Yesterday, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands came together at the North Sea Neighbours (NSN) Conference, held at the iconic Science Museum in Kensington, London. This annual bilateral conference, first established in 1999 by Dutch Prime Minister Wim Kok and British Prime Minister Tony Blair as the Apeldoorn Conference, continues to be a vital forum for strengthening cooperation and dialogue between the two nations on topics of mutual interest.
This year’s conference, themed “Securing Economic Growth Together,” focused on identifying opportunities that will deliver greater growth and prosperity through stable and secure economies on both sides of the North Sea. The NSN participants shared views and insights on productivity improvements and inclusive growth, the energy transition, and the growth potential of critical technologies. The day provided ample opportunities for networking and discussion, with participants from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector exchanging thoughts on how to address shared challenges and seize growth opportunities.
On the same day, government-to-government dialogues took place between UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Netherlands Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp during the annual Strategic Dialogue. They discussed key foreign policy issues, including the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. Both ministers reaffirmed the commitment to work together to address common challenges and to promote peace and security in Europe and beyond. The meeting highlighted the commitment from both the UK and the Netherlands to continue deepening and strengthening the bilateral relationship between two North Sea Neighbours.
Netherlands Ambassador to the UK Paul Huijts and HM Ambassador to the Netherlands Joanna Roper CMG