In conversation with ZE Kees Rade, Dutch ambassador

Photo: Ad Gillesse

The arrival of Kees Pieter Rade as the new Dutch ambassador for Thailand, Laos and Cambodia has already been announced on Thailandblog and a number of Dutch people in Thailand have already met him during his first "public" appearance in Hua Hin. A report of that meeting has also been published on this blog, so that we have already learned a bit more about Kees Rade.

Officially, he is not yet an ambassador, but an ambassador-designate. He is also described by that title on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For that addition “designate” one could not find a good Dutch translation, but it could be something like predestined, intended or proposed.

To find out more about him, I went to Bangkok to have an introductory meeting with him at the Dutch embassy, ​​but first an explanation about designate and credential.

Credential

That designate has to do with the protocol procedure when a new ambassador arrives in a country, in this case Thailand. A new ambassador receives a letter from his head of state, again in this case King Willem-Alexander, in which he confirms that the intended ambassador may act as his representative in Thailand. That letter is handed over to the King of Thailand in person and in a special ceremony, after which the new ambassador can officially start work. That ceremony has yet to take place, because the King of Thailand is currently abroad. He is expected to be back in Thailand next September.

Formality

The ceremony is in fact a formality, which stems from a tradition from the Middle Ages, because there is already a lot of consultation and consultation of documents between the two countries beforehand. As soon as the ceremony is discussed, the new ambassador has in fact already been accepted.

Suriname

A country is of course authorized to choose its own ambassadors and in general the “receiving” country will not object to this. However, things sometimes turn out differently. When the Dutch ambassador in Suriname was replaced a few years ago – as usually happens every 3 to 5 years – the newly appointed ambassador was not accepted by the Surinamese head of state. Kees Rade of all people was then sent to Paramaribo as a temporary chargé d'affaires to smooth out the folds in this diplomatic row, which he successfully did.

Who is Kees Pieter Rade

As always at the Dutch embassy, ​​I was well received and made the acquaintance of Kees Pieter Rade, a friendly man who can be called a stately diplomat in every respect. Kees Pieter Rade was born in Amsterdam in 1954, who, after studying law at the University of Amsterdam, joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague in 1979. He did continue to live in Amsterdam and only moved temporarily if he worked at a foreign post for a certain period of time. He is married to Katharina Cornaro and they have a son together, who is now over 40 years old.

Catherine Cornaro

In preparation for the conversation I went looking for the family name Cornaro, because it didn't sound really Dutch. I came across a wealthy Venetian patrician family Cornaro, of which a daughter even became Queen of Cyprus by marriage, sometime in the 15th century. I asked Kees Rade if there was a connection, but alas, his wife is Austrian by birth and, as far as she knows, is not of royal blood. Of course it would have been nice to show that off in that diplomatic world.

Career

Kees Rade therefore started at BuZa in 1979 and has worked in the lower ranks in several departments of the ministry. In 1993 he became Head of the Suriname Bureau of the Development Cooperation Latin America Directorate. In 1997 he goes to Nairobi, Kenya for 4 years to work there as Deputy Chef de Poste. Then in 2001 he moves again to Managua. In this capital of Nicaragua, he is first a temporary Chargé d'affaires before being appointed ambassador. In 2005 he returns to The Hague, but in 2009 he flies out again. He will be ambassador in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. In 2013 he returns to the Netherlands to take up the position of Director of the Green Growth department at the ministry. The latter function also has to do with climate change, for which the Netherlands conducts a great deal of research.

Ambassador North Pole

Quite a few Dutch scientists are conducting research into the consequences of climate change in the Arctic. This research is supported by the Netherlands and a number of other countries, each of which has appointed an ambassador for the North Pole for consultation and consultation. Kees Rade will be that for the Netherlands and in that capacity he will also visit the North Pole to learn about the work that those Dutch scientists are doing. “Very impressive,” he said.

From North Pole to Thailand

His move from the North Pole to Thailand can also be called a climate change of working environment, from the cold and simple accommodation of the North Pole to warm Thailand with the luxury of perhaps the finest embassy and residence in Thailand. Kees Rade has started his work here, although because of that “designate” he will not have official contacts with Thai authorities.

What will the new ambassador do?

Kees Rade only knows Thailand from an early childhood holiday and from a few visits in office, but has never worked in Thailand or elsewhere in Asia. It's a completely new world for him and he's busy settling in with the help of the embassy staff. The information on Thailandblog about all kinds of matters concerning the Dutch community has also provided him with quite a lot of knowledge. Like his predecessors, he considers the interests of the Dutch people present here (living or on holiday), trade interests and human rights three most important spearheads of his expected activity as ambassador.

He has two well-functioning departments for Consular Affairs and Commercial Interests and he certainly intends to contribute in these areas.

Dutch community

The new ambassador knows that there is a large Dutch community in Thailand. He has already become acquainted with the Dutch in Hua Hin, but assured me that more visits to other places will follow, not only to get acquainted, but also to listen to what keeps those Dutch people busy.

Finally

For Ambassador designate Kees Pieter Rade, Bangkok is the last post before his retirement. That does not mean, however, that he will spend three years "minding the shop" and will only enjoy the pleasures of a stay in a beautiful tropical country with his wife. He assured me that he will roll up his sleeves for Dutch interests in Thailand and we will certainly hear from him again. We, also on behalf of you as a blog reader, wish him every success!