Dear reader,
California has re-opened, and the consulate is back on the road. We’ve made great connections online in the past year, and now we can finally build a deeper relationship. I can’t wait to meet you all in person.
Last week the consulate traveled to Los Angeles for a Pop-Up Consulate. We renewed almost 200 passports and connected to businesses, organizations, and government. The Netherlands and Los Angeles have a friendship that has been strengthened with this visit
Together with the Legion of Honor Museum, we organized a discussion revolving around the “Black in Rembrandt’s Time” exhibition to highlight te history of black people living in the Netherlands in the 17th century, a chapter of Dutch history that has too often been overlooked.
As here in the US, the Netherlands is discussing its past. Our country has seen its own Black Lives Matter protests, which sparked public debate about our history of Black people and the position of race in our country today. That’s why we find it important to host events like this, because it’s through understanding that we can improve ourselves and our society.
I wish you a great summer, one in which you can finally go out and see your loved ones without too many worries. Hopefully we’ll see you this fall for in-person visits, trade missions, and networking events.
All the best,
Dirk Janssen
Consul General in San Francisco
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