Speech by Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands on the occasion of the state visit Turkey, The Royal Palace, Amsterdam

Speech | 17-04-2012

Mr President,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you and Mrs Gül to the Netherlands in this special year. The reason for your visit is a gratifying one: four hundred years of diplomatic relations between our two countries. This takes us back to the year sixteen hundred and twelve, when contacts between the Ottoman Empire and the Netherlands had become so important that for the first time, a Dutch envoy, Cornelis Haga, was accredited to the Sublime Porte. The cooperation between our countries thus gained official recognition. The activities we had in common at the time were trade in the Mediterranean and the protection of our interests against interference from other great powers. The offices of the Levant Trading Company, an eminent association of Amsterdam merchants, were established in the former town hall of Amsterdam, now the palace in which we meet today. It is remarkable that in the four hundred years that have since passed, a period in which our continent exhausted itself in armed conflicts, relations between our two countries have always been peaceful. This is yet another reason to dwell at length on this anniversary and to appreciate your willingness to emphasise its significance with your State visit.

In Turkey and the Netherlands alone more than 300 cultural events have been organised to mark this anniversary, in fields such as the creative industries, music, theatre, literature and the exchange of art collections. In this way we hope to increase awareness of our respective cultural treasures and to enhance cooperation and exchange in these areas. A good example is the exhibition of modern art from your country in the Boijmans Van Beuningen Museum in Rotterdam and in the Bonnefanten Museum in Maastricht.

In general, the Dutch know relatively little about modern Turkey and I could imagine the converse is also true. The great number of contacts, exchanges and events taking place this year will provide ample opportunity to become better acquainted with one another and to review the image we have of each other in the light of today's reality.

Mr President,

Turkey can look back on a proud past and today too plays an important role in the region and on the world stage. Your country is a stable factor in a turbulent area where existing powers and relations are being challenged on all sides. For many people, Turkey is an inspiration and an example. Its influential position is based on a long history which has gradually led to greater international involvement and alliances with other nations. Your country joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation at an early stage and has always been known as a strong and reliable NATO partner. Turkey is a co-founder of the OECD, an active member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, and a candidate for membership of the European Union. Your country plays a prominent role in the international arena. It takes part in various NATO missions, for instance in Kosovo, off the Somali coast and in Afghanistan. Very recently, Turkish soldiers participating in ISAF lost their lives.

Our countries work together in various international organisations. In addition, they engage in bilateral political consultations, in the Wittenburg Conference. Last year, the annual meeting was held in Ankara, and last month in Rotterdam. Alongside the Conference sessions, working groups at official level address issues such as energy, migration and integration, counterterrorism and cultural cooperation. These frequent meetings illustrate our close and varied contacts.

The importance of Turkey's position in the world is to a large extent determined by its strong and rapidly growing economy. More recently, modern industry has taken its place alongside traditional crafts and agriculture. But, whenever Turkey is mentioned nowadays, youth and entrepreneurship come to mind. The young population is a sign that your country has the future on its side. I was able to see some of that confidence in the future during my State visit in two thousand and seven, when in your capacity of Minister of Foreign Affairs, you accompanied me to Kayseri, your birthplace, where I met a representative group of successful business people, many of whom were women. It was an impressive day and I look back on it with great pleasure.

The dynamism of the Turkish economy has an impact in our country as well. For many years now the Dutch business sector, including both large, internationally oriented companies and small and medium-sized enterprises, have found their way to Turkey. They are attracted by the favourable investment climate and a growing consumer market with considerable purchasing power. What is more, the substantial number of tourists from our country contribute to the Turkish economy. They are drawn by the stories they have heard about your rich historical heritage, the pleasant Mediterranean climate and legendary hospitality.

Conversely, your compatriots have contributed a great deal to the Dutch economy. In the early nineteen sixties, they came to the Netherlands in great numbers to work in industry. Many stayed here and others came to join them. There are now almost four hundred thousand people of Turkish descent living in the Netherlands, spread over different regions and active in all kinds of sectors. Their entrepreneurial spirit is a welcome contribution to our society.

One of the striking aspects of our centuries-old relations is the scholarly interest in Turkish and Islamic history that has existed here since the sixteenth century. The knowledge of the language, religion and culture of Turkey amassed by our university libraries provides fertile ground for cooperation and exchange between Turkish and Dutch researchers.

Mr President,

Relations between Turkey and the Netherlands have never been limited to interstate contacts. From the very beginning, they included the exchange of people, goods and ideas. This is a story not only of states and diplomats, but also of inquisitive travellers and acquisitive traders as well as scholars and artists. That makes the history of our relations so fascinating and this festive occasion so well worth celebrating.

I should like to ask all those present to raise their glasses with me in a toast to your health, Mr President, to that of Mrs Gül and to the happy continuation of the centuries-old friendly ties between the Turkish and the Dutch peoples.