Dr. Jan Peter Balkenende, former prime minister of the Netherlands, will deliver the public lecture “Europe: Risk or Opportunity? Economic developments, financial challenges and European values” on Friday, Sept. 7, at 4 p.m. at Hope College in Winants Auditorium of Graves Hall.

The public is invited to the lecture.  Admission is free.

He will also receive an honorary degree, a Doctor of Laws (LL.D.) from Hope during a private dinner later in the day.

Balkenende was prime minister and minister of general affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from July 2002 until October 2010.  He is now a professor of governance, institutions and internationalization at the Erasmus School of Economics and the Erasmus School of Law of the Erasmus University Rotterdam.  He is also a partner at Ernst & Young (BeNe Head Office, Rotterdam), responsible for international affairs, corporate responsibility and advisory activities on public-private issues.

For more information, contact Tom Renner, associate vice president for public and community relations, at (616) 395-7860.