photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
By Beata Bruggeman-Sekowska
On October 28 and 29, 2024, His Excellency Neilas Tankevičius, the Lithuanian Ambassador to the Netherlands, embarked on his first official visit to Limburg, joined by Commercial Attaché Mr. Julijus Glebovas and Honorary Consul of Lithuania in Limburg Mr. Aloys Bruggeman. This landmark visit aimed to strengthen the economic and cultural connections between Lithuania and Limburg, highlighting both shared interests and new opportunities for collaboration.
The program commenced with a formal reception at the Government Building in Maastricht, where the ambassador was welcomed by Mr. Stephan Satijn, Regional Minister for Economy, Finance, Business Operations, and Public Affairs, along with Limburg officials Mr. Robert Lambriks and Mr. Peter Diez. Conversations underscored the growing economic, technological, and cultural synergies between Lithuania and Limburg.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
The delegation toured ETpathfinder, a pioneering research facility dedicated to the development of the Einstein Telescope, which explores gravitational wave technology. This visit presented an exceptional opportunity for Lithuanian research institutes to explore potential collaborations in this cutting-edge field.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
The meeting also included a visit to the historic site of the Maastricht Treaty, a symbolic moment of European unity and a fitting backdrop for the discussions. Both the Netherlands and Lithuania benefited enormously from the EU membership. Notably, since joining the EU in May 2004, Lithuania’s economy has grown faster than any of its peers.
Reflecting on the meeting, Regional Minister Mr. Stephan Satijn said, “The meeting with Ambassador Neilas Tankevičius made it clear to the Province of Limburg that Lithuania and the Netherlands have a lot to offer each other, both economically and technologically. It was nice to hear that Lithuania is one of the largest producers of E-bikes in the EU and supplies many bicycles to our country. The high level of knowledge in the field of ICT, physics, and laser techniques in Lithuania offers opportunities with a view to the arrival of the Einstein Telescope in Limburg. It was also interesting to hear that more and more Dutch people are finding Lithuania as a tourist destination.”
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
Later, at Maastricht University, Ambassador Tankevičius met with Lithuanian students, guided by the Dean of the Law Department, Professor Jan Smits. This meaningful encounter allowed the ambassador to engage with the students directly, providing them a platform to share their perspectives on studying abroad and their academic experiences.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
Further strengthening cultural ties, the ambassador met with Mr. Gert Geluk, Director of the International Festival Vocallis, to discuss plans for a Lithuanian cultural showcase at the 2025 festival, which will feature performances by the National Youth Orchestra of Lithuania to honor Lithuanian composer Mikalojus Čiurlionis. According to the Ambassador the Dutch art lovers have started to discover M.K.Čiurlionis: “This year we had an exhibition of his paintings in Herenveen, first ever in the Netherlands. Next year we will celebrate 150th birth anniversary of M.K.Čiurlionis with his music in Limburg”.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
On the second day in Heerlen, Mayor Roel Wever formally welcomed the delegation to City Hall, emphasizing the significance of cross-border collaboration. He reflected on the potential for mutual initiatives, stating: “It was an honor to receive Ambassador Neilas Tankevičius of Lithuania in Heerlen. In our exploratory conversation, we shared valuable knowledge about developments in Lithuania, the city of Heerlen, and the Parkstad region. Themes such as economy, tourism, energy, defense, and culture were discussed, and we have opportunities for economic and cultural cooperation. I look forward to further discussions and to a possible strengthening of ties between Lithuania and our Parkstad region and the city of Heerlen.”
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
The delegation continued their visit with a stop at Bernardinuscollege, Heerlen’s oldest secondary school, where Director Mr. Ger Rombouts and Internationalization Coordinator Mr. Jan de Heer discussed possibilities for student exchanges and further collaboration in education and culture.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
Additionally, Ms. Moniek Daniëls, Regional Manager at Visit Zuid-Limburg and Ms. Maike Aerts Project coordinator Marketing & European Projects provided the delegation with insights into the transformation of Zuid-Limburg from a former mining region into a dynamic tourist destination. This provided opportunities to exchange ideas on promoting tourism in Lithuania and research possibilities of further cooperation in the field of tourism.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
Finally, the delegation toured Brightlands Smart Services Campus in Heerlen, a hub for digital innovation and sustainable technology solutions, where Mr. Yanick Dols, Business Developer Startups & Scale-ups, outlined the campus’s mission to connect businesses, institutions, and talents to create sustainable solutions for societal challenges. This final exchange highlighted opportunities for collaboration in digital development and innovative technologies between the two regions.
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
photo: © Central and Eastern Europe Center communications-unlimited.nl
The visit of the Lithuanian delegation to Limburg underscores the strong commitment between two countries, highlighting a promising path toward deeper collaboration at the regional level. With fresh insights and shared goals in technology development, culture and education, the stage has been set for meaningful partnerships and innovative growth in the years ahead.
Author: Beata Bruggeman-Sękowska is an award-winning international journalist, TV correspondent, author, chief editor of international journalism centre, Central and Eastern Europe Centre, president of the European Institute on Communist Oppression and a sworn translator. She was born in Warsaw, Poland and has also Armenian blood and roots in Lvov, which is part of Ukraine. She has been living in Heerlen, the Netherlands since 2005.
