The 2026 Youth Security Conference.
European Horizons is hosting its 2026 Youth Security Conference on May 9th. As European Horizons' Leiden Chapter's flagship event it embodies our mission to educate students and connect them with industry and government professionals who can speak from their experience, offering insights that simply cannot be found in a classroom.
Keynote Speaker
Rob Bertholee
Lieutenant General (ret.) & Former head of the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD)
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Rob Bertholee headed the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) from 2011 through 2018. During an unprecedentedly turbulent period, he and his team transformed the AIVD from a target for budget cuts into an indispensable dialogue partner for the government and the business community. In doing so, he explicitly promoted international cooperation between the various intelligence and security services. During his military career, he studied in the United States, was deployed to the former Yugoslavia and Afghanistan, and served in various staff and operational roles in the Netherlands and Germany. After one and a half years as Vice-Chief of Defence and nearly four years as Commander of the Land Forces, he concluded a period of over 36 years in uniform. Today, he is, among other things, a member of the Advisory Boards of the Dutch Data Protection Authority and of the District Court of The Hague. He is also active in The Alphen Group, an independent international think tank.
Panel 1
Transnational Military Cooperation
How do allied militaries work together? Is the European Union moving towards closer military integration? Could we see a "European Army"? Find out in this expert panel with voices from the European Union, NATO, HCSS, and Leiden University
Panel 2
The shifting role of technology in defense, government, and industry
AI, drones, digital surveillance, cybersecurity threats. How do new technologies change defense considerations, government policy, and corporate strategy.
Panel 3
Security at Europe's Periphery
With wars at it's doorstep, how can Europe ensure its security as crises enable foreign states, criminal organizations, and other hostile actors to test Europe's defense and resilience?
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