Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize Awarded to the Netherlands Armed Forces

26-11-2024

Today, the Netherlands Armed Forces received the Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize, the second oldest peace prize in the world. This honor was awarded to the Netherlands Royal Navy, Royal Army, Royal Air Force, and the Marechaussee for their involvement in more than 80 peace missions worldwide.

More than 200 guests, including 35 ambassadors, Dutch Ministers Ruben Brekelmans and David van Weel, and many military personnel, gathered in the Auditorium of the Peace Palace for the festive Award Ceremony. Piet Hein Donner, Minister of State and President of the Carnegie Foundation, and Dr. Elisabeth Wesseling-van Gent, Chair of the Jury, presented the Award to General Onno Eichelsheim, Chief of Defense.

Laureate
“I know that for some, it may be strange to see someone in a military uniform talking about peace,” said General Eichelsheim, who accepted the Peace Prize on behalf of the entire Netherlands Armed Forces. In his speech, the general elaborated on various peace missions, as well as current and future deployment possibilities. Eichelsheim emphasized that the Netherlands are the only country in the world that have enshrined the development of the international legal order in its constitution, warning that the rule of law is under pressure. “Seeing the darkness of war helped me to appreciate the light even more. Peace. Freedom. Democracy. Rule of law. Humanity towards each other. We will never lose sight of what we aim to protect: a free democracy, international rule of law, the sovereignty of states. We will continue to participate in missions that seek to safeguard and promote these values“, said the Chief of Defense.

Jury Report
The Peace Prize jury explained their choice of laureate as follows:
“The Netherlands Armed Forces, through their four branches, the Royal Netherlands Army, Air Force, Navy and Marechaussee have always played and continue to play a significant role in peacekeeping, peacebuilding and stability. As early as 1913, long before the United Nations and UN peace missions existed, the Netherlands Armed Forces carried out their first peace mission in Albania, the same year the Peace Palace opened its doors. This shows that more than a hundred years ago, it was already recognized that peacekeeping and peacebuilding have many dimensions.

Since World War II, the Netherlands Armed Forces have participated in more than 80 peace missions under the flags of the United Nations, NATO, and the European Union. In addition to military support, the armed forces also provide civilian assistance. Dutch soldiers are often involved in building infrastructure, providing medical care, supporting local communities, training troops, and maintaining the rule of law.

By presenting the 2024 Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize to the Netherlands Armed Forces, we would like to honor and thank all Dutch military personnel who, on a daily basis, push their own boundaries to protect those of others. Members of the Netherlands Armed Forces dedicate and sometimes sacrifice their lives to preserving or building peace worldwide.”

Mental Consequences and ARQ Center
Dr. Tine Molendijk, an interdisciplinary cultural anthropologist specializing in military culture and ethics, and Prof. Lonneke Peperkamp, professor of military ethics and leadership, highlighted participation in peace missions from a different perspective. Molendijk described how military operations can affect soldiers’ mental health. During the Award Ceremony, the Chief of Defense announced that the prize money of 35,000 euros would go to the Dutch ARQ Nationaal Psychotrauma Centrum, the national expertise center for the diagnosis and treatment of people with complex psychotrauma complaints.

Royal Air Force Orchestra
The program was musically accompanied by the Orchestra of the Netherlands Royal Air Force, conducted by Major Jasper Staps. The orchestra played, among other pieces, “Brothers in Arms” by Dire Straits and specially composed pieces such as a Fanfare for the Peace Prize. Carnegie’s Peace March, composed by J.J. van Rosmalen in 1913 for the opening of the Peace Palace, was newly arranged for the Award Ceremony.

Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize
The Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize has been awarded in the Peace Palace since 1931. The board of the Carnegie Foundation honors with this prize a person or institution that promotes international peace, through word or deed. The prize was established by the Dutch banker Johan Wateler and entrusted to the Carnegie Foundation. Today, the Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize was awarded for the 74th time.

Carnegie Foundation – Peace Palace
The Peace Palace houses the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, the Hague Academy of International Law, and the Peace Palace Library. The Carnegie Foundation owns and manages the Peace Palace.

Aftermovie Award Ceremony 2024 Carnegie Wateler Peace Prize

Speeches
The speeches delivered during the Award Ceremony can be found here:

Livestream
Please watch the recording of the entire Award Ceremony below.