Previous events:

Selection from the Committee:

Sol Zeev Ben Mordehai

Verkiezingsserie: Rob Jetten, leider van D66

Oct 8, 2025 | 13:00:00 - 14:00:00

“In the run-up to last year’s pivotal Dutch general election, political debate across the Netherlands centred on the future direction of the country, from the housing shortage and the future of education to pursuing ambitious climate goals amid growing geopolitical and economic pressures. Current members Zahra and Gabe interviewed Rob Jetten, at the time lead candidate for D66 and now Prime Minister of the Netherlands, as part of Room for Discussion’s election series. Even after the vandalism of his party’s headquarters after a far-right protest, Rob Jetten continued to promote optimism under the slogan “It can be done”. If you need some political optimism and these topics, and more, sound interesting, then this is the interview for you!”

This week in:

2014

Gerrit Zalm

Jun 5, 2014 | 12:30 - 13:30

You Can’t Kill the Story — Laurent Richard, Founder of Forbidden Stories

June 9 | 13:00 - 14:00

Ammar Hijazi

February 3, 2026

In this interview, Ambassador Ammar Hijazi, Head of the Palestinian Mission to the Netherlands, discusses the challenges of representing Palestine without formal recognition from the Netherlands and amidst ongoing conflict. He highlights the importance of international law and the struggle for Palestinian self-determination. Hijazi emphasizes the need for global awareness and action to support Palestinian rights and criticizes the lack of accountability for Israeli actions. The conversation also touches on the historical context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of international institutions.

"Democracy is about responsibility first of all. Everybody can contribute into the fight and just do what he or she can on his or her place."

— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya in Toppling “Europe’s Last Dictator”: A Conversation with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, January 14, 2025

Room for Discussion is the interview platform of the University of Amsterdam. We organise interviews with professors, entrepreneurs, economists, politicians, philosophers, CEOs and journalists to discuss relevant economic topics and recent events.