Ambassador John Groffen - Norway
The ambassador
John Groffen
See the curriculum vitae of ambassador John Groffen on rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch).
What was your initial reaction when you came to Norway?
Why did you want to become ambassador to Norway?
‘I’d spent the previous four years inspecting embassies. I travelled all over the world, visiting some of the 150 Dutch embassies and consulates to check their compliance with certain standards. Norway was one of the last embassies I visited, and I was impressed at how well organised everything was here.
What can we learn from Norway in terms of sustainable energy?
What other themes and topics are the Netherlands and Norway collaborating on?
You emphasise the fact that the Netherlands and Norway are very similar. We’re close together in the nation brands ranking, where countries are ranked according to their international reputation.
What do you want to achieve during your ambassadorship in Norway?
‘My ambassadorship started with the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. On that occasion, we presented a number of themes: areas in which Norway and the Netherlands are already collaborating. I hope to deepen and expand our partnership. This will create all kinds of opportunities for the Netherlands, and for Dutch entrepreneurs and organisations. In Trondheim, for example, there’s an amazing ocean research institute where Dutch and Norwegian scientists work side by side.
The friendship between Norway and the Netherlands goes back centuries. That gives us a solid foundation on which to build. But even old friendships can grow stale if you neglect them. So it’s our task as embassy to keep those ties fresh and strong, and to identify and seize every opportunity our partnership offers.’