The Senior Course 116 continued their Summer Field Study with a visit to The Hague (The Netherlands). After a group photo they were welcomed by Col John van Meeteren, Head Military Diplomacy and Foreign Liaison Section (MOD) who outlined the program of the day.
Mr. Stephan de Spiegeleire (Senior Defence Strategist, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies) started the series of lectures with a presentation on Global Developments influencing The Netherlands. He elaborated on the complexities of strategy development in today’s world, highlighting amongst others the ins and outs of the new Dutch Future Policy Review. Despite the early moment of the day this item was further investigated in an engaged question and answer period.
The next speaker was Major-General Herman van der Til (Director of Operational Readiness, MOD) on the current developments in the Netherlands Defense Forces. He depicted the concrete possible outcomes and implications after the June elections, building the already mentioned Dutch Future Policy Review. Furthermore he clarified the Defense structure and current operations. A lively discussion period concluded this part.
The last speaker in the morning session was Mr Robert van der Staay (Deputy Director Projects, Directorate of Projects and Procurements of the Defense Materiel Organisation). In his lecture and the following discussion period he gave a detailed picture of the ongoing large investment projects and the Dutch position in the international procurement environment.
For he afternoon session he Senior Course moved to the International Criminal Court (ICC), also being the first time that the Senior Course visited this institution. In two hour session and after an introduction by the Public Affairs Officer, two lectures were delivered by representatives of respectively the Registry and the Office of the Prosecutor. Combined with ample time to ask questions the Senior Course ended this day with a deeper knowledge of the structure, procedures, methods and possibilities of the ICC.
More about SC116 Summer Field Study:
First day – Italy
Second stop – London
NDC Public Affairs Office
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN