Trust is central to the stakeholder dinner

For the first time in a long time, the Royal Netherlands Association of Commerce (KNB) welcomed key stakeholders and partners to its stakeholder dinner in Amsterdam on June 19th. Both the host, photographer Jimmy Nelson, and KNB chair Annerie Ploumen emphasized the importance of trust as the foundation for connection.

At the closing of the stakeholders' dinner, future KNB president Barbara van Kampen immediately announced that the KNB would like to continue this fine tradition. Besides being an inspiring evening, this dinner is also intended for that purpose: for the current president to thank clients for their cooperation, and for the incoming president to forge new relationships in anticipation of her appointment on October 1st.

Everyone
The stakeholder dinner, however, isn't so much about the KNB itself, but rather about existing relationships and chain partners. And everyone is there: representatives from the Netherlands Bar Association (NOvA), the Land Registry, bailiffs, tax advisors, and accountants. The Supreme Court is present, as are representatives from the Ministry of Justice and Security (J&V), as are the Judicial Council and Aleid Wolfsen of the Dutch Data Protection Authority.

International representatives are also represented. Robin Frissyn, of the Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries, calls the meeting "fantastic." "We do it too. Every year, we organize a 'partner evening' with all our external partners. The Dutch and Belgian notaries are very close; we share the same market and share the same roots. I find it interesting to hear, for example, how the Royal Federation of Belgian Notaries collaborates with real estate agents."

World famous photographer
The dinner will take place in a unique location: the studio of world-famous photographer Jimmy Nelson, just off the Zuidas business district. Nelson is a close friend of Annerie Ploumen, which is why the Royal Netherlands Bar Association (KNB) has the privilege of hosting a meeting there.

Nelson has made a name for himself with remarkable portraits of people in the most remote and isolated places on earth. In his books, such as "Before They Pass Away," he portrays tribes and peoples from all over the world. On the day of the KNB dinner, Nelson had just returned from an expedition to a tribe on the border of Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Despite his jet lag, Nelson passionately recounts his remarkable photo projects and how they led him to them. Under the watchful eye of the Samburu on one wall and the "Women of the World" series on the other, Nelson passionately tells his story.

Breathless
The audience of over 60 listens with rapt attention to his deeply personal story. It covers his carefree childhood as the son of a father whose job at Shell took him all over the world, his miserable boarding school years from the age of seven, and his flight—at seventeen—to Tibet. There, he finally finds a "home" and begins his career as a photographer.

The key concept in his story: it's about trust, building a bond, and connecting. Wherever Nelson is, he can't start taking photos until he's earned their trust—even if that sometimes takes weeks.

Trust as a binding agent
KNB chair Annerie Ploumen explained in detail in her opening speech (pdf) that "trust" is essential. "Trust is the glue that binds society together," she told her audience. "Our social well-being depends on it, our material prosperity, and also our sense of security and justice." Although that trust is under pressure, efforts are being made in many areas to restore it. "I see it with you, our stakeholders and chain partners. And of course, the notary profession also holds restoring and maintaining trust in high regard."

Gatekeeper
The notary profession achieves this by working to improve access to notaries for all citizens, by providing legal certainty and legal protection in the digital world, and by acting as a gatekeeper. Regarding this last point, Ploumen raises a wish, with a sidelong glance at Aleid Wolfsen and the Justice and Security representatives. "We sometimes encounter practical and legal obstacles. For example, the question of how we are permitted to share client data within the notary profession to prevent malicious actors who are unsuccessful with one notary from happily trying again with the colleague next door."

At the end of the evening, Maaike van Tuyll (Ministry of Justice and Security) had an answer. Regarding the KNB chairman's wishes, she said this was "work in progress." "We will arrange it, but within the European framework. It will be ready in 2027."

Photos of the stakeholder dinner can be found here .

An impression of the stakeholders' dinner can be found below: