The Netherlands from the unique perspective of the Vietnamese Ambassador.

With his unique approach, Ambassador Pham Viet Anh guides readers to discover the first 20 letters of the unique keywords in his book, which records his genuine feelings about the Netherlands.

Recently, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and Tre Publishing House jointly organized a book launch and discussion event for " The Kingdom of the Netherlands - Keywords that contributed to the success and uniqueness of the book by former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands, Pham Viet Anh."

Ambassador Pham Viet Anh receives congratulatory flowers from colleagues and readers at the book launch and exchange event on November 24th. (Photo: Le An)

This little book is like a multi-piece picture, reflecting the colorful and multifaceted people and life of the land of tulips.

This is the result of observations and real-life experiences, pieced together to help readers better understand the mindset, willpower, and tireless efforts of people who knew how to work together, "pull water from the river to find land to live on," and make the Netherlands a prosperous nation.

Interesting things about the "lowlands"

With the aspiration to find as many positive aspects of the Netherlands as possible to bring back to Vietnam, through each page of Ambassador Pham Viet Anh's book, the country appears in a fresh light, along with many stories from real life.

The ambassador shared: “God created the world , and the Dutch created the Netherlands. It’s unclear who said it or when, but this saying is often quoted and holds the miraculous significance of shaping a nation, a people, and a culture.”

According to the Ambassador, all the efforts, knowledge, and experience of the Dutch people, accumulated over centuries and passed down through generations, serve a single goal: to adapt and survive in the face of harsh natural conditions and historical events, and to reach greater heights through their own unique path.

This "hardly-fought lowland" has produced great scholars, scientific inventors (microscopes, telescopes, oil paints), and masterful painters like Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent van Gogh. This nation has also produced generations of entrepreneurs who conquered the world market since the 16th century, pioneering the stock market and joint-stock companies.

The Dutch made breakthroughs in digital technology with great inventions like magnetic tape, CDs, VCDs, Wi-Fi, and superior semiconductor chips. People from the lowlands have made many things that are commonplace elsewhere flourish in the Netherlands, such as tulips, windmills, cheese, and wooden clogs.

Unlike conventional books, Ambassador Pham Viet Anh's book is structured alphabetically by the 20 English letters of the alphabet – alluding to keywords that have contributed to the Netherlands' success, such as: Adaptation, Balance, Circular Economy…

He explained: "The issues are arranged alphabetically, each item representing a problem, concept, or reality gathered from various sources, observations, and discussions with local people."

Therefore, the sections in this book are not independent, but interconnected, illustrating the unique characteristics of the "land of tulips." The figures may not be the latest, but they contribute to illustrating the ongoing stories of Dutch success.

According to the Ambassador, from a low-lying, swampy land overlooked by dynasties and empires, named after its characteristic "low land," the local community has learned to work together to find a way to make the Netherlands the prosperous nation it is today.

The Dutch always know how to work together to create greater value and make a difference; when they believe they are on the right track and are properly appreciated, they are determined to see things through and pay close attention to adding value to their work.

One of the things that contributes to the success of the Netherlands is its relentless innovation. Competition is also based on creativity, allowing products to develop together rather than destroy each other, and together achieve richness, diversity, and sustainability.

The author emphasizes the Dutch favorite saying, "It is not the strongest flower, nor the most intelligent flower, but the one that adapts most to change in order to survive," attributed to Charles Darwin.

He shared: "This little book cannot fully reflect all the unique aspects of the Netherlands; I only hope to bring readers the feelings I was fortunate enough to experience during my time working in the Netherlands about the admirable qualities of its people."

A meaningful gift symbolizing the friendship between the two countries.

Ambassador Pham Viet Anh served in the Netherlands from 2020 to 2023. The information he recorded in his book is very practical and useful for those planning to study, settle, or do business in the Netherlands, as it is quite different from general travel guides.

In addition to showcasing the country's stature, the author discusses its relationship with Vietnam through several technical and social development programs. He considers the book a small gift to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1973-2023).

Book cover by Ambassador Pham Viet Anh. (Source: Tre Publishing House)

Speaking about the book, the Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, Cees van Baar, expressed: “How can you better understand your own country? Let a foreigner tell you the story of their encounters, what they read in the newspapers, their experiences, and especially the things that surprised them about your country.”

According to Ambassador Cees van Baar, the book is the most vivid introduction to the Netherlands – a country with over 400 years of relationship with Vietnam.

Both countries face challenges as well as benefits from water resources, and both have become developing economies thanks to abundant agricultural products. Water and agriculture bind us together, now working hand in hand in a green and sustainable transitional economy.

The mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, said: “You’re unlikely to find this in popular travel guides, which focus on tourist attractions and essential information for visitors. But to truly understand a country and its people is a completely different matter.”

Jan van Zanen believes that the author has an open and honest view of the Netherlands and its people. In particular, published in 2023, the book is significant in contributing to fostering friendship and developing relations between the two countries in the future.

“For me, the Netherlands has always been a source of inspiration, not because of its mystery or intriguing hidden aspects. On the contrary, everything is laid out before us; the more closely we observe and the deeper we delve, the more interesting things we discover, not only to satisfy our need for knowledge but also to inspire and motivate us to learn. The more we investigate and connect the facts, the more we see the profoundness, comprehensiveness, intelligence, sharpness, and practicality in the thinking and actions of the Dutch people—truly admirable and worthy of emulation.” (Ambassador Pham Viet Anh)

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ha-lan-duoi-goc-nhin-doc-dao-cua-dai-su-viet-nam-251618.html