Identity area
Reference code
ZA COM MR-S-679
Title
Speech by President Mandela on receiving De Guilden Ere Medaille of Amsterdam (The Golden Medal of the City of Amsterdam)
Date(s)
- 1999-03-10 (Creation)
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
Transcription of speech made by Mr Mandela
Context area
Name of creator
Repository
Archival history
Migrated from the Nelson Mandela Speeches Database (Sep-2018).
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
ANC Website
Content and structure area
Scope and content
On receiving the Golden Medal of the City of Amsterdam ; South African Government Information Website has the date as 11 March 1999. It is not known which is the correct date.
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
TRANSCRIPT
Mr. Mayor
Ladies and Gentlemen
I feel most honoured by your warm reception and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We knew, of course, that to return to Amsterdam would be to return to a city where the people of South Africa have many friends.
No-one could forget the tumultuous welcome Amsterdam gave us in 1990 soon after the people of South Africa and the international community had together opened the doors of apartheid's prisons.
The Netherlands had to be one of the first countries we visited. How could it have been otherwise? Amsterdam was one of the strongest anti-apartheid cities in the world.
That hour stands as a moment of rebirth, when the warmth of international fellowship and love transformed itself from solidarity in struggle into partnership for peace and development.
Mr. Mayor
It is with pride that I receive the Golden Medal of the City of Amsterdam, as your tribute to all the people of South Africa, who have joined hands to make a reality of the hopes that your city shared with us through all those difficult years.
I am told that Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina allowed the City of Amsterdam to carry on its official seal the legend honouring its courageous behaviour under Nazi-occupation: "Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig". I know of no words that better express our people's gratitude to yours for the resolute and compassionate support in their heroic struggle against apartheid.
How fortunate we are to have such friends.
I thank you.
Mr. Mayor
Ladies and Gentlemen
I feel most honoured by your warm reception and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
We knew, of course, that to return to Amsterdam would be to return to a city where the people of South Africa have many friends.
No-one could forget the tumultuous welcome Amsterdam gave us in 1990 soon after the people of South Africa and the international community had together opened the doors of apartheid's prisons.
The Netherlands had to be one of the first countries we visited. How could it have been otherwise? Amsterdam was one of the strongest anti-apartheid cities in the world.
That hour stands as a moment of rebirth, when the warmth of international fellowship and love transformed itself from solidarity in struggle into partnership for peace and development.
Mr. Mayor
It is with pride that I receive the Golden Medal of the City of Amsterdam, as your tribute to all the people of South Africa, who have joined hands to make a reality of the hopes that your city shared with us through all those difficult years.
I am told that Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina allowed the City of Amsterdam to carry on its official seal the legend honouring its courageous behaviour under Nazi-occupation: "Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig". I know of no words that better express our people's gratitude to yours for the resolute and compassionate support in their heroic struggle against apartheid.
How fortunate we are to have such friends.
I thank you.
Alternative identifier(s)
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Acquisition method: From website ; Source: ANC Website. Accessioned on 12/12/06 by Helen Joannides