Dutch civil servants visit the Brussels Bubble with Clingendael

On Tuesday, September 23, a group of civil servants from various Dutch ministries and executive agencies travelled to Brussels as part of the four-day Insight into Europe training programme.

The training programme is designed to deepen understanding of the EU’s functioning, covering its institutions, the dynamics between Brussels and The Hague, and both current and future challenges facing the Union. Participants take part in training sessions, expert lectures, and simulations, with the Brussels visit offering a unique opportunity to experience the “Brussels bubble” firsthand and see how their course learnings apply in practice.

After an early morning train ride from Rotterdam to Brussels, the group received a warm welcome at the Dutch Permanent Representation to the EU. Ambassador Pieter Jan Kleiweg de Zwaan offered valuable perspectives on key EU trends and developments, followed by an engaging panel discussion with Dutch attachés. The program continued with exchanges with Dutch colleagues working at a cabinet and at a Directorate-General of the European Commission, as well as a meeting with an advisor from the cabinet of European Council President Antonio Costa.

The day concluded with a closing drink before the group returned to Rotterdam by train. We are grateful to all participants for their active engagement throughout the course and extend our sincere thanks to our hosts in Brussels for their generous hospitality and support in making this visit a success.