Speech by Deputy Mayor Robert van Asten
Europe Day – 9 May – Hofvijver, The Hague
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, on this beautiful and meaningful morning by the Hofvijver, we raise the European flag to mark Europe Day—a day that celebrates unity, peace, and cooperation across our continent.
This year holds deep significance. It has been 80 years since our continent began to emerge from the darkest chapter in its history. And today, we also commemorate 75 years since the Schuman Declaration—an ambitious and visionary call for European cooperation that laid the foundation for what would become the European Union.
In these turbulent geopolitical times, the message of unity is more urgent than ever. Cooperation is not a luxury—it is a necessity. We are reminded daily that peace, freedom, and democracy must never be taken for granted.
These values are not abstract. They live and breathe here in The Hague—the international city of peace and justice. The values we cherish locally—peace, security, freedom—are the very same values that Europe was built upon.
But these values must be defended at every level—local, national, and European. Democracy is not self-sustaining. It needs participation, it needs protection, and it needs a voice—your voice.
As we raise the European flag today, let us remember: it is more than just a symbol. It represents solidarity between peoples, the triumph of dialogue over conflict, and our shared commitment to a future built on peace and cooperation.
Let us continue to stand together—for The Hague, for the Netherlands, for Europe.
