Dinner with Ambassador Lody Embrechts

		On Saturday, 11th March 2006, participants of the Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project were invited for dinner at the residence of H.E. Lody Embrechts, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Mrs. Christine Embrechts - Park in Kuala Lumpur. The purpose of the event was so that Ambassador Embrechts and members of his staff could meet some of the Dutch descendants living in Malaysia. Dutch descendants and their spouses/partners came not only from all around the Klang Valley but some even from Seremban and Malacca.
H.E. Lody Embrechts

In the Ambassador's welcome speech, he informed all those there that the dinner made a new record for the Embassy as it constituted the highest show-up by invitees for any of the Embassy's functions. Ambassador Embrechts also said that he had looked into their file on the Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project and noted that the first contact made with the Embassy goes back to 2001 when the Project began with only six families. The ambassador also touched on the gathering of Dutch descendants held in Malacca in 2004 and he was most impressed to learn that the event had even gained the recognition of H.M. Queen Beatix. The Ambassador said that he discovered that not all Dutch descendants in Malaysia have their roots to Malacca but found out there were many others from Sri Lanka and elsewhere and said that he was most impressed by the group and by what he had discovered about our history and heritage.

		After the Ambassador, Dennis De Witt spoke and began by thanking Ambassador Embrechts for his interest and willingness to meet the Malaysian Dutch descendants. Dennis called upon the Embassy to help create a closer relationship between the Malaysian Dutch descendants and the Netherlands, especially in areas such as heritage and culture, business and trade, and education, especially higher learning. It was pointed out that no Dutch descendant from Malaysia had the opportunity to further his/her studies to the Netherlands. These issues received a warm response from the others and it caught the interest of the Ambassador and his staff.
The Westerhouts from Selangor and Malacca

Dennis also took the opportunity to remind the Dutch descendants present there that day that the Project needs the further support and participation of all Dutch descendants so that we would be able to move forward and to generate more ideas on how all may benefit from the Project and the contact with the Embassy.

Thereafter, the group proceeded for a sumptuous dinner that was arranged by the Ambassador for us. During which, members of the Embassy and their spouses mingled to get to know the Dutch descendants better. The Ambassador made a special effort to go round to personally speak to all those who were there.

		Dutch descendants who attended the dinner were Dennis De Witt, Corinne Jansz, Douglas Jansz, Adrian Minjoot, Trevyn van Dort, Dexter van Dort, Jesse van den Driesen, Hazel Westerhout, Bryan Westerhout, Daphne Westerhout, Allan Goonting, Deborah Jansz, Benedict Manen-Basnayake, Valerie Manen, Darren De Wind, Lt. Col. (R) Johan van Geyzel, Pierre Jansen, Veronica Schokman, Susan Hendroff, Celine Marbeck, Joy Merz Leembruggen, Peggy Leembruggen, Marcia Nicholas and Adrian van Huizen. Many of them came together with their spouses and partners.
Marbeck, Van Huizen, Jansen families

		Other members from the Royal Netherlands Embassy included Mr. Luc Schillings, the Deputy Ambassador and his wife, Mr. Edwin Groenendijk, Head of Consular and Admin Affairs, Mr. Jan Kok, the Trade Secretary and his wife and Marie-Louise Martens, PA to the ambassador together with her husband. The Project received much positive feedback after the dinner. The Dutch descendants were most impressed with the friendliness and warmth shown by Ambassador Embrechts and members of the Embassy. Many from the Embassy also mentioned that they were happy to meet such nice people.
Allan Goonting, Susan Hendroff and Deputy Ambassador Luc Schillings

Ambassador Lody Embrechts hopes to meet the other Dutch descendants in the north when he has the chance to travel to Penang.

Below are more pictures from the dinner:

(B/R) Mr & Mrs Adrian Minjoot, Mrs van den Driesen,
(F/R) Peggy Leembruggen, Valerie Manen and her husband Noel

Marcia Nicholas, Susan Hendroff,
Mr & Mrs Dexter van Dort and Mr & Mrs Trevyn van Dort

Celine Marbeck, Marie-Louise Martens
and Joy Leembruggen

Veronica Schokman and friend Karen with
Lt. Col. (R) & Mrs Johan van Geyzel