Greetings from THIMUN 2025

On Friday, January 24, a group of 18 juniors and seniors boarded a plane bound for Amsterdam, part of their journey to The Hague International Model United Nations (THIMUN) conference. Below are students' reflections on their experiences throughout the week.

SATURDAY — Amsterdam

On Saturday morning, maybe a little jetlagged, 18 students and four chaperones began our adventure in the Netherlands! Right away, we were whisked off on an incredible canal tour through Amsterdam. We got our first exposure to the Netherlands weather while we stood on the boat's deck, occasionally getting glimpses of sunlight amongst the overcast sky, while our tour guide pointed out significant landmarks. It was truly the best way we could think of to get acquainted with the area. In particular, we enjoyed admiring the gorgeous and colorful architecture, moss growing freely from cracks and corners of buildings, and counting how many bikes there were along the roads. (We lost count more than a few times. Fun fact: There are more bikes in the Netherlands than people!)

Following our memorable journey, we independently explored the Rijksmuseum. We were particularly inspired by the gorgeously lit library (which we found after a little bit of getting lost) and the mini models of ships and doll houses. We then ate the best waffles and hot chocolate combination we might ever experience in our lives, a pick-me-up before we finally headed off to the Anne Frank House. The entire group found it such an impactful and engaging experience that allowed us to reflect on history and empathize with Anne and her family's experiences.

SUNDAY — Scheveningen & Madurodam

Before the sun rose on Scheveningen, a group of us were introduced to the seaside town with a three-mile run in the brisk morning air. We continued to take in its beauty and history, with Mr. Newman pointing out the North Sea, interesting statues, and the beautiful architecture of the Peace Palace — which houses the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Permanent Court of Arbitration. After navigating through tram stops and cobblestoned streets, our minds were boggled by the illusive art and chandeliers housed in the Escher Museum, a former royal residence.

Our next stop stood out most as we ventured into Madurodam, a miniature recreation of the Netherlands. It was exciting to see the details of the buildings we had gazed at earlier in person and notice buildings we would later find on our travels. We even found a minuscule replica of the exhibits in the Rijksmuseum we enjoyed the day before, including the well-known Rembrandt masterpiece, "The Night Watch." Our day ended at a restaurant near the sea, where we enjoyed dinner with three interns of the ICJ. Learning about their real-life experiences (and their day-to-day lives) within the United Nations, their views on its effectiveness, and their deeper knowledge of processes got us even more excited for the conference ahead of us!

MONDAY —  Prison Gate Museum & the Maritshuis

Last day before the conference! We began a busy afternoon at the Prison Gate Museum, where we explored the oldest prison in Holland and pretended we were behind cell bars. We also got pretty invested in the story of a maid and her boss poisoning the boss's wife, which was told to us as we were led through the museum. To refuel, we ate some delicious falafel at Falafel en Hummus; our group took up the entire restaurant and had maybe a little too much fun playing word association games.

Afterward, it was to the Maritshuis, where we admired Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and other incredibly detailed works of flowers, family portraits, and the mind-bending perspective on Rembrandt's "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp." We found ourselves staring for minutes in silence, awed at how each artist played with lighting and expression.

Even though the conference wasn't to begin until the next day, we especially enjoyed our run-ins with the many THIMUN groups from other countries who were also exploring the city. For months, this aspect of the conference was something we anticipated with excitement, so having conversations about our delegations' positions and just little things about us allowed us to connect with students from around the world. Even though we might still be recovering from jetlag, the excitement of the world around us and the experience ahead of us formed three full days' worth of incredible memories that will surely last.

Tuesday — Conference Day 1

Tuesday marked the first day of the conference, where students were thrown into their individual committees. They worked tirelessly from 9 am to 5 pm alongside delegates from all over the world. Over 3,000 delegates were present throughout all the forums. When asked about his morning, Fawwaz Chohan '26 replied, "At first, I was intimidated by all the students in my assembly. But after learning how similar we all were, I gained more confidence to step up and voice my opinions."

JBS students were assigned the delegations of Cambodia and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Tuesday's focus was strictly on lobbying, a process of merging and creating resolutions with other delegates, and JBS students represented their delegations well! The day's highlight was the opening ceremony full of speeches and musical performances, but a close second was the Dutch breakfast buffet with its array of cheeses, salami, and pain au chocolats. 

Wednesday — Conference Day 2

On Wednesday, our 18 brave THIMUN students and their chaperones woke up bright and early, ready to tackle another day at the World Forum. In contrast to the lobbying on Tuesday, Wednesday's conference was spent on structured debate involving the entire assembly. 

Burroughs students spread out in numerous committees, stepping out of their comfort zones to ask Points of Information (questions), propose amendments for resolutions, and vote for the cause they supported. Presenting our resolutions taught us a lot about UN procedures and parliamentary debate. While "motions to extend POIs" and "objections" ran rampant, seeing our resolutions getting passed or walking off stage after delivering a speech filled us and our chaperones with pride.

Of course, besides the THIMUN work, meeting hundreds of students from all over the world continued to amaze us. These cross-cultural interactions showed us how diverse humans truly are, and we will return home with a new perspective on culture and the rest of the world. As a final highlight, we ended the day with bowling and a surprise birthday dessert for Finn Orlowsky '26, who turned 17!

Thursday — Conference Day 3

Thursday featured more lobbying and debating. JBS students began feeling more comfortable speaking up and collaborating with our international peers in their assemblies. A standout moment was Finn Orlowsky '26, representing the ICRC, battling his way to the honorable position of head submitter — the main delegate backing and presenting their resolution — and passing his resolution!

After the conference wrapped up for the day, we headed to a Ukrainian restaurant for dinner, where we enjoyed throwing a second birthday surprise for Dr. Wasilewski, complete with songs and festive party hats. Post-dinner, part of the group went ice skating while the other group indulged in some delicious Dutch McDonalds.

Friday — Looking Ahead

As the last day of the conference approaches, we are so proud of all our classmates for bravely stepping up for this experience of a lifetime. Corbin Riley '26 says he "met friends I will never forget." The closing ceremonies will be particularly exciting, as ambassadors Yuktha Rayani 26' and Clay Edelson 25' will participate, waving their respective flags high. 

After a lovely week filled with intense debates, new friendships, and unforgettable sightseeing, we're preparing to head home soon. Of course, there are some things we'll miss — stroopwafels, Dutch museums, and even the notoriously chaotic bike lanes. No matter what, our JBS delegates will return to school with brand new cultural perspectives and ideas for the future from this eye-opening week in The Hague. 

By Jerry Chang '26, Cate Kiley '26, Olivia Lu '26, and Yuktha Rayani '26; photos by Lily Tourville '26 and Andrew Newman (Fine Arts, MUN Director).