New York City was once just a small Dutch outpost called New Amsterdam. How did a modest trading colony become the global icon it is today? Join us for a deep dive with acclaimed historian Russell Shorto, who has spent decades uncovering the Dutch origins of America’s financial and cultural capital. From Manhattan’s first skyscrapers to Wall Street…

How can the UN uphold its humanitarian mission in an increasingly polarized world? Has it ever truly fulfilled its purpose of protecting human rights, and what role does diplomacy play as global tensions rise? Join us for a hybrid conversation with Jan Eliasson, former UN Deputy Secretary-General and President of the General Assembly, drawing on a …

Martin Wolf is one of the most prominent voices in the world of politics and economics of our times. In an era of inequality, political polarisation, and global power shifts, he asks the uncomfortable questions: Has capitalism betrayed democracy? Is rising authoritarianism a failure of the market—or the system itself? And most importantly, can we t…

Room for Discussion is proud to announce a new interview series. ❗Disclaimer: Room for Discussion is a journalistic student-led interview platform which encourages open dialogue and the sharing of diverse perspectives. The opinions expressed by individual guests and audience members in our interviews are solely their own and do not reflect the view…

Join us for a powerful discussion with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition and a global symbol of the fight for democracy. We'll delve into her journey from presidential candidate to exile, the ongoing struggle against authoritarianism in Belarus, and the challenges of rallying international support for democratic chan…

Ever wondered how €186 billion in EU spending is scrutinized to ensure every euro counts? On 14th January, from 13:00 to 14:00, at the REC E-Hall, we’ll dive into the world of the European Court of Auditors (ECA) with its President, Tony Murphy. As the leader of the EU’s financial watchdog, Murphy ensures that the Union’s finances are transparent, …

The way events unfolded on our platform today once again is deeply unfortunate. While we believe that protest is an integral part of a democratic society, we are dissapointed that the way it was carried out today hindered a free exchange of ideas. We are a platform run by students, for students which always strives to create a democratic environmen…

Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Karel Hendriks. He has worked with Médicins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) for over a decade and is now the Deputy General of the organisation and the Director of the Dutch branch, providing immediate life-saving care for people in conflict zones, natural disasters and epidemics. What is the mea…

Is wealth inequality the defining economic issue of our time? How has quantitative easing deepened the divide between the rich and the poor? What can be done to fix a broken economic system? Gary Stevenson, former Citibank trader turned economic activist, predicted the widening inequality post-2008 crisis and has been a vocal advocate for economic …

How to make finance a force for sustainability? Are there enough incentives in our system to balance short-term profits and the protection of the environment? And what is the role of PwC and Rabo Carbon Bank in shaping the discussion on sustainable growth? Our guest has been at the center of discussions about green finance for her entire career. Fr…

Room for Discussion is honoured to welcome Guy Standing, a British Labour economist, co-founder of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) and professor of Development Studies at the University of London. It will be a conversation offering insights into the changing dynamics of work, inequality, and social justice in today’s world. Is neoliberalism f…

What role does morality play in communication? How are moral messages cognitively processed, how are they represented in the neural realm, and in what way do they motivate behavior? For our first episode of 'The Ivory Tower', we will be speaking to Dr. Frederic Hopp. Frederic is Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam's School of Communi…

What do the Dalai Lama, Bill Gates, and Johan Cruijff have in common? All have them have been interviewed by Twan Huys, the most prominent interviewer and journalist in the Netherlands. He has seen the political and social environment change tremendously over the last decades and has talked to some of the most prominent makers and shakers of our cu…

In 1969 the Dutch security services opened a file on a 17 year old boy. His name was Derk Sauer. Later he founded his own publishing firm with Crown Jewel the Moscow Times, and to this day one of the few independent russian media outlets. The question now is: How will independent Russian media survive?…

Geert Wilders’ PVV recent election win is the latest addition to a trend of far-right populists winning big elections. Spanning from Argentina with Javier Melei to Italy with Giorgia Meloni, the Far Right seems to be on rise. There is no one better to talk about these events than Cas Mudde, the preeminent scholar on populism and the Far Right.…

Room for Discussion is excited to announce our interview with political jack-of-all-trades, Dutch top diplomat Tom de Bruijn. Having worked as a diplomat, ambassador, government official, minister, and mayor for decades – his extensive experience in navigating politics at a variety of levels from guiding the formation of EU treaties to negotiating …

What does BMW and the Nazi regime have in common? In what ways is the generational wealth of former Nazi supporters connected to contemporary German politics? How have Nazi Billionaires escaped accountability? Investigative Journalist David de Jong spent four years researching the history of Germany’s wealthiest families. In his book ‘Nazi Billiona…

What do you think of global governance’s failure to comply with the Paris Climate Agreement? What do you think of the court decision that ordered Shell to reduce all emissions by 45% by 2030? And if we live in a world where the Dutch government spends €37.5 billion on fossil subsidies on a yearly basis, does this mean that we need more Climate Acti…

Beyond the Negotiating Table: An expert’s View on Diplomacy. Kees van Rij is one of the Netherland’s most trusted diplomats, having held ambassadorships in Greece, Turkey, Spain and Brazil. From negotiating with dictators like Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi or Kim Jong-un to helping craft EU policy, Kees van Rij has been trusted with many of the m…

Eurojust, is a prominent legal agency at the forefront of the fight against transnational crime in Europe. From combating organised crime to terrorism, Eurojust is involved in resolving a wide range of cross-border conflicts. To discuss the intricacies of Eurojust’s operations and the significant role it plays in ensuring cross-border justice, we w…

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Currently, Tata Steel NL is the biggest emitter of CO2 and nitrogen in the Netherlands, and links have been made between their factory’s emissions and higher-than-average cancer rates in communities that live close to their factories. As a response, the company is planning to detox their emissions and pivot to Green Steel production, which they wil…

Climate change is one of the most defining challenges of our time, but what’s really the best way to tackle the issue and create a more sustainable future for all? Bjørn Lomborg’s has an answer: an alternative that challenges the mainstream narrative on climate change, which has earned him both praise and criticism. He tries to address the critical…

Tom Middendorp werd uitgezonden naar Somalië en verwachtte daar te moeten strijden tegen nietsontziende piraten. Het bleken wanhopige vissers die door klimaatverandering steeds minder inkomsten hebben. In Afghanistan zag hij met eigen ogen hoe de taliban waterschaarste inzette als machtsmiddel. Daarom besloot hij na zijn aftreden als commandant der…

Julian Assange. Salman Rushdie. Mike Tyson. Lula da Silva. The Wall Street Journal. The New York Times. What do all these have in common? They were defended by Geoffrey Robertson KC. He helped prosecute warlords and dictators like General Pinochet, was the President of the War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone, and fought for human rights everywhere fro…

From bitter football rivalries to beer preferences, the Dutch and Germans have a long and complicated history. As a Dutchman living and working in Germany, Ambassador Ronald van Roeden knows firsthand about the stereotypes and cliches that surround these two countries. In our interview, he shares his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities fac…

Ingrid Thijssen is the chair of the Dutch Employers lobby, VNO NCW. She has been called the ‘most powerful lobbyist’ in the Netherlands. On behalf of the Dutch Businesses, she has been warning about the business climate of Holland. According to her, this is deteriorating to a point at which many companies are contemplating leaving the Netherlands. …

Ernst Kuipers became a household name during the pandemic: a wise former doctor who helped guide the medical response to COVID-19. Now, he’s no longer just a medical expert: he’s a D66 politician.By [email protected]

The Red Cross is the World’s largest humanitarian network organisation working on helping people in need during emergencies, conflicts and disasters. When we watch the news we see crisis after crisis unfold, the Red Cross is often the organisation working at the scene to help those who need help the most. From emergency response to war aftercare an…

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[Audio is choppy only in the first few minutes, after that it gets better] What is a Status Game? How do people react and cope with losing status games? And how do we win the Status Game? Find this out and much more in our interview with Will Storr! --------------------------------- Do you want to see more interviews and be the first to hear about …

Many spent more time on one than with their friends or family. You are probably reading this from one. Smartphones have become an irreplaceable part of our daily life. The production however often involves complex supply chains spanning continents, conflict materials, and child and slave labour in the Congo or China. But change is in your hands! Jo…

5 years after the closure of the Yugoslavia tribunal, has it achieved its aim? The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in the Hague saw some of the world’s worst war criminals during its 20 years in session. Alphons Orie, as a judge at the tribunal, presided over several cases. Among others, he sentenced Ratko Mladić, Bosnian-…

Albert Heijn, Etos, Bol.com: all of these brands are part of Ahold Delhaize's local brands, and this company also has six international brands on the U.S. East Coast that account for the bulk of their sales. This is your chance to get to know the man who manages this international brand on a daily basis. Food retail is a unique industry, characteri…

Stock exchanges have offered a market for over 600 years. But what influence do politics, technology, and the stock market industry itself have on the price? Does the market, balancing the needs of buyers and sellers, provide a fair foundation? Will Stock Exchanges stand the test of time against Blockchains? Listen in on our interview with the CEO …

Dr. Saville is one of the world’s foremost experts on language-learning, education, and technology. He spearheaded the development of digital technology and computer-based learning with Cambridge English in the 2010s and is now a prominent advocate of Education’s future frontier: AI.By [email protected]

Caecilia Wijgers, the last Dutch Ambassador to Afghanistan. In her career, Wijgers held posts all around the world, from Latvia to Burundi, Cuba to Afghanistan, dealing with the challenges of being a diplomat in an increasingly unstable world.By [email protected]

What do Michael Scott, Jeff Bezos, and Kylie Jenner have in common? All three are successful managers, yet none of them have MBAs! So is business school really worth it? And what is Quiet Quitting? The Great Resignation? And how should companies really think about Corporate Social Responsibility? This interview is with Eric Cornuel, the Director Ge…

Room for Discussion Caroline van der Plas op de Universiteit van Amsterdam. Mevrouw van de Plas is actief Twitteraar, oud journalist, stijl icoon, maar bovenal de fractievoorzitter van de tweede partij in ons land, de BoerBurgerBeweging(BBB), tenminste, als we de peilingen mogen geloven. De BBB heeft momenteel 1 zetel in het parlement, maar staat o…

Listen to our interview with the CEO of DeGiro, Muhamad Chahrour. We discuss how the broker is navigating challenging times, how it is dealing with the merger with it's German brother, and he tells us why he thinks the idea of democratizing finance is nonsense.By [email protected]

*Fighting Crime in the Digital Age - with Catherine de Bolle Executive Director Europol * On June 21st, Room for Discussion hosted the executive director of Europol, Catherine de Bolle! Like Judi Dench’s ‘M’, she is a formidable character in fighting international crime. She has worked in law enforcement her entire life, most notably as the General…

Room for Discussion welcomed one of the most important Colombian politicians of the 21st century, Sergio Jaramillo Caro. As the High Commissioner for Peace, he was responsible for the negotiations in Cuba with the insurgent FARC Rebel groups after decades of conflict. He spearheaded demobilization and human rights reform in the Colombian military a…

Room for Discussion was excited to host Eugene Rhuggenaath, the former prime minister of Curaçao. In his term, Rhuggenaath was faced with various challenges which arose from the ‘independence’ of Curaçao from the Netherlands, along with difficulties brought on by the Covid-19 Pandemic. His government was the first to complete the entire term since …

Hoe sexy kunnen wij pensioenenpraat maken? Kom er achter bij ons interview met Harmen van Wijnen, Algemeen Bestuursvoorzitter van Nederlands grootste pensioenfonds ABP. Harmen van Wijnen staat aan het hoofd van een fonds ter waarde van ruim €500 miljard dat misschien wel voor jouw oude dag moet gaan zorgen. Met een pensioenvermogen van meer dan 1,5…

Room for Discussion hosted one of the EU's top diplomats, Roland Kobia! He is a true EU guru; he started working for the European Commission 30 years ago and now works for the EU's diplomatic service, the EEAS. He is now EU Ambassador to Ethiopia, a country currently in the throes of civil war. Mr Kobia previously served as EU Ambassador to Myanmar…

Room for Discussion is elated to welcome Sir Paul Collier - development economist turned knight turned political advisor and commentator. This renowned political economist currently serves as an Economics professor at Oxford and is the director of the International Growth Centre in London. He’s written nine bestselling and award-winning books, with…

We are truly excited to welcome Luis de Guindos, vice-president of the European Central Bank (ECB) to our stage. This seasoned economist has had an impressive career. De Guindos took office as head of the Spanish and Portuguese department of Lehman Brothers before the fall. He served as Spanish Minister of Economy and Competitiveness, where he beca…

Virologist Marion Koopmans joins Room for Discussion in an unprecedented mystery event. The world renowned infectious disease expert has managed outbreaks of ebola, MERs, and H7N7, but faced her biggest challenge as an advisor to the WHO throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Her outspoken disease activism has made her one of the most famous scientists …

More than half of the Dutch population has a Rabobank account. It is the second largest bank in the Netherlands and among the top 30 banks in the world, and we have the honour to discuss the Rabobank, banking and greening in general with their CEO Wiebe Draijer. If you have any questions regarding the role banks play in the Ukraine conflict, the im…

Room for Discussion’s last big guest has authored two international bestsellers, has gone viral after taking on the wealthy at Davos and has been hailed as the “Dutch Wunderkind of new ideas” by the Guardian.By [email protected]