Tjaco has been with RGSL as a teacher for over 10 years. He teaches International Adjudication and International Investment Law for Masters students, and European Legal History and Roman Law and Geo-economics: the Geopolitics of Energy for Bachelor students.
Where do you come from?
I am Dutch and have lived in the Netherlands since my high school years up to the moment that I went on my first diplomatic mission having just finished my law studies at Leiden, the country’s oldest university (1575).
What is the main thing the students should take from your courses?
In my teaching at RGSL I use (the modern American law school version of) the Socratic method which stimulates interactive classroom discussions and critical thinking. I would hope that the main thing students take away from my courses is a combination of passion for and curiosity in the subjects I cover.
A must-read book in your field?
One of the must-reads fin my field is “When International Law Works: Realistic Idealism After 9/11 and the Global Recession” by Tai-Heng Cheng.
The one fun thing you want our students to know about you?
When my wife served as Latvia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, we went to certain events at Buckingham Palace, one of which was the annual “garden party” attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philippe, Prince Charles and Camilla as well as Prince William and Kate. When Prince Philippe, who must have been in his nineties at the time, walked by he stopped to chat with us. Understanding that we were both ambassadors he remarked looking at both of us with a twinkle in his eye: “Well, well. That must make for interesting pillow talk!”
If you want meet Tjaco, join our Bachelor programmes’ Open House today, 18 May at 16:00 online and find out more! Register here: