A group of 70 ambassadors from around the world paid a visit to Friesland on Monday to learn more about Frisian history and the modern water and dairy industries in the region.
According to a press release, the diplomats, which included ambassadors, counsellors and Chargé d’Affaires, came together for an annual ambassadorship day and chose to host the event in Friesland this year in connection with its status as a European Capital of Culture. Representatives were present from Chile, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Denmark, Lithuania, Albania, Latvia, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Austria, Ireland, Bolivia, the Philippines, Vatican City and South Africa, among others.
And off they go… Next up: a guided tour of the @Wetsus laboratory! #Ambassadors #Fryslân @WaterAllianceNL @Watercampus @provfryslan @Gemeente_Lwd #waterhuballiance pic.twitter.com/8mVn95KHlP
— Water Alliance (@WaterAllianceNL) October 15, 2018
The main theme of the day was the dairy and water industries in Friesland, so the ambassadors visit the Water Campus at Wetsus and the Dairy Campus, a research facility and living farm focused on the dairy supply chain. The water portion of the programme was organised in part by the Water Alliance, a private-public partnership focused on water technology in the Netherlands. The alliance consists of more than 100 partners from a range of industries related to the water sector, including waste water treatment, engineering and research.
The diplomats also took in local Frisian culture: the province of Friesland tweeted that a group of ambassadors toured the provincial house, the Princessehof ceramics museum, the
Lân fan Taal project, where the delegates were able to see how their own languages are featured during the LF2018 year, and the UNESCO world heritage site Wouda Steam Pumping Station in Lemmer.
Ambassadeur fan Skri Lanka op syk nei syn taal yn @LanfanTaal! pic.twitter.com/h29ts5BhDQ
— CdK Brok (@cdkfryslan) October 15, 2018
The King’s Commissioner in Friesland, Arno Brok, greeted the international delegation, which was the largest of its kind to visit the provincial government, at the provincial house. The visit to the province was also organised in part by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hjoed hast 70 ambassadeurs op besite yn #Fryslân. Meast ynternasjonale groep ea yn Steateseal. pic.twitter.com/C4QHnrYUtl
— CdK Brok (@cdkfryslan) October 15, 2018
Photo source: Pascalle Grotenhuis/Twitter
