Soestdijk, Netherlands: On Saturday, 24 October 2026, on the invitation of the Tibetan Community in the Netherlands, Representative Rigzin Genkhang attended a poignant gratitude event at Soestdijk Palace to celebrate 60 years of Dutch solidarity with Tibetan refugees. The event served as an expression of gratitude to honor two remarkable individuals, Cees Brouwer and HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, whose pioneering efforts led to the 1966 televised fundraising campaign that provided critical aid to the rehabilitation of Tibetan refugees.

The highlight of the event was a deeply moving personal message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama, read aloud to the attendees by Representative Rigzin Genkhang. In the message, His Holiness expressed his appreciation for the compassion and foundational support extended by the Dutch people during one of the darkest chapters in modern Tibetan history.

Representative Genkhang, in her powerful address to the gathering, expressed deep gratitude to Cees Brouwer and HRH Prince Bernhard for their profound expression of solidarity with a people who had lost their homeland, yet remained determined to preserve their dignity, culture and identity. “Their support brought hope, opportunity and a brighter future to generations of Tibetan refugees. That single act of generosity has blossomed today into vibrant settlements standing as a sanctuary of resilience,” stated the Representative.

She further underscored that international solidarity is just as urgent today as it was six decades ago, highlighting the ongoing crisis inside Tibet and the critical responsibility of the Tibetan community in exile to preserve their distinct language, culture, traditions and identity that face a systematic existential threat of erosion in Tibet under the occupation of the PRC. To safeguard this legacy, Representative Genkhang made a strong appeal for the establishment of a dedicated space for the community.

Echoing this sentiment, Norbu Tsering, President of the Tibetan Community in the Netherlands formally thanked all the dignitaries, guests, and community members present for their presence and enduring friendship. In his address, the President strongly reinforced Representative Genkhang’s call, highlighting that the establishment of a permanent community center is the vital next step to keep their cultural flame alive in the Netherlands.

The vision received strong and powerful backing. HRH Prince Carlos, grandson of Prince Bernhard and cousin of Kind Willem-Alexander explicitly endorsed the initiative during his address, emphasising that memories alone are not enough to guarantee cultural survival. “A culture isn’t preserved solely though memories. You preserve it by giving it a home,” declared Prince Carlos.

Prince Carlos also spoke highly of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s lifelong commitment to preserving Tibetan culture and identity. He attended the event to accept the community’s tribute on behalf of his late grandfather, who instrumentalised his platform to champion the Tibetan cause in 1966.

The audience was deeply moved by a personal and compelling account shared by Hugo Brouwer, one of the sons of Cees Brouwer. He offered a rare glimpse into the immense dedication behind his father’s humanitarian work, noting that Cees was on the road most of the time, leaving his wife to care for their eight children. Over the course of the project, Cees Brouwer made over 40 visits to India, returning each time with more Buddha statues.

Hugo shared a heartwarming family memory, recalling how every year during Christmas, the Brouwer household would eagerly wait for two specific cards to arrive: one from His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the other from Prince Bernhard. In a touching moment, Hugo paid tribute to his late mother, emphasising that her unwavering dedication to the family was what truly made his father’s historic contributions possible.

The commemoration successfully brought together key figures representing the generational legacy of this humanitarian partnership. Alongside Prince Carlos and the Brouwer family, Tineke Ceelen, the long-time director of Stichting Vluchteling (the Dutch Foundation for Refugees), was also in attendance, representing the continuous NGO support that has sustained international relief and advocacy efforts.

During the gathering, attendees looked back on a 1966 television fundraiser that raised approximately 9.5 million guilders, a substantial part of which went to Tibetan refugees. Young Tibetan children born and brought up in the country, dressed in traditional attire, performed a cultural song and dance to the delight of the attendees.

Sixty years after the Dutch public responded with overwhelming generosity to the historic 1966 televised appeal, this event bridged the gap between the original generation of refugees and the current Tibetan-Dutch community. It underscored a lasting truth: while six decades have passed, the gratitude of the Tibetan people remains undiminished.