This year we are celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations with Slovenia. The Netherlands will donate a beehive to Slovenia on 20 May – World Bee Day. Dutch Ambassador Johan Verboom talks about bee culture in Slovenia. “Bees are almost sacred here,” he says.

Many schools in Slovenia have a beehive, so children learn the importance of bees from an early age. In addition to honey production, bees also pollinate many of the crops we eat. “We donate the apiary to the school in Duplek, which is a two-hour drive from the capital Ljubljana,” says Johan. “We have invited Belgium and Luxembourg to join us so that the presentation will be a Benelux event.”

After consultation with the Slovenian Embassy in The Hague, it was decided to celebrate this anniversary in both countries. The Slovenian Embassy will therefore plant 30 rose bushes in Westbroek Park in The Hague, as roses also depend on bees for pollination.

Close partner

Slovenia became an independent state only in 1991. Until then, it was part of the former Yugoslavia. In 2004, it became the first country in the region to join the European Union.

As Johan points out, Slovenia and the Netherlands have been close partners ever since. They seek support from each other in the EU and NATO and as Schengen countries. “We work closely in many areas and our bilateral relations are excellent,” he says. “Trade between our countries amounts to 1.7 billion euros a year and is still growing. All the flowers I see here come from the Netherlands and there is a lot of interest in our innovative circular economy solutions. On the other hand, we import pharmaceutical and agricultural products and machinery from Slovenia. ‘

The Netherlands is popular among Slovenes. “Dutch is taught at the University of Ljubljana and we now have 400 alumni in our database,” says Johan. “Dutch books are being translated into Slovene, and Dutch artists are exhibiting here. This month, for example, there is a photo exhibition and an exhibition on biodesign. ‘

World Bee Day

In Slovenia, which has more beekeepers than any other country in the world, bees are almost sacred – bees are raised by four Slovenians per thousand. Wherever Ambassador Johan Verboom goes, he sees beehives. “The facades of beehives are painted in a variety of bright colors and patterns,” he says. ‘The main purpose is to help beekeepers separate different bee families, but houses are also works of art that brighten up the landscape.’

Because bees are so important to Slovenes, they successfully lobbied the United Nations for World Bee Day. From 2018, people around the world celebrate the role of bees and other pollinators on May 20th. This is the date when Anton Janša, the founder of modern beekeeping, was born. ‘The namesake of Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša!’

“Slovenians are experts in beekeeping,” continues Johan. “Every year, the country produces 25 tons of honey. There are about 170,000 bee families and 500 species of bees here. ‘ Johan is particularly enthusiastic about the fact that honey is produced and sold locally. ‘Beekeeping is a national sport.’

Bee protection in the Netherlands and elsewhere

Bees not only produce honey, but also pollinate many food crops, especially fruits and vegetables. Without bees, we would lose this food and our food security would be compromised.

In the Netherlands, wild bees are threatened by urbanization and intensive farming. The Netherlands has therefore drawn up an action plan to protect bees and other pollinators, which are essential for our food supply.

At the international level, the Netherlands has taken the initiative to work more closely with countries to promote bees and other pollinators. These countries form Coalition willing to pollinators.