About Author

This blog is a space for reflection — not for easy certainties or noisy slogans. It is a quiet, persistent effort to listen, to understand, and to remain honest in a world where truth often gets drowned in the noise.

“I agree with no one’s opinions; I have some of my own.”
— Ivan Turgenev

A sentiment that resonates with me — a Dutch national by birth, European by choice. I am an octogenarian, a lifelong observer of the world’s contradictions: a traveller through politics, history, culture, and personal experience.

Raised in the quiet lanes of Soestduinen in the Netherlands, I have lived across countries and cultures. My professional background lies in Informatics and Corporate Finance, particularly in the field of cross-border mergers and acquisitions. This career offered a front-row seat to the forces shaping global economic structures.

“A house without books is like a body without a soul.”
— Cicero

For me, books, chess, classical music, and painting are not pastimes but lifelines. As I reflect on eight decades of life, I acknowledge its contradictions — yet I know that a life devoid of these cultural anchors would be a burden.

Now, in the winter of my life, this blog has become my canvas. A space to articulate thoughts on themes that demand both attention and pragmatism — especially in a time marked by polarization and tribalism. I do not write to persuade, but to offer a quiet counterweight to the noise of the age.

I observe how difficult it has become to rise above emotional debates, and how contrarian views are often rejected outright. I hold — not unreasonably — that truth and reason should precede emotion in public discourse.

These essays often plunge into polemics, sometimes at the risk of verbosity. I apologise if I test your patience; but writing brings me joy, and I hope it may spark reflection. In the end, we all return to dust — but the chronicles we leave behind may still carry our questions, our concerns, and our conscience.

My writing traces back to 2003, born from deep concern over international events — especially the Iraq War and what I began to call the American Paradox: a nation that rose on the pillars of liberty, equality, and freedom, yet also on the foundation of slavery and imperial ambition. I questioned the idea of multilateralism and international law practiced à la carte — selectively, according to interest rather than principle. Seventy years of American hegemony have had their moments of promise, but overall they lack enduring encouragement.

Over time, these reflections have grown into broader meditations on truth, freedom, and the condition of the human being.

My concerns extend to the European Union as well — particularly its reluctance to protect press freedom, ensure judicial independence, or confront the limits of expansion without serious constitutional reform. A consolidation of values, not just enlargement, would be an act of self-defence.

I believe life is not black or white, but painted in the full spectrum of the human experience. This blog seeks to honour that complexity. As observers of the human race, I grow increasingly concerned for Europe — and for the broader global order. The central question remains: do we accept a Hobbesian world dominated by might, prejudice, and self-interest, or strive for a global order rooted in international law and universal values?

We are now confronted by multiple breakdowns:

  • a monetary and economic system destabilized by unsustainable debt
  • a domestic order strained by gaps in education and productivity
  • an international order shaken by the decline of U.S. primacy
  • and natural disruptions — from climate change to pandemics — colliding with unchecked technological change, including artificial intelligence

These challenges demand more than policy; they require a re-evaluation of values. In a fractured world, universal values — however elusive — are more crucial than ever. Only through cooperation, and a break from 20th-century habits, can we shape a more inclusive and sustainable future.

Signed

William J J Houtzager, Aka WJJH

About this blog:
WJJH.blog emphasizes the need for rational discourse in a polarized world. It explores the cultural treasures that make life worth living and voices concern about the future of our global society. Through it all, it advocates for universal values as the compass guiding us through this century’s defining challenges.