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!”

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

June 9 | 13:00 - 14:00

Tom Middendorp

May 17, 2023

In this interview, Tom Middendorp, former commander of the Dutch armed forces, discusses the intersection of climate change and security. He shares insights from his career, highlighting how climate change acts as a risk multiplier in conflict zones and emphasizes the importance of addressing root causes of conflicts. Middendorp also discusses the need for the military to adopt sustainable practices and how climate change should be a central theme in security policies.

"Amsterdam also not only is a city but also a state of mind. And the state of mind is a state of tolerance, curiosity, well, strangeness, a little bit."

— Femke Halsema in Amsterdam 750: a Conversation with Mayor Femke Halsema, October 30, 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.