Meath County Council was delighted to welcome the Dutch Ambassador to Ireland Maaike van Koldam to Meath on Monday, 24 August 2026. The Ambassador was welcomed to the Thrive Centre of Business Excellence by An Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Sarah Reilly, Deputy Chief Executive of Meath County Council Des Foley, and other members of the Senior Management team.
During the course of a productive meeting, the Dutch Ambassador highlighted the historic links between Meath and the Netherlands, while Council management discussed their vision for Meath and possible opportunities for future collaboration. These historic links were then explored in further detail as the Ambassador and colleagues from the Dutch Embassy visited the Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre, which stands upon the battlefield site where William of Orange commanded an army which contained many of his Dutch compatriots.
The Ambassador then visited Fennor House, where Dutch national Paulus Willem Heemskerk has embarked upon establishing a vineyard. He aims to carry out the first harvest in Autumn 2029, after which wine production can begin in Slane. The Embassy team’s final visit was to Newgrange and the other Neolithic sites contained within the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre.
An Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Sarah Reilly said: “I was delighted to welcome Dutch Ambassador to Ireland, Maaike van Koldam, and her team to Meath for what was a very productive and engaging visit. “The Netherlands and Ireland share strong cultural, economic and community ties, and I greatly appreciated the Ambassador’s interest in building on the positive discussions held during the visit and to strengthening connections that will benefit our communities, businesses and local economy in the years ahead.
The Ambassador with Paulus Willem Heemskerk and his son Paul Junior at their vineyard in Slane. Above lead picture L to R: Majella Farrell, Head of Economic Development at Meath County Council, Dara McGowan, Director of Services at Meath County Council, An Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council Cllr Sarah Reilly, Dutch Ambassador to Ireland Maaike van Koldam, Deputy Chief Executive of Meath County Council, James Bradshaw, Politics and EU Officer at the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands.
Dutch Ambassador to Ireland, Maaike van Koldam said: “Today’s visit was a welcome opportunity to renew the deep historical connections between the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the ‘Royal County’ of Meath. Meath has been at the centre of Irish history and has been touched by the Dutch-Irish relationship as well. Seeing the vines which Paulus Willem Heemskerk is carefully tending to made me think not just of the deep roots of our relationship, but of its bright future as well.
“Meath has ambitious plans in climate, transportation, enterprise and many other areas, and has already played a vital role in Ireland’s EU Presidency, which Minister Helen McEntee and Minister of State Thomas Byrne are of course so deeply involved in. It was an honour to visit the ‘Royal County’ in an official capacity and to learn more about these exciting developments, while also learning about the Dutch involvement in Meath’s past and in its future.”
