Speech of princess Maxima, 24 September 2007
at the presentation of Wrr-rapport identification with the Netherlands, The Hague
The topic identity occupies a lot of people strongly in our country. Not only in the science and in political rings, but everywhere. It touches our all. For this reason it is well that the WRR have deepened this subject. A wrapped klus, because there this way many dimensions sit at the table.
Zo’n seven years suffered started my search to the Dutch identity. Thereby I was helped by numerous kind and wise experts. I was the privilege with many people make knowledge. As lot of to see, to hear and taste of the Netherlands.
It was a splendid and rich experience for which I am enormously grateful. But ‘de’ Dutch identity? No, that I have not found. The Netherlands is: large estimating without curtains, so that well to within can look at everyone. But also: be attached to privacy and gezelligheid. The Netherlands is: one biscuit at the tea. But also: enormous hospitality and warmth. The Netherlands is: common sense and control. Pragmatism. But also: together intense emotions live.
The Netherlands is grasp much too multi-purpose in one stereotype. ‘De’ Dutchman does not exist. As a consolation I can say you that ‘de’ Argentinian also does not exist. I find it for this reason very interesting that the title of the report of the WRR is not ‘De Dutch Identiteit’. But: ‘Identificatie with Nederland’. That leaves space for development. And for diversity.
At reading the report I had think back to 30 March 2001. the day that the verloving of my man and me was announced on the Dutch television. You can itself that perhaps still remind. I in any case heal good.
My father, prince Claus, said then the following: “Eén question very with difficulty which to answer is and that me was put repeatedly, is how it feels be Dutchman. My answer is: I weet how it is be Dutchman. I have several allegiances and I am world citizen and European and Nederlander.” Words which I am never forget. The identity and allegiance of people are no place hekken. I think that many people this way feeling.
Two years suffered products my man and I on a visit in Morocco. We a group had taken along young Dutch. Half of them had a Moroccan context. They were our guides and our interpreters. I remind myself a visit to Koran-school in Marrakesh. For us an unknown area. But they made our wegwijs in the ideas and use. Effortlessly them translated back and forth between Moroccan and Dutch. What terribly, to be in two cultures and effortlessly of to more closely be able jump at home. bridge builder is able be. I was enormously proud on them.
A another example. Previous year I was from my interest at guest at a number of conversations of Pauline Meurs with students. It concerned the development of their own identity and what means it for them Dutchman to be. Of the students Semra were, a studente rights. They told that she had hung its portfolio at succeeding for its end examination to a mast with two hang out the flag: Turkish and Dutch. A beautiful picture. A dangling portfolio. Two festively flying hang out the flag. As much as one mast.
The report of the WRR gives much attention to functional identification. That means very simple: each other learn understand because you share together an importance. Think of a sport club. Or a company. Or a school. Or a buurt. Good of it is that the emphasis does not lie on the visible differs between people. But on the common aim. And on everybody's personal qualities. Thus preconceptions can melt away. Together play. Together study. Together work. That gives a common perspective to young people with several contexts. That is enormously important in a world of open borders.
We think still surplus in dividing lines. Also newcomers do that. Type at type. But the Netherlands is no Artis. Correctly mixture and mixing give our strength. Rather I have given the next example once. I was some time ago on working visit in a hypermarket. The manager told that he had tried the turnover with a new assortment Moroccan raise products. That succeeded of no side. To a pay-desk collaborator with a Moroccan context itself interfered. She gave the products to the recommendation lower in the schap much to put. Then they flew the shop. What had the problem been? Very simple. The Moroccan huivrouwen would have wanted buy the spullen, however, but they were possible ordinary not.
For this reason I also say as an economist: it is well if you organisation has people in house which differs from each other. Diversity rewards.
Ladies and lords, according to figures of the United Nations live there on the world 175 millions people in a country where they are not born. I am of that 175 millions.
For our house a mushroom stands. Zo’n real Dutch Anwb-paddestoel. That mushroom gives the coordinates of my life.
Buenos Aires.
New York.
Brussels.
The Hague.
Wassenaar.
They stand all. With the correct direction and the distance in kilometres. Each time if I go or come home gone, comes I. All those places and people who hear, are part of my life. They belong to my identity such as Dutch. They are me dear.
I hope that the report of the WRR reason will be to an open discussion without generalisaties concerning the topic ‘identificatie with Nederland’.
That will not turn out better than expected. We expire easily in black blank think. But with that we and others do themselves too short. People have always more dimensions. People change also. That is what this way particular makes people: the capacity to develop. It is not ‘of, of’. But ‘en, en’. That does not make the discussion concerning identity easier. But much more interesting.
Multi-culturalism is plain evident, whether some people like it and applaud it or not 
