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The Veerstichting is a Dutch non-profit foundation that was established in 1978 by a group of students who longed for a different kind of interaction with people whom they saw as modellers of society. They felt the need for an inspirational venue to act as catalyst for the exchange of ideas and experiences. The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and as a result their movement gained momentum and materialised into a yearly symposium organised by a board of five students, guided by two different advisory boards.
Contents
Background
A group of students from the University of Leiden, The Netherlands, founded the VeerStichting in 1978. The purpose of setting up the foundation was to promote the debate between students and the so-called ‘designers of society’. That idea of promoting interaction between different generations still forms the foundation of the now illustrious VeerStichting. This takes place through a symposium with national and international top speakers. Bringing together different generations is the main goal. Not only do these meetings take place among top speakers from several disciplines and great thinkers from other branches of sport; it also revolves around connections between different generations, through which fresh and new ideas can be created. From students of applied physics to legal scholars; from CEOs to artists, they all spend two days bursting to share everything they have.
The symposium
Since its inception, the VeerStichting has grown into an annual two-day symposium that takes place in Leiden. Participants include 250 students from all Dutch and Flemish universities and 250 ‘designers’ from the worlds of business, politics, science, interest groups, sports and the arts. It is a platform where ambitious young students have an opportunity to meet with those who have already made a substantial contribution to society, and vice versa. Through the high level of both speakers and participants, this gathering is a source of energy and inspiration that often results in innovative insights for everyone. This is a meeting of current leaders and the leaders of the future, and provides opportunities to build bridges between different generations. With lectures and interludes that challenge the way the participants think about human behaviour and society as a whole, the symposium is all about exchanging visions and ideas. Philosophical themes, in which humanity, organisations and society overlap, are central. The themes reflect upcoming trends and stimulate participants into lively discussions, which ensures the very special atmosphere and sense of openness. The symposium may be characterized by the open and relaxed atmosphere in which the emphasis lies on the participants’ own contribution. The board invites a set of national and international speakers who provide their insights and ideas on the theme during the plenary sessions. During the lectures, seminars, and intermezzi the exchange of ideas and personal experiences form a key element. Traditionally, the plenary sessions, drinks, and dinner are set at the Saint Peter's Church in Leiden
Themes
Subjects at the cutting edge of humanity, organisations and society are discussed at the symposium. Topics often cover subjects that the participants do not consider on a daily basis, but with which they are still regularly confronted.
Participants
Traditionally the participants are divided into two equal groups: 250 students and 250 non-students participate during the conference. In order to guarantee a high level of discussion and participation, non-students are invited by the board on a personal basis. Participants are drawn from a diverse set of backgrounds. Non-students are collectively referred to as ‘those who shape our society': they include policy-makers, business men, scientists, politicians, journalists, and artists. Students are selected on the basis of their essay. The Board aims to gather a diverse body of students to guarantee a well-rounded discussion. Participating students come from all Dutch and Flemish universities. The encounter between young and old and between many different points of view has proved to be a refreshing and inspiring experience. At the conference, subjects that are discussed lie at the intersection of organizations, society and the individual. The themes tend to deal with the kind of theoretical ideas that confront the participants from time to time rather than with problems of daily working life. The event is frequently attended by Princess Beatrix
Speakers
Each symposium traditionally features a mixture of international and Dutch speakers related to an annual theme. The speakers are alternated by interludes, masterclasses and surprises such as salsa lessons, meditation and laughing therapy.
Former speakers at the symposium include:
Dr. F.W. De Klerk - former president of South Africa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Rt Hon. David Trimble MLA - former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Professor Graham Allison – Professor to the Harvard School of Government and former National Security Advisors to the U.S. Department of Defence.
Geoffrey Nice & Sir Ivor Roberts – former prosecutor at the International Criminal Court for Former Yugoslavia & former British ambassador to Yugoslavia
Baron Rees of Ludlow, Professor of Cosmology & Astrophysics and Master of Trinity College, Cambridge University;
Naomi Klein - author of The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
Mike Moore - former prime minister of New Zealand and Director-General of the World Trade Organization
Dr. Javier Solana - former Secretary General of the Council of the European Union
Robert Heilbroner - economist, author of The Worldly Philosophers
Shashi Tharoor - former UN Under-Secretary General for Communication and Public Information
Matt Ridley – biologist, author of The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves
His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan - former president of the Club of Rome
Jan Peter Balkenende - former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Deeyah – Norwegian popstar, Emmy-award-winning filmmaker and women rights activist
Peter van Uhm - former Chief of Staff of the Dutch Armed Forces
Mark Rutte – current Prime Minister of The Netherlands
Şafak Pavey – Turkish diplomat, columnist, human rights activist and politician (Turkish Grand National Assembly)
Nick Bostrom – Director of the Future of Humanity Institute at Oxford University
Kishore Mahbubani - former president of the UN Security Council, author of Can Asians Think? and The New Asian Hemisphere
Dambisa Moyo - Author Dead Aid: Why Aid is not working and How There is a Better Way for Africa
Ruud Lubbers - former Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Major General Patrick Cammaert - VN Force Commander for the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Robbert Dijkgraaf - mathematical physicist and Director of the Princeton Institute of Advanced Study
Dr. Benjamin Barber - author of Jihad vs. McWorld and Fear’s Empire
Edward de Bono - physician, inventor, consultant and author
Parag Khanna - Senior Research Fellow at the New America Foundation and Senior Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations
Gideon Rachman – chief foreign affairs Financial Times, author of Zero Sum –World
Alexander Rinnooy Kan - Former President of the Dutch Social-Economic Council
Deidre McCloskey – economist, author of Bourgeois Dignity: Why Economics Can't Explain the Modern World
Tariq Ramadan – Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University
Professor Talat Halman - Turkish poet, former Minister of Culture
Ulrich Witt – Economist and Director of the Max Planck Evolutionary Economy Group
Gurcharan Das – former managing director Procter & Gamble Worldwide, Indian author and philosopher
Joshua Cooper Ramo – Vice Chairman at Kissinger Associates
Feike Sijbesma – Current CEO DSM
Mario Monti - former Prime Minister of Italy, former European Commissioner and Italian economist
Ayaan Hirsi Ali -a Somali-born Dutch-American feminist, author, and former Dutch politician
Tito Mboweni - director at the BRICS Development Bank & former Governor South African Reserve Bank