Internship blog - Diede Bos - September 2023 - Czech Republic
Internship blog - Diede Bos - September 2023
My name is Diede Bos. I study history of the international relations in Amsterdam. I have been an intern at the Dutch Embassy in Prague since July 2023. Doing an internship at the embassy in the Czech Republic is very exciting, because the embassy is not divided into separate departments. Quite the opposite actually!
All colleagues work closely together. This creates a friendly and educational atmosphere. People are willing to help each other and everyone knows what project their colleagues are working on. For me as an intern, that culture is very enthusing. After a few press briefings, lunches and policy meetings, you know exactly what everyone is responsible for and how that relates to the general Dutch mission in the Czech Republic. In addition, as an intern you will soon receive questions from colleagues whether you can help them sort out information or draft messages. As a result, you will quickly be included in the team and you will quickly get the idea that you really contribute to the diplomatic practice. Which I think is pretty cool.
In addition to helping colleagues, I also have my own assignment. I am working on a research project on the history of Slavíčkova 92/10, the ambassador's residence. That history is filled with exciting tales of espionage, political intrigue, and highly honored visitors. During my internship, I collect and research archival material and other sources of information about the history of the residence. Afterwards, I'm going to write a small history book based on that material. People interested in the history of the Dutch mission in the Czech Republic can then easily find a nice overview of some nice historical highlights.
Prague is very historical as well. The city was founded by the Celtic tribe the Boii. Since then, the city has known many rulers: Protestant Hussites, Catholic Austrian nobility and Communist politicians to name just a few. These cultures all left their traces in the city and those traces create a kind of historical layers. These historical layers can now all be seen mixed up in the streetscape of the city. The Old Town Square, one of the most famous sites of the city, is a good example of this phenomenon. The square features buildings in all kinds of different architect styles: Gothic Period, High Baroque and Modernism, for example. In my opinion all these different, and sometimes contradicting, histories and styles in the same city are very impressive. Good luck keeping them apart!
Personally, I enjoy the up-and-coming Prague 7 district the most. The atmospheric district is a former industrial district and is now characterized by a lively art scene. Next to the district is the famous Stromovka park. Residents of Prague enjoy their free afternoon or weekend there when the weather is nice. The National Gallery is the main attraction and the center of the district. The museum has a large collection of eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century art, but medieval and contemporary art are certainly not underrepresented. In my opinion, the National Gallery certainly fits in with Kröller-Müller and the Van Gogh museum. I myself am a fan of painting from the interbellum. The permanent exhibition 1918–1938: First Czechoslovak Republic is a highlight as far as I'm concerned.
The city of Prague
Prague is an attractive city. It’s not a coincidence that the city is visited by millions of tourists every year. During the day tourists enjoy famous attractions such as Charles IV Bridge or Prague Castle. At night visitors can enjoy a vibrant nightlife. One can visit discotheques or cafes, but the city is also known for its jazz clubs. One of my favorite spots is the AghaRTA Jazz Center. John Coltrane would have loved the smokey basement club. AghaRTA mostly plays modern jazz in the 1959’s style of Davis, Coleman, and Brubeck.Prague is very historical as well. The city was founded by the Celtic tribe the Boii. Since then, the city has known many rulers: Protestant Hussites, Catholic Austrian nobility and Communist politicians to name just a few. These cultures all left their traces in the city and those traces create a kind of historical layers. These historical layers can now all be seen mixed up in the streetscape of the city. The Old Town Square, one of the most famous sites of the city, is a good example of this phenomenon. The square features buildings in all kinds of different architect styles: Gothic Period, High Baroque and Modernism, for example. In my opinion all these different, and sometimes contradicting, histories and styles in the same city are very impressive. Good luck keeping them apart!
Personally, I enjoy the up-and-coming Prague 7 district the most. The atmospheric district is a former industrial district and is now characterized by a lively art scene. Next to the district is the famous Stromovka park. Residents of Prague enjoy their free afternoon or weekend there when the weather is nice. The National Gallery is the main attraction and the center of the district. The museum has a large collection of eighteenth, nineteenth and twentieth century art, but medieval and contemporary art are certainly not underrepresented. In my opinion, the National Gallery certainly fits in with Kröller-Müller and the Van Gogh museum. I myself am a fan of painting from the interbellum. The permanent exhibition 1918–1938: First Czechoslovak Republic is a highlight as far as I'm concerned.