Wassenaar.

The evening was hosted by Mrs. Shida Bliek, Founding Director of Diplomat Club Wassenaar and Publisher of Diplomat Affairs Magazine – In Touch with the Dutch, together with Mr. Peter Bliek, President of TenRande Foundation, in collaboration with the Municipality of Wassenaar, represented by the Honourable Mayor Leendert de Lange, and Kasteel De Wittenburg.

The reception was attended by the following Ambassadors many accompanied by their spouses (in alphabetical order by country): H.E. Mr. Mammad Ahmadzada, Ambassador of Azerbaijan; H.E. Mr. Shen Bo, Ambassador of China; H.E. Ms. Carolina Olarte Bácares, Ambassador of Colombia; H.E. Mr. Arnoldo Brenes Castro, Ambassador of Costa Rica; H.E. Mr. Emad Hanna, Ambassador of Egypt; H.E. Mr. Agustín Vásquez Gómez, Ambassador of El Salvador; H.E. Mr. Eddison Mensah Agbenyegah, Ambassador of Ghana; H.E. Mr. Rokuichiro MICHII, Ambassador of Japan; H.E. Mr. Kalid Al-Kadi, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; H.E. Mr. Akan Rakhmetullin, Ambassador of Kazakhstan; H.E. Mr. Veaceslav Dobăndă, Ambassador of Moldova; H.E. Ms. Charlotte Frater, Ambassador of New Zealand; H.E. Mr. Shahir K. AlKhaniny, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H.E. Mr. Vusimuzi Madonsela, Ambassador of South Africa and Dean of the African group of Ambassadors; H.E. Mr. Hong Seok-in, Ambassador of South Korea; H.E. Mr. Asi Mamanee, Ambassador of Thailand; Ms. Fatma Ceren Yazgan, Ambassador of Türkiye and H.E. Dr. Álvaro Enrique González Otero, Ambassador of Uruguay. 

Continuing its biannual tradition, new Ambassadors who presented their credentials to King Willem-Alexander were welcomed as Honorary Members of Diplomat Club Wassenaar. First-time attendees were ceremonially presented with a Dutch ribbon, symbolising hospitality, respect, and inclusion.

In her remarks, Mrs. Bliek reaffirmed the Club’s mission as a non-profit and neutral platform fostering dialogue and connection. Although the Club is named Diplomat Club Wassenaar, it does not regard The Hague and Wassenaar as separate entities. She highlighted its development into a vibrant multicultural community, where national days and events such as Africa Day are celebrated throughout the year. These events are published in Diplomat Affairs Magazine – In Touch with the Dutch, showcasing diplomatic cultural life made possible through the openness and collaboration of embassies, thus strengthening the bridge between diplomacy and Dutch society.

Mayor Leendert de Lange extended a warm welcome to the Ambassadors and shared engaging insights into life in Wassenaar and the province of Zuid-Holland. His reflections on cycling culture, curiosity, and the Dutch concepts of “gezellig” and “eet smakelijk” were received with appreciation and good humour. 

As a gesture of local pride and hospitality, Mayor De Lange personally presented each newly welcomed Honorary Member with a traditional Dutch cheese platter, crafted from milk sourced from cows grazing in the fields of Wassenaar, amid spontaneous and enthusiastic applause from the guests. This symbolic and authentic gift created a meaningful connection between the international diplomatic community and the region’s agricultural heritage.

Mrs. Bliek introduced the newly inaugurated Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba, H.E. Ms. Mildred Shwengle, who addressed the gathering:

“As the newly appointed Minister Plenipotentiary of Aruba, it is a great honour to be among you this evening. I would like to commend Diplomat Club Wassenaar, in particular Mrs. Shida Bliek and Mr. Peter Bliek for this wonderful initiative, providing a platform where we can come together, get acquainted, and strengthen our networks. Opportunities like these are invaluable in fostering dialogue, cooperation, and mutual understanding.                    Alinea overslaan

For Aruba, 2026 is a particularly special year. We proudly celebrate 40 years of Status Aparte, our autonomous status within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as well as 50 years of our flag and national anthem. These important milestones were commemorated on March 18 with a special visit from His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, along with prime ministers and high representatives from the other countries and islands within the Kingdom. This celebration beautifully illustrated the strong and enduring bonds between Aruba and the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands.

We firmly believe in collaboration, together we are stronger. This platform offers us not only the opportunity to connect, but also to explore possibilities for cooperation and the exchange of ideas between our nations in a friendly environment.

I would also like to take this moment to congratulate Diplomat Club Wassenaar on their 12th anniversary. It is truly remarkable to see how this concept has grown into such a meaningful space that brings us all together.”

Every posting eventually comes to an end, and it was time to bid farewell to the Ambassador of El Salvador, H.E. Mr. Agustín Vásquez Gómez, and Mrs. Mirella Pocasangre de Vásquez, a committee member of the Ambassadors’ Spouses Association. Ambassador Vásquez Gómez has accepted a new posting in Geneva.

Mr. Peter Bliek extended a token of friendship to H.E. Mr. Agustín Vásquez Gómez and Mrs. Mirella Pocasangre de Vásquez, presenting both with a Delft Blue clog, pinned to their clothing, as a symbol of appreciation, goodwill, and best wishes for their new posting. This was not a farewell, but a “tot ziens”—meaning “until we meet again.”

All the moments observed at Diplomat Club Wassenaar testify to its true meaning as a diplomatic and cultural meeting place, where continuity, friendship, and international understanding are at the heart of every gathering.

Letter of Recognition from the Ambassador of Algeria, H.E. Mrs. Salima Abdelhak for the Diplomat Club Wassenaar