Annual red carpet training treatment in Amsterdam!
Protocol is often considered a science, as well as an art. And a training venue can certainly be more than just ‘a one out of a dozen’ location. What a colourful and historic mixture we were able to create earlier this week in and around the stylish ambiance of The College Hotel in the Dutch capital’s Museum Quarter!
Intimate. Engaging. Royal protocol. Military leadership. Diplomatic best practices. Or faux pas.
Guest speaker Steve Derden as Head, Protocol and Events Section at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, about organizing NATO Summits, like the most recent one in The Hague last June.
Corporate relations. Loyalty. Seating struggles. Flag issues. Chatham House Rule. Anecdotes. Multilateral negotiations. Spouses programmes. Integrity. Precedence with a purpose. How to facilitate the world's leading forum for debating international security policy in Europe?
Ceremonial pomp and circumstance. Mega events. The spirit of authenticity. Different styles of leadership. Being flexible and creative. Business etiquette. Strategic networking. Intercultural communication. Artificial Intelligence. Nobody is perfect. High Tech. Self-awareness.
With an Orange Tie: former Ambassador Karel van Oosterom reflecting on his extensive diplomatic career. Including lobbying for, and obtaining an elected seat on the Security Council in New York.
Social media. Current geopolitical challenges. Private family arrangements. The tensions surrounding an international commemoration. Being gracious and well-groomed. Sensitive negotiations. “No” is also an answer. Public relations. Wilhelmina peppermint and ‘oliebollen’.
Getting inspired by the insights of our participants from Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Türkiye, Ukraine, and United States of America.
Gift giving. Flowers. Treating integrity as being key. Official pictures. Keeping in mind local and regional flavours or needs. Being loyal: also to yourself. Movements & motorcades. Storytelling. Vision, mission and goals to achieve. Assuring quality and the right atmosphere.
On a Yellow Bench; experiencing the spirit of the rollercoaster journey of Conny Wenting as CEO of the Invictus Games in 2022 in The Hague. Including fostering social impact and empowerment!
Being frank and clear, but also respectful and diplomatic. Enhancing reputation management and making impact. Linking theory to contemporary best practices.
From small to massive. Planting a seed. Or two. Or more.
Glad to be back here next year. On 16, 17 and 18 November, 2026.
Looking forward to welcoming new participants again in this inspiring environment!
If interested: please reserve your seat on this website from 1 December, 2025 onwards.
