What’s it like being the ambassador to Lebanon?

‘Fascinating and challenging. For me, Lebanon is one of the most interesting and distinctive countries in the Middle East, rich in history and with volatility running through its past and present. It’s a place of crisis upon crisis – it’s currently experiencing its worst-ever economic crisis. Cooperation among different political forces has ground to a halt. And on top of all that the country is hosting more refugees per capita than any other country in the world.’

So why did you want to serve as ambassador there?

’I was deputy ambassador in Lebanon from 2009 to 2013, and that’s when my interest in and love for the country began. And it stayed firmly in my head and heart. So when I arrived here as ambassador in 2021 it was like coming home. However, the direct reason for my appointment  was a tragedy: the embassy and staff had been severely affected by the explosion in Beirut’s port in August 2020.’

How are bilateral relations between Lebanon and the Netherlands?

‘Our bilateral relations are good. Lebanon sees the Netherlands as a country with no ulterior motives, no hidden agenda. And we have no history in the Middle East that makes us take sides in today’s conflicts and problems in the region. Something a lot of Dutch and Lebanese people don’t know is that the population of Lebanon raised a million dollars for the victims of the catastrophic flooding in the Netherlands in 1953. When I mentioned that during a recent working visit to Tripoli, it went viral across the country on TikTok.’

How are Lebanon and the Netherlands alike?

‘Both are small and situated on the coast. And because of their geography, both Lebanon and the Netherlands have always been outward-facing countries. Both have been seafaring nations for centuries and traded with countless other countries. Before the war in Syria, Beirut was a transit port for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States – just as Rotterdam is for the rest of Europe.’

How are they different?

‘The biggest difference between Lebanon and the Netherlands is how our political systems operate and what the social contract between government and citizens entails. Dutch society is certainly not perfect, and there are people who distrust the government, but the social contract works. We have consensus on the rights and obligations of the government and individuals, and when things go wrong we have the will to solve problems in a way that has the broadest possible support – in what we call the “polder model”. That’s definitely not the case here. Lebanon’s social contract is dictated by clan loyalty and religion. That undermines solidarity, since groups mainly pursue their own interests.’

Lebanon is facing economic, political and refugee crises. How is the Netherlands helping?

‘The Netherlands contributes to stability in Lebanon through mine clearance projects, for example. Removing mines not only prevents death and injury, it also frees up precious arable land. We also provide knowledge and expertise for civil-military cooperation in fragile areas, to rebuild schools and build roads.’

'In the agricultural sector we encourage and initiate projects and partnerships for more sustainable production and better export opportunities for Lebanese products. Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR) and the Delft University of Technology’s startup platform are involved in this area. And our embassy was a co-founder of QOOT, a cluster of dozens of food sector startups that are combining their knowledge, know-how and enthusiasm to future-proof the sector and market their products far beyond Lebanon’s borders.'

‘To help Lebanon cope as well as possible with its influx of refugees, the Netherlands contributes by supporting international organisations with reception.'

‘Finally, I also think the Netherlands Senior Experts Programme (PUM) does valuable work in Lebanon. It recruits volunteer experts with years’ worth of knowledge and know-how in specific sectors and sends them to developing countries to share their expertise with SMEs. This cooperation often leads to friendships too. PUM has two representatives in Lebanon. Each year the embassy holds a reception for Lebanese entrepreneurs who have worked with a volunteer expert from PUM.’

What are your favourite places in Lebanon?

‘Two places are magical for me. One is the Sporting Club in Beirut, where you feel like you’ve returned to the Beirut of the 1970s. You run into all kinds of people from the city at this beachside club. The second is the Bekaa Valley. Once you cross the mountain ridge east of Beirut, you see this gorgeous valley laid out before you. It’s a place of amazing natural beauty and rich history that never fails to impress, and the Roman ruins of Baalbek are the most wonderous thing of all.’

How have your experiences in Lebanon affected you during your term as ambassador?

‘I am continually touched by the Lebanese people’s love for their country, despite all its difficulties. I learn from their optimism every day. Lebanese people are constantly struggling to improve the country and realise their ideals. That’s something that also motivates me in my work: my team and I want to contribute to this optimism. Lebanon has also been very important to me personally. In my years working here I have formed the closest of friendships with Lebanese people.'

‘But the country has also taken something away from me. My good friend Lokman Slim, a political activist and commentator, was murdered in February 2021. I had been hoping to visit him after the pandemic lockdown ended, but it wasn’t to be; I never saw him again. You never know what’s going to happen in life, so you have to live each day to the fullest. That’s another thing you learn here.’