MDDP - Events - Farewell to Ambassador von Mühlen

Farewell to Ambassador von Mühlen

On the 26th August 2005, Malaysian Dutch descendants and their friends got together for a farewell dinner honouring H.E. John C. F. von Mühlen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and his wife, Mrs. Danielle von Mühlen.

The dinner was organised by the Malaysian Dutch Descendants Project on the occasion of the ambassador's retirement from diplomatic service and in appreciation for the kind support that the ambassador has bestowed onto the community of Dutch descendants in Malaysia during the tenure of his service Malaysia.

The dinner was held at the Bayou Javanese Brew and Cafe in Mont' Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. The menu for the evening was Rijsttafel — a well-known Dutch-Indo cuisine and within the restaurant's lovely ambience of how colonial Indonesia looked like in the old days.

Also attending the dinner as the Project's guests were Mr. Luc Schillings, the Deputy Head of Mission from the Embassy and his wife Mrs. Odette Schillings. Participating as well in the dinner were Mr. Marco Winter, the Executive Director of the Malaysian Dutch Business Council and his wife, Mdm. Patricia Tan. Friends and supporters of the Project, Mr. Jan Horstink and Mrs. Tineke Horstink came from Malacca to join us that evening.

The event was made even more memorable with four Dutch descendants who came all the way from Penang to take part in the dinner. Mr. Harold Speldewinde, who is the Project's representative in Penang, Dato' Stanley De Witt, Mr. Kenneth Speldewinde and Dr. H. E. Scharenguivel received a warm welcome from the others.

The other Dutch descendants and their spouses who attended dinner were Dr. & Mrs. K H Oorloff, Mr. Jesse Van Den Driesen, Miss Charmaine Van Den Driesen, Mr. Gary Yong & Mrs. Deborah Yong nee Jansz, Mr. & Mrs. Clifford De Wind, Mr. & Mrs. Darren De Wind, Mr. & Mrs. Allan Goonting, Mr. Roger Valberg, Mr. Benedict Manen- Basnayake, Mdm. Corinne Jansz and Mr. Dennis De Witt.

Farewell dinner for ambassador John von Mühlen.

The event began with a welcome speech by the Project Co-ordinator, Mr. Dennis De Witt who spoke about the founding of the Project, its early contact with the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Malaysia and how the Project has grown. He also informed the guests that the first contact the Malaysian Dutch descendants had with Ambassador von Mühlen was when the ambassador had so kindly invited a small group for a private dinner get-together at the ambassador's residence in April 2003. Unwittingly and unknown to most, history was created that day as it was the first official acknowledgement of the community's existence and the first official contact made between a Dutch state official with the Dutch descendants in Malaysia since Malacca was given up to the British in 1825 — 180 years ago. The Project looks forward to the continued good relationship with the Embassy and hoped for the Embassy's support for the Project's future activities.

Next, Mr. Jesse Van Den Driesen, who is of Ceylon Dutch Burgher descent, gave a short talk about his experience participating in the Project and how he has now become more aware and proud of his Dutch roots. He also stressed on the importance for our children to know their roots.

Mr. Harold Speldewinde, the Project's representative in Penang, also said a few words about how pleased he was to be able to participate in the dinner and to meet everybody there. He thanked all those responsible for the invitation and for organising the dinner.

The guest of honour was invited to give a speech and Ambassador von Mühlen began by thanking everybody for organising a very nice farewell dinner in such lovely surroundings. The ambassador informed all there that his interest in the history and heritage of the Dutch in Malaysia probably came from the fact that the ambassador himself had an ancestral connection with Indonesia. Although the ambassador, during his term in Malaysia, was involved in a number of heritage activities that included shipwrecks, old buildings and gravestones, he informed everybody that it is the Dutch descendants left in Malaysia who are the true custodians of the Dutch heritage here. The ambassador, therefore, urged the Dutch descendants to be more in touch with their Dutch roots, to have pride in their heritage and to carry on perpetuating their heritage and culture. The ambassador also expressed his hope that after his retirement the Embassy would continue the good relationship created between the Embassy and the Project, as well as the possibilities for assistance on the part of the Embassy towards future heritage projects for the Dutch descendants in Malaysia. He gave his personal guarantee that, although he would no longer be there, the Embassy would still be willing to entertain such possibilities in the future.

Farewell dinner for ambassador John von Mühlen.

The event proceeded with the presentation of gifts to the honoured guests. Mr. Harold Speldewinde and Dato' Stanley De Witt presented gifts on behalf of the Project to Ambassador John von Mühlen and Mrs. Danielle von Mühlen as a token of the community's appreciation and symbol of our friendship.

Towards the end of the evening's events, Miss Charmaine Van Den Driesen gave a song dedicated to the ambassador and his wife. Miss Van Den Driesen, aged 15, gave an outstanding performance of "Be my valentine" that was well received by all.

The dinner came to a close with personal well wishes from the guests to Ambassador von Mühlen and Mrs. von Mühlen. A group photo was taken as a remembrance of the occasion but the group was in no hurry to adjourn. Instead, most lingered to savour the delightful evening and the warm company there.

Ambassador John von Mühlen and Mrs. Danielle von Mühlen left Malaysia on 9th September 2005 and plan to spend their retirement in France. They will be missed by all those who got to know them during their stay in Malaysia.

Farewell dinner for ambassador John von Mühlen.
( Click here for a larger version )

Ambassador John von Mühlen's message

On the Monday after the farewell dinner, the Project received a personal e-mail from Ambassador John von Mühlen. He wrote :

Danielle joins me in thanking you most sincerely for the wonderful Friday evening in "Bayou Javanese Brew and Café". The setting of the MDDP farewell dinner was very appropriate. We enjoyed the ambience, the company, the food, nice speeches, song!, and were honoured by the presence of so many Dutch Eurasians, even from Penang.

Over the years we got more and more attached to your group and I am confident that the close relationship which you and I built up, will be continued in the future.

As I said in my speech, you represent the living Dutch Malaysian Heritage, keep that heritage alive!

With kind regards,

John von Mühlen

New appointment:

H.E. Lody Embrechts takes over the position as the new ambassador of the Netherlands to Malaysia. Ambassador Lody Embrechts is joined by his wife, Mrs. Christine Park.

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