Prince Claus, the inspiration for the Chair

Prince Claus was strongly committed to development and equity in North-South relations. Through his work, his travels and his personal contacts, he gained a deep understanding of the opportunities for and particularly the obstacles to this type of development. He was indefatigable in his work for development and equity throughout the world, bringing people together to solve problems and make the most of opportunities. His knowledge, his accessibility and his personality all made an important contribution to his work. As a result, he was – and remains – a source of inspiration to many.

In 1988, Prince Claus received an Honorary Fellowship from the Institute of Social Studies (ISS) ‘in recognition of his continued insistence on the importance of reducing the differences between the rich and the poor in national and international fora, while emphasising the human dimension of this process and not only that of international policy and strategy.’ At the official ceremony for the Fellowship, Prince Claus gave an acceptance speech stating his views on development and equity in the form of 23 propositions.