Command and Control
“You can imagine that creating scripts for such an event is a monstrous job,” Pieter continues. Relatable: ‘And yet, I tackled it exactly the same as I do with all of our events. Only the scale of it was different.’ A few days before the summit, Pieter naturally took on a directing role in the execution. ‘I was part of Command & Control, the nerve centre in the middle of the World Forum where all disciplines were managed. There we were really at the knobs of the organization and I noticed that my years of practical experience came in handy. The plans were fine, but they also had to be implemented properly.”

The so called parades on plasma screens
Some special experiences are still vivid in Pieter’s mind. The arrival of the delegations, for example. ‘There we were, in front of five large plasma screens. With walkie-talkies and telephones at hand and scripts on the table. We were in direct contact with the police, who told us when the next delegation was on its way. Bringing in a parade, as we called it, Pieter outlines’. ‘At that moment we immediately set the protocol process in motion. If it was the delegation from Finland, for example, we took care of the appropriate welcome protocol, up to and including Rutte’s handshake.’ A glowing look, ‘This is how we wrapped up the 58 world leaders in an hour and a half, watching them pass by on our screens among 300 police motorcycles, while simultaneously monitoring and directing the entire operation of the event.’