News item | 23-01-2025 | 11:06
The NATO tour of the Netherlands will start on Tuesday, January 28, a tour about peace and security along a number of cities in the Netherlands. This itinerant program takes place in the run-up to the 2025 NATO Summit, on 24 and 25 June in World Forum in The Hague.
Peace and security is not a given. That is why the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense have taken the initiative for this tour, with the cooperation of the Atlantic Commission, Clingendael and The Hague Center for Strategic Studies (HCSS). The aim is to discuss NATO and our national and international security with the widest possible audience. This is an important topic that concerns us all.
To stimulate this conversation, the touring program offers, among other things: serious gaming (e-sports tournament) from Defense, a mobile photo exhibition about NATO from Foreign Affairs, a theater tour and teaching programs for secondary schools from the Atlantic Commission, research and debate from Clingendael and HCSS. Other parties that contribute are Haagsch College, Jonge Atlantici, De Kiesmannen, de Kindercorrespondent, The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN), Veteran for the Classroom, universities and colleges, as well as the participating municipalities.
The start of the tour is marked with a jump by Defense paratroopers who land at the World Forum (subject to weather conditions). They will hand over flags to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp, the Minister of Defense, Ruben Brekelmans, Mayor Jan van Zanen of The Hague and the director of the Atlantic Commission, Anna van Zoest. During the start in the World Forum, the photo exhibition will also be opened.
NATO summit with students
From Monday 27 to Thursday 31 January World Forum also the 57e edition of the annual The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) place. This is an annual simulation of the United Nations by students from all over the world. 3,200 students from 200 schools from 100 countries participate. For example, they reenact a meeting of the Security Council from a certain year, or deliberations of other UN organizations.
This year, THIMUN is also simulating the 2025 NATO summit. Here, 32 students take on the role of one of NATO’s allies; together they must arrive at a joint final statement. These students are also present at the start of the NATO tour of the Netherlands.