Ambassador John Groffen - Norway

The ambassador

John Groffen

Dutch ambassador in Oslo
John Groffen has been ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Norway and Iceland since 2021.

See the curriculum vitae of ambassador John Groffen on rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch).
John Groffen had a hectic start to his ambassadorship in Norway and Iceland: a few months after taking up his post, the Dutch royal couple paid a state visit to Norway. A baptism of fire, but the experienced diplomat took it in his stride. The Netherlands and Norway work closely together in the areas of defence and sustainable energy, and are like-minded when it comes to human rights and freedom of expression. ‘We can learn a lot from each other.’

What was your initial reaction when you came to Norway?

‘I knew it beforehand, but it was still a shock: everything’s just so expensive here! A glass of wine in a bar costs €14, for example. When I bought a half-litre bottle of sparkling water the other day it set me back €4.40. I’m not your classic tight-fisted Dutchman, more ‘penny-wise, pound-foolish’, so prices like that are quite confrontational. On the other hand, if you don’t adapt to local circumstances, you’re going to struggle in the foreign service. What my wife and I enjoy most of all are the beautiful natural surroundings. Fjords, mountains and vast forests – even quite near Oslo.’

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.
 

During a visit to Iceland to attend the Arctic Circle Conference, John visited Carbfix, a company working with carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions.
It’s also close to the Netherlands, which is great. I’ve lived in Qatar and Nigeria, and over the years, being close to family and the Netherlands has become more important to me. What’s more, energy has been a common thread in my postings. In Qatar and Nigeria the focus was on oil and gas, whereas in Slovenia and Germany, it was more on sustainable energy. And when it comes to the latter, Norway is the place to be.’

What can we learn from Norway in terms of sustainable energy?

‘Norway – and Iceland – are already generating green energy in enviable quantities. And Norway leads the field in pioneering hydrogen applications. They’re also looking into how the North Sea infrastructure for oil and gas extraction and transportation can be made suitable for sustainable energy purposes. The Netherlands, too, has an extensive North Sea infrastructure.’

What other themes and topics are the Netherlands and Norway collaborating on?

John and Claire Hooft Graafland, RVO’s hydrogen expert, at an event for Dutch and Norwegian companies working with hydrogen, offshore wind and CCS.
‘The Netherlands and Norway have been working together on defence for over half a century. Dutch marines do their cold weather and mountain training in Norway to prepare for NATO duties, and the Dutch navy conducts exercises in Norwegian waters. The Netherlands is also interested in the Arctic. Norway is a member of the Arctic Council; the Netherlands has observer status and works within the Council to promote responsible use of the polar region. It’s in our shared interests to act sustainably and responsibly with regard to the opportunities created by the melting ice in the Arctic. Like using the seaway to the north of the Russian Federation, which will become possible as a result of climate change.’

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.

‘When it comes to human rights, equal rights for women and freedom of expression we have very similar views. Norway is one of the like-minded countries with which we often band together in forums like NATO and the UN. Norway isn’t a member of the EU, but does belong to the European Economic Area and takes part in many EU programmes, for example in the areas of education and science. To take a stand on issues, the Netherlands needs to join with other countries – as does Norway.’

What do you want to achieve during your ambassadorship in Norway?

In preparation of the State Visit, John visited the SINTEF/NTNU Norwegian Centre for Plankton Technology in Trondheim.

‘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.’