Foreign Minister’s Commendations for the SieboldHuis Foundation

16 December 2015

On December 10, at the occasion of the National Day Reception, Ambassador Tsuji handed out the certificate of the Foreign Minister’s Commendations to Ms. Schiermeier, Director of the SieboldHuis. It was announced August this year that the SieboldHuis Foundation was one of the recipients of the award. The Foreign Minister's Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public towards the activities of the recipients.
 

19 August 2015

On 19 August, a list of the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendations for Fiscal Year 2015 was made public, and among those to receive this award was The SieboldHuis Foundation from the Netherlands. This foundation was established in 1999, taking the opportunity of the 400-year relationship between Japan and the Netherlands in 2000. Since the SieboldHuis was officially opened in 2005 in the former residence of physician Philipp Franz von Siebold who worked in Deshima, just off the port of Nagasaki from 1823-1830, it functions as a museum that exhibits various items, such as samples of Japanese fauna and flora, maps and art crafts collected and owned by von Siebold. Simultaneously, this museum functions as a center for introducing Japanese culture in the Netherland. The SieboldHuis has memorable meaning in the relationship between Japan and the Netherlands. It was the place where Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan stopped shortly during their visit to the Netherlands in 2000 and it was chosen as the venue for the Japan-Netherlands summit meeting during the visit to the Netherlands by Prime Minister Koizumi in 2005. These and other activities were significant contributing factors in awarding this Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation to the SieboldHuis Foundation, which continues to play an outstanding role in promoting mutual understanding between Japan and the Netherlands. The Embassy of Japan congratulates the SieboldHuis Foundation on receiving this prestigious award.