The final send off to our trip was in The Hague, the location of the government of the Netherlands and many of the international embassies. While walking around the city, we got to view some of the governmental complexes and even learnt about how the Dutch government works and compared it to the US. For example, while both the US and Dutch governments have three branches, the Dutch also have a King or Queen who serves a diplomatic role separate from the executive branch. Additionally, according to our tour guide, Enno, the monarchy is viewed mostly favorably which is a stark contrast to the US which was historically anti-monarchy. 

The highlight of the day trip was the Peace Palace, and the home to the International Court of Justice and the largest collection of International Law books. The site was built as a neutral area for countries to settle disputes and foster collaboration between companies. While the actual Palace was closed to the public, we were able to look around the visitor center and learn about the history of the palace and some of the cases that were tried there. Apparently, Andrew Carnegie funded the peace palace as one of his many acts of philanthropy. It was a surprise to see a familiar name on the other side of the world. 

Something to consider about sustainability to conclude the trip is the “give” and the “take” of sustainability. At the beginning of the trip, at Cacao & Spice and the Denim Factory, one of the topics of discussion was how to avoid sourcing materials that use unethical labor practices. Later in the trip, sites like RDM and Dakkaker emphasized how important the education aspect of sustainability is in ensuring the future generation continues developing sustainable practices. The Peace Palace today has an extensive library system that is a source of education to promote the collaboration between nations as a part of sustainability, but it was donated by Andrew Carnegie, a man who is both known for his philanthropy and his unethical treatment of laborers. This may not be the best example, and I don’t think it should taint the Peace Palace or redeem Carnegie’s actions, but I think it’s interesting to consider how unrealistic it is to achieve every single sustainability goal without any conflict. However, if you think of companies like Schoonschip, it’s very possible to achieve multiple goals like their net zero energy goals alongside providing a space for creativity.

As a landmark of diplomacy, The Hague was a fantastic place to end this study abroad trip. I’m really thankful for everyone I met on the trip and for having the opportunity to engage with the country in such a thought-provoking manner. This was an awesome experience and I can’t wait to reflect on it in the upcoming years. Doei!