Together with the ambassador of Luxembourg Mike Hentges I welcomed the Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden to the Netherlands for a meeting with Mark Rutte Mark Rutte.

It feels like I'm back in time. In the traditional Kurdish restaurant Nur Nawroz in The Hague we catch up with Wladimir van Wilgenburg and Bokan saeed about the developments in #Kurdistan . With of course many delicious Kurdish dishes that I always miss!

The Swiss ambassador Corinne Cicéron Bühler has just started in the Netherlands and is already cycling to receptions in the rain ☔️. That's what I call modern (cycling) diplomacy! Ambassador Corinne Cicéron Bühler

Ready for #Prinsjesdag2023 . This day is annually on the 3rd Tuesday in September, when the King gives a speech to open the parliamentary year. His speech sets out the government's key plans for coming year. Thanks Liesje Schreinemacher for our selfie!

Together with the Polish ambassador Margareta Kassangana I welcomed the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to the Netherlands for a short visit to Mark Rutte Mark Rutte.

It was a real pleasure to officially welcome the President of the Republic of Cape Verde, Jose Maria Pereira Neves, at Schiphol Airport. In the coming days he has various meetings and cultural events in the Netherlands. #Kaapverdië #CaboVerde

Spring in the Netherlands! Living near the #Keukenhof , it is easy for me to regularly visit this most beautiful spring-flowering bulb garden in the world. For sure a must see if you visit this area.

Like father, like son… It's really nice and special that my son Alexander also started working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hopefully he will enjoy this as much as I do.

PM Mark Rutte is a friend and partner. The Kurdistan Region and the Netherlands have a special relationship.

They back our entrepreneurs and small businesses; Peshmerga reforms and agriculture strategy.

We talked about expanding our partnership at #wef23 .

#KurdistanInDavos

Always nice to see my Dutch-Kurdish friend Wladimir van Wilgenburg to catch up on Kurdistan. I'll see you soon again!

An annual ritual for the Palestinians is the lighting of the Christmas tree outside the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Here in The Hague, together with some ambassadors, I was invited by the Head of the Palestine in NL Ambassador Rawan Sulaiman to also light the tree.

Among writers. yvo kuhling has written a great thriller about Kurds and the UN. My book is a thriller about a diplomatic conspiracy in Yemen. Glad we can finally give our own book to each other. Both books can still be ordered and are of course must reads!

Finally, the Dutch-Kurdish connection between my friends Wladimir van Wilgenburg and Bokan saeed is sealed. Congratulations on your engagement. And of course I will try to attend your wedding in Erbil!

The Kurdistan connection in the Netherlands: catching up with Wladimir van Wilgenburg while eating a typical Dutch dish (boerenkool met worst). Good to talk about the developments in Kurdistan and Iraq again.

An honor to accompany the president of Benin Patrice TALON on his official visit to the Netherlands. Including high-level meetings with Prime Minister Rutte and Minister Liesje Schreinemacher, and a visit to King Willem-Alexander.

Always nice to see a rainbow in the morning over a typical Dutch landscape.

The great thing about living in the Netherlands are the many running events. Today I ran the City Pier City half marathon as a team member of the Dutch government. With a time just under 1.45 hr I feel satisfied. #cpc2022

In my new role as deputy director of protocol, I am at Prinsjesdag together with director Dominique Kuhling. This day is annually on the 3rd Tuesday in September, when the King gives a speech to open the parliamentary year. His speech sets out the government's key plans for coming year.

Kurdish friends forever! Nice that Kurdish parliamentarian Chiya Sharif☀️ and his family came to visit me in the Netherlands. This time no Kurdish dish but a Dutch BBQ evening. Chiya, have a good trip back to Kurdistan!

After eight fantastic years abroad, with postings in Singapore, Kabul and lastly in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, it is now time for me to go back to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague. Here I started as Deputy Director of the Protocol department. I will miss you all!!