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On Thursday, August 27th, 2026, many people of the defence attaché community gathered at the Rideau Club in downtown Ottawa to say goodbye to LCol. Mark de Wit, outgoing defence attaché for the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and to welcome the incoming defence attaché, LCol. Ed van de Bospoort. Also attending were many people from various aspects of the defence community in Ottawa who had come to know Mark during his four year stint in Canada. Mark came to the job in September, 2022, leaving his wife and children at home in the Netherlands for the duration of the tour, although my understanding is that everyone will be together for the new posting to Italy.
The reception started with remarks from the Deputy Head of Mission, Paul van Oostveen, who commended Mark on his time here and alluded to his involvement with the OSAA Lame Ducks hockey team, his commemorative duties with remembrance days and the Tulip Festival, his efforts with the Royal Netherlands Air Force Orchestra visit in 2025, and the visit of Princess Margriet. All jobs handled with professionalism. After these remarks, LCol. de Wit was presented with a gift of a photo album of his time in Canada as well as a carving of a Loon, on behalf of the Embassy.
Mark then took to the podium for his parting remarks and had to take a pause a couple of times as he became emotional, which he warned the attendees was a distinct possibility. After thanking everyone for treating him so well during his time in Canada, he took the opportunity to introduce the incoming Defence Attaché, LCol. Ed van de Bospoort, who was attending with his wife and three daughters.
LCol. van de Bospoort then addressed the gathering stating that he was looking forward to his tour in Canada, largely due to the stories of Canadian kindness from the employees of the Netherlands Embassy and Mark. He has only been in Canada a week and is busy currently looking for a house that, hopefully, will be close to the schools for his girls and still not too far from the Embassy. Good luck to that. He skates so the OSAA Lame Ducks may have both lost and gained a player.
The next words came from James Whitham, Director-General and Vice-President of the Canadian War Museum. He commended Mark on his involvement with the Museum over his four years and, as is custom for an outgoing defence attaché, presented Mark with a print from the Canadian War Museum, which Mark had selected himself after going through the Museum’s art work library. It was of a WWII airman climbing aboard his bomber prior to a mission.
The last presentation was from the Ottawa Service Attachés Association (OSAA) and was presented by the Dean of OSAA, LCol, Robertino Ciobanu, Defence, Military, Air, and Naval Attaché for the Embassy of Romania. He spoke of Mark’s time in Canada briefly and then stated that the plaque from OSAA would be presented afterwards so that all of the defence attachés present could be together for a picture. And it was so. This ended the official proceedings allowing everyone to partake of the cold cuts and crackers, and drinks.
We can only thank Mark for his time here is Canada because, as welcoming as he thought Canadians were, it was only so as we reciprocated what he gave to us. We wish him the best in his future endeavours and also wish the best for Ed as he takes over the position.
