On Saturday 17 March, the embassies of the Visegrád countries in the Netherlands, commemorated the death day of the Central-European scholar Jan Amos Comenius (1592-1670), together with the municipality of the Gooise Meren and the Museum Mausoleum Comenius. Comenius, buried in Naarden, marks a cultural heritage the four countries share. The so-called Comenius Day took place in the Grote Kerk in Naarden and was preceded by a ceremony during which the ambassadors of the four countries laid wreaths at the foot of the Comenius statue.
In the Grote Kerk, the over 500 guests were welcomed by the museum director and the Hungarian Ambassador to the Netherlands, H. E. Mr. András Kocsis, who spoke on behalf of the four ambassadors, as Hungary currently holds the rotating V4 presidency. Ambassador Kocsis highlighted how the V4 is the most effective and successful regional cooperation within the EU. He also reminded the audience of the visit of Dutch Senate President Ms. Ankie Broekers-Knol to Hungary, in October 2017. She visited Sárospatak and the Comenius bust in the city.
The program in Naarden was accompanied by music performances of a very special quartet, namely the V4 Quartet, which played beautiful jazz pieces. The four performers are each from one of the Visegrád countries. The Comenius Day also included the annual Comenius lecture, which was given by former justice minister of the Netherlands, prof. dr. E. Hirsch Ballin. His speech was followed by the presentation of the Comenius Award. This year, the award went to Mr. H.D. Tjeenk Willink. The 76-year old Minister of State and former cabinet informateur got the award because "he has worked with heart and soul for the democratic constitutional state". The program was concluded by a reception, during which the guests were offered wines, beers, spirits, soft drinks and typical snacks from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland.
