Conference 'On the Road for Peace'

Conference

2014 marks the 400-year anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Netherlands and Sweden. To celebrate this event, which is organised in cooperation with the Centre for the Study of the Dutch Golden Age (UvA), the Clingendael Institute and the Swedish Embassy, this international congress draws attention to the creation of these relations during the seventeenth century and their implications on the last four centuries. A new publication of the seventeenth-century diplomatic travelogue ‘On the Road for Peace’ will also be presented.

Venue: Amsterdam Public Library, Oosterdokskade 143 Amsterdam.

In April 1614, Sweden recognized the sovereignty of the Netherlands with the formal establishment of a diplomatic representation in The Hague. Shortly after, the triumvirate of Reynhout van Brederode, Dirck Bas and Aelbrecht loachimi set out on enterprise of mediation in the war between Sweden and Russia, which was the very first Peace Mission in the name of the States General of the Netherlands. Ever since, Sweden and the Netherlands have known a long period of formal neutrality and are still very active on the international stage, in international organizations and in peacekeeping missions. How did Dutch-Swedish understanding arise during the Golden Age? How have both countries positioned themselves in international power struggles? And why were mediation and peacekeeping already the main goals from the start? 

The conference will be opened by the Swedish ambassador in the Netherlands, H.E. Mr. Håkan Emsgård and the Dutch ambassador in Stockholm, H.E. Mr. Philip de Heer. The conference will devote the morning session to the historical dimensions of the international relations, based on the new edition of ‘Op reis voor vrede’ (On the Road to Peace) which is a perfect eye witness story in text and images of the Dutch mediation between Sweden and the Czar of Russia.

The afternoon session, featuring speakers from the field of diplomatic services, will be devoted to international mediation and peacekeeping from 1615 up to the conflicts in our days, such as Syria and Ukraine.

For this special occasion, the reissue of the previously mentioned travelogue of Anthonis Goeteeris (On the Road for Peace), which was already an immediate hit when it first appeared, will also be presented in authentic text, maps and illustrations. This reissue is included in a publication aimed at shedding light on the importance of this trip for the Dutch Republic in the seventeenth century. What was so special about this report of the Dutch enterprise of mediation in history? And how can studying this sort of travel report add to our current day understanding of events?

Registration

Entrance to this congress is free. Registration is required. We count on your attendance.

If you are unable to attend, please email [email protected] or call 020 525 8142.

Register here 

For more information: see Conference Programme.