The Clingendael Institute was honoured to welcome HM Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown which coincided with the opening of the 74th 'Leergang Buitenlandse Betrekkingen', our training programme on international relations. 

HM Margareta's delivered the opening speech 'A European Union of Cohesion and Solidarity - Romania’s contribution'. It was an extra memorable moment because it was 17 years after her father the late King came to speak at the Clingendael Institute. Back then Romania was not a member of either NATO or the European Union, although it was a candidate for both.

Our Director Clingendael Academy, Ron Ton, warmly received HM Margareta as he received her father in 2002. He moderated  the lively discussion with the audience. The Clingendael Academy has trained Romanian diplomats since 1991. 

A large crowd of LBB participants, LBB alumni, EU experts, former Dutch ministers and Romanian press joined the kick-off of the unique training programme. Read the speech by HM Margareta. 

A unique and intense training programme

A varied group of graduates and young and experienced professionals with different backgrounds will be prepared for an international career in 11 weeks. They will be trained and challenged by Clingendael experts and top executives working for the government, political parties, universities, media, NGO's and the private sector.

The LBB offers participants a unique opportunity; to deepen their knowledge and enhance their skills for the demands of a future job in international relations, but also how to apply these in practice with insights from ‘on the ground’ experience of practitioners. The programme is filled with working visits to acquire first-hand information of organisations and businesses that are active in the field of international affairs. The course comprises of presenting skills, negotiation, intercultural communication and policy writing, amongst others, and will be concluded by a negotiation simulation of no less than 48 hours: a EU role-play led by a former minister or top diplomat. 

LBB facts & figures

• The first LBB started in 1967
• 'Famous' LBB'ers are amongst others: Kajsa Ollongren (current Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations), Sigrid Kaag (current  Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation)
• There are more than 1,600 alumni
• More than 70 teachers in 42 training days are involved

LBB in 2020

Are you interested to join the LBB? The course dates in 2020 will be determined as soon as possible. If you would like to stay up to date, sign up for our e-mail alert. Are you interested in other courses the Clingendael Academy offers such as international negotiations, mediation, intercultural communication or lobbing in the EU? Visit our training calendar.