Go Dutch, eh?

Meet Virginie De Visscher, Honorary Consul for the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Virginie sat down with us to talk about some of the great opportunities for Dutch companies to cooperate with companies here in Canada, and how they can expand their business here.

The climate is changing, and the consequences for water and flood management are becoming more and more evident, especially in a low-lying country like the Netherlands. In Canada, the dramatic effects of climate change are also unmistakable as large-scale floods continue to become more common. Building awareness around flood risk is critical to building community resilience, but support at both the political and citizen levels for large –and costly – investments in water infrastructure is critical. Collaboration is also crucial among government, industry, and knowledge institutes – it’s what drives water technology innovations and strengthens capacity to deal with urban water challenges.         How do the Netherlands and Canada deal with water? How can our two countries work together to ensure our communities are ready to meet future water challenges?  In this episode on meeting water challenges in a changing climate, you will hear from:- Henk Snoeken, Consul-General - Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vancouver- Annemieke Nijhof, Managing Director of Deltares (Netherlands)- Jason van Bruggen, Film Director and Photographer (Canada)
Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit vulnerable groups in our societies hard and we need to respond in solidarity to secure an inclusive recovery. This means we also have to listen to LGBTI communities and hear what their specific challenges and needs are. There is no one size fits all. 
In this episode on promoting and protection of equal rights for LGBTI people, you will hear from:
- Ines Coppoolse, Ambassador for the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada
- Marie Ricardo, Executive Director (Director of Strategy) at the Federation of Dutch Associations for Integration of Homosexuality (COC Nederland)
- Deborah (Debbie) Owusu-Akyeeah, Executive Director at The Canadian Centre for Gender & Sexual Diversity (CCGSD)

This episode is part of a special series on diversity and inclusion, and will focus on how Canada and the Netherlands are working together to promote these initiatives on a global and local scale.

Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada. 

Democracy is under pressure and a pandemic is causing fear in our communities. What are the Netherlands and Canada doing to promote diversity and inclusion, and how are they countering and preventing exclusion and discrimination? 
 
In this episode on preventing and combatting discrimination and antisemitism, you will hear from:
- Ines Coppoolse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada
- The Honourable Irwin Cotler, Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Anti-Semitism (Canada)
- Professor Dr. Emile Schrijver, General Director of the Jewish Historical Museum and  Professor of Jewish Book History at the University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

This episode is part of a special series on diversity and inclusion, and will focus on how Canada and the Netherlands are working together to promote these initiatives on a global and local scale.

Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada. 

At the core of any effort to establish accountability are three indispensable and interlinked rights: the right to truth, the right to justice, and the right to an effective remedy and reparation. In order to implement these rights, a comprehensive strategy is required that involves governments and civil society, and addresses gaps of knowledge, capacity and political commitment. What are the Netherlands and Canada doing to promote transparency, accountability and justice?

In this episode, on transparency, accountability and justice related to the downing’s of flights PS752 and MH17, you will hear from:
- Ines Coppoolse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada
- the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Special Advisor for the Government of Canada’s ongoing response to the Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 tragedy.

This episode is part of a special series on Human Rights and will focus on how Canada and the Netherlands are working together to promote and protect human rights worldwide. It is created by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada.

Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada 

Article 18 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes the freedom to change your religion or belief. It also includes the freedom to manifest your religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. This can be done alone or in a community with others. In public or private. However, intolerance around the world when it comes to religion and belief seems to be growing. More than three-quarters of the world's population live in countries with limited freedom of religion and belief. What are the Netherlands and Canada doing to promote freedom of religion or belief?

In this episode, on Promoting Freedom of Religion or Belief, you will hear from:
- Ines Coppoolse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada
- Jos Douma, Special Envoy for Religion and Belief (The Netherlands)
- Rob Oliphant, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Canada)

This episode is part of a special series on Human Rights and will focus on how Canada and the Netherlands are working together to promote and protect human rights worldwide. It is created by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada.

Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada

UN Women has recently pointed out that twenty years after the passing of the UN Security Council resolution 1325, which set a new framework for women’s leadership and inclusion in all aspects of peace, alarming gaps in implementation are holding back impact. What are both countries doing to closing the gap? Why is Women, Peace and Security a priority for the Netherlands and Canada?

In this episode, on Breaking Barriers for Women, Peace and Security, you will hear from:
- Ines Coppoolse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada
- Jacqueline O'Neill, Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security (Canada)
- Ella van den Heuvel, Commander and Gender & Security Expert (The Netherlands)

This episode is part of a special series on Human Rights and will focus on how Canada and the Netherlands are working together to promote and protect human rights worldwide. It is created by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada.

Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada

Reporters Without Borders forecasts that this decade will be decisive for the future of journalism, with the COVID-19 pandemic highlighting and amplifying the many crises that threaten the right to freely reported, independent, diverse and reliable information. What are the Netherlands and Canada doing to uphold this important freedom? How are the media conferences that both countries organize this fall going to make a difference?

In this episode, you will hear from:
- Ines Coppoolse, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada
- Bahia Tahzib, Dutch Human Rights Ambassador
- Catherine Godin, Director General at Global Affairs Canada Office of Human Rights, Freedom, and Inclusion
- Mohammad Shamma, Chief of Content and Program Manager at Journalist for Human Rights (JHR) in Jordan

This episode is part of a special series on Human Rights and will focus on how Canada and the Netherlands are working together to promote and protect human rights worldwide. It is created by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada.

Visit our website for more information: www.netherlandsandyou.nl/canada