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:

2015

Islamic Finance

Oct 7, 2015 | 13:00 - 14:00

Why Nations Succeed? Building Prosperity with Nobel Laureate Prof. James A. Robinson

October 5 | 16:00 - 17:00

Ukraine, Diplomacy, and the Road Ahead: A Talk with Ambassador Alle Dorhout

June 6, 2025

In this interview, Dutch Ambassador to Ukraine, Alle Dorhout, discusses the complexities of living and working in Ukraine amidst ongoing Russian aggression. He highlights the dual realities faced by Ukrainians, the importance of international law, and the Netherlands' strong support for Ukraine due to historical experiences and the MH17 tragedy. Dorhout also addresses challenges in Ukraine's EU accession, the role of intelligence in diplomacy, and the evolving nature of warfare, including cyber threats. He emphasizes the need for Europe to prepare for potential threats and underscores the importance of unity and strategic autonomy.

"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.