Dutch Public Salute Beijing Olympic Hosts

The recent Olympic Games in Beijing have drawn great admiration from the Dutch public and the Chinese embassy in The Hague has been inundated with emails and letters of compliments.

They said the Chinese people have demonstrated the true meaning of "One world, One dream" and moved the world with their enthusiasm and creativity.

In an email to the embassy dated August 24, the day the Olympics wound up with a magnificent closing ceremony, Niek Stevens from the central Dutch city of Apeldoorn congratulated the Chinese hosts for pulling off such a wonderful event.

"The way your country has realized the opening (ceremony) of the games, the total organization of the Olympics and today's closing (ceremony) must bring you the admiration of the whole world," he said.

"While till 16 days ago China was to me a country on another planet, it is now a country to me that we should be jealous of," Stevens said, adding that he wished to express respect to the people of China.

"For me the last 16 days has brought the Chinese people close to my heart. I am now already thinking about spending a few weeks holidays in your country to learn it and the people better," he said.

In his opinion, China "has made friends forever all over the world" with the games. "Thank you for treating the world with your fantastic organization with such incredible devotion from everybody involved," he said.

Bastiaan Hendrix from Geleen, in southeastern Netherlands, said he wished to compliment the Chinese with their outstanding achievements so far.

"I was greatly impressed with all you did to make these games the best ever!" he said.

"We truly witnessed the greatest show on earth... Thank you for all the wonderful moments I had as a viewer and for your impeccable organization that must have helped and stimulated the athletes a lot," he said, adding that the games have made him eager to visit China some day.

In a letter to China's ambassador to the Netherlands Zhang Jun, another Dutch citizen Ten Holter said that he believed the Beijing Olympic opening ceremony was a supreme spectacle and no other country could possibly beat it in the rest of the century.

He recommended that the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee compile a DVD recording the opening ceremony and all the stories behind the scenes. "I will surely buy one and watch it again and again," he said.

Fred van Zijl from Amsterdam said he would like to thank China for changing the views many Dutch people have on China.

"Your country has shown the world that you belong to our world and that we are one world," he told the Chinese ambassador in an email.

"I do hope that one day I will be able to visit your great country and meet the wonderful people who live in it," he said. "I will always carry you in my heart."

Mr. and Mrs. Jan de Groot expressed their "great appreciation" to China for the Olympics. "It was the utmost and very best organized Olympic Games ever. What a great country, and what a great people!"

"Your people showed the whole world how Olympic Games had to be organized. Outstanding!" they declared.

Berry Colijn, on the other hand, paid special tribute to the Chinese volunteers. "They were beautiful," she said in an email.

"I had a lot of fun watching the Games in your country. I thank you for the most beautiful Olympic Games of years," she said.

Michiel Hehenkamp, who visited China during a 11,000-kilometer road trip from the northern Dutch village of Bant to Beijing in July-August, lavished praise on the Chinese people whose hospitality made him felt at home in China.

"The good willing people of customs, police and tour operators have made our trip an unforgettable one," he said, referring to the four-week trip which took him and other 152 members of the Dutch Volvo club to the Chinese capital driving 75 classic Volvo cars.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2008)