Organisation Looking through someone else’s eyes: an iftar at the Netherlands Police Academy Written on Wednesday, March 26, 2025 ‘He was not standing there as a hurt man. Not as a deeply moved Muslim. But as a policeman.’ This was mayor of Arnhem (NL) Ahmed Marcouch’s conclusion. He delivered a speech at the iftar at the Netherlands Police Academy in Apeldoorn. It was the second time we organized an iftar at the Police Academy in Apeldoorn (NL). This year’s theme was ‘Looking through someone else’s eyes’, a theme that each speaker clearly addressed that night. Director Leonard Kok welcomed everyone with a personal story. A story about the importance of tolerance in the Netherlands and at the police. ‘After last year’s iftar, a colleague approached me and said that he had felt truly noticed for the first time. I had never realized that he didn’t feel seen. It shows how important it is to look through someone else’s eyes.’ Xiomara Nora is aide-de-camp at the Royal Air Force College. She gave a presentation on vision and development at the personal level as well as the professional level. She used a quote by Henry Ford to enforce her message. ‘Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.’ Mayor of Arnhem Ahmed Marcouch spoke about the ability to protect fundamental rights, even when you personally don’t agree. An example he gave was the Koran burning in Arnhem last year. ‘Community police officer Yilmaz did what he had to do. He was not standing there as a hurt man. Not as a deeply moved Muslim. But as a policeman. He didn’t defend the hatred, but the right to protest. That shows strength.’ Comedian Roué Verveer concluded the official part. He put on a set until sunset, when the iftar meal started. After that, everyone enjoyed an extensive buffet, and there was space to stay and talk and do some networking.