Residents gather to celebrate Dutch-American Friendship Day
Dutch-American Friendship Day, which is officially recognized in the USA on April 19th each year, was celebrated a little early with Dutch and American leaders and residents meeting at the Raadhuis in Wassenaar on April 11th, 2025. The event is organized annually by Overseas Americans Remember and with all the seats occupied (as well as the additional ones brought in) and people standing in the back, it was clear that more people than ever felt the need to celebrate the day.
By Megan Walch
It was the longstanding friendship between the countries that prompted Roberta Enschede and a friend to draft what would become Proclamation 4928 - Dutch-American Friendship Day, while sitting in her kitchen in Wassenaar. The proclamation states, "On April 19, 1782, John Adams was admitted by the States General of the Dutch Republic as Minister of the United States of America, thus obtaining the second diplomatic recognition of the United States as an independent nation.” This means the Netherlands is the oldest continuous ally of the United States.
Forty-three years ago, on April 12, 1982, then US President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 4928, officially honoring the, at the time, 200 years of unbroken friendship between the United States and the Netherlands. The origin of Dutch-American Friendship Day in a kitchen in Wassenaar is part of what makes Wassenaar a special place for it to be celebrated. The wonderful relationship between the people and their Dutch-American ties is also a reason.
Despite the long friendship between the two nations, many present at the event did acknowledge the current growing tensions between the countries. Longtime Wassenaar resident, Erik van der Kooij, who attended the celebration, talked about his long relationship with the USA, having visited there over 20 times. He anticipates Europe will use the opportunity to become stronger but also said, "I have hope and I am sure we will come together in the right way again.” This optimistic sentiment seemed to be shared by those in attendance.
During the ceremony, Wassenaar Councillor Laurens van Doeveren spoke about the need to celebrate the alliance of the two countries this year, remarking that the need was even greater this year than last year. He also spoke about his time living in the USA as a diplomat, calling the US "a home away from home.” When asked about the angry sentiments many Dutch citizens have recently been directing to the US Embassy on social media, he responded that he understands the comments reflect the worries of Dutch citizens about the current US policies, but that he doesn't think it has to affect the friendship, adding that he hoped the countries could continue to work as friends.
Ingrid Sachumsky, an advisor with the Gemeente Wassenaar, also shared her hope of continuing a good working relationship and acknowledging the shared history of the countries, saying, "We mustn't focus on the things that divide us, but the things that bind us. We must not forget the past and the role they (the US) played.”
A representative from the US Embassy spoke at the ceremony as well. The Honorable Marcus Micheli, Charge d'Affaires ad interim stated his desire for the Netherlands and USA to continue to learn from one another, highlighting the shared ideals the countries were founded on. He then presented Merijn Boender with a Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of OAR, honoring Mr. Boender for his longstanding work to strengthen the bond and understanding between the two nations through his cultural and educational exchange programs.
In his acceptance speech, Mr. Boender said, “Friendship born out of shared values transcends whatever happens today, whatever happens in the political realm on both sides. Whether we agree or disagree or in some cases, just don't understand what is going on, that is the core of the enduring friendship we celebrate today. I am concerned as much as I am hopeful and positive that in another 250 years, we will stand here again … to celebrate indeed what unites us.”
