Go Dutch, eh‪?‬ Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada

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. How can our two countries work together to ensure our communities are ready to meet future water challenges?

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.

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?

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?

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?