Nieuwsbericht | 23-02-2011

On Tuesday the 22^nd of February 2011 the construction panel of the future Poortgebouw/Visitor Centre of the Peace Palace was unveiled by the major of The Hague, Mr Jozias van Aartsen and the Chairman of the Carnegie Foundation, Mr Bernard Bot.

Before the actual unveiling of the panel, Mr. Bernard Bot, chairman of the Carnegie Foundation, welcomed the guests among who were the contributors, the design team of the building including the architect Michael Wilford, the construction company and representatives and colleagues of the institutions housed in the Peace Palace. Read speech Mr. Bot here

Major of The Hague, Mr. Jozias van Aartsen, emphasized the importance of the Peace Palace in The Hague as the icon of The Hague as City of Peace and Justice. Van Aartsen also memorized the elegant ceremony when the Peace Palace itself was built at the beginning of the 20^th century which will be almost one hundred years ago, as in 2013 the Peace Palace will celebrate its centennial. Speech Mr. Van Aartsen here

The unveiling of the construction panel was conducted outside at the building site by Mr. Jozias van Aartsen and the Chairman of the Carnegie Foundation, Mr. Bernard Bot. This small but festive ceremony was the kick off of the construction of the Visitor Centre which should be finished at the end of the year.

This new Poortgebouw/Vistor centre will be located at the main entrance of The Peace Palace where a broad public should have access to information on the Peace Palace and the institutions it houses. This facility will also have a security function for all individuals, groups and vehicles that enter the Peace Palace gates. The Visitor Centre will provide information about the International Court of Justice and the Permanent Court of Arbitration and will serve as a gateway to the Library and The Hague Academy for International Law.

Over time, the Visitor Centre is to become a meeting place, the interface between the activities in the palace and the interest of the public in them.

Read more about the Poortgebouw/Visitor Centre here

“Hier wordt geïnvesteerd in uw toekomst. Dit project wordt mede mogelijk

gemaakt door het Europees Fonds voor Regionale Ontwikkeling”.