“Don't be afraid to speak up, even if you're not sure what to say”

After countless Flixbus trips to The Hague, I’m pretty sure I’m an honorary member of LeidenMUN by now, though I won’t claim that without their say-so. But anyway, let me tell you about Pieter – he’s honestly one of the coolest people I’ve met in the MUN world. You know how some people just get MUN? Well, Pieter is definitely one of those. But his path to MUN greatness is kind of unexpected.

Pieter is a third-year International Relations student at Leiden University, and get this, his parents are diplomats! Diplomacy runs through his veins. He spent part of his childhood in Uganda, where he first stumbled upon MUN. His first experience was at UGMUN, Uganda’s Model United Nations, where he joined the Ecofin Committee. At first, he didn’t speak much, which, let’s be honest, is the case for most MUN rookies. But after seeing some debates, he was hooked. 

When I asked him what advice he’d give to first-timers, he said, “Just embrace the experience. Try everything. Don’t be afraid to speak up. The more you practice, the easier it gets.” And he echoed his friend Enzo's words: “Participate, participate, participate!”

When he started university, things really took off. He joined the LeidenMUN Foundation, thanks to Dani and Francesco, who were like, “You have to be part of this!” He went through the MUN prep track for EuroMUN 2023, which was a grind, eight weeks of mastering soft skills like public speaking, diplomacy, and negotiation. Claudia, his mentor, was tough but helpful. “Even though it was challenging, I was determined,” he said. Then came MUNSA 2023. Things didn’t go smoothly for him as a delegate, but Claudia, by then his fellow alumni,  kept pushing him, and after that, he thought, “Yeah, I’m coming back for this.”

A year later, Pieter is on the LeidenMUN board, mentoring like a pro. He manages study guide allocations, runs mock sessions, and leads prep tracks, especially for big conferences like Harvard National MUN. “I want to create a space where people can practice without feeling judged,” he said. Whether it’s working as a double delegate or chairing a committee, he really emphasizes collaboration. “You need to work together like a team. It’s about balancing negotiation with speaking.”

But it’s not just about organizing. Pieter will also chair at LakeMUN 2025. “Chairing lets me resolve questions about ROPs, it’s so rewarding!” He’s also a huge fan of MUN Command: calling it a game-changer. Anyone who’s ever been in a chaotic MUN debate knows how much that matters. He also says that mymun “has made everything easier. Finding conferences, keeping track of schedules, it’s all so streamlined.” Plus, he uses the calendar feature to help choose which conferences to attend, and trust me, it makes a difference.

Looking back, MUN has totally shaped Pieter. It has given him skills in public speaking, lobbying, and negotiation , also boosted his confidence. “I once had to present to 400 students, and I don’t even get nervous anymore,” he told me. MUN’s also taught him how to balance life, work, and leadership, and how to prioritize what really matters. At this speed, I’m pretty sure I’ll be receiving an honorary membership to LeidenMUN soon, if they ever stop to recognise all these Flixbus miles. Honestly, at this point, I’m just waiting for the FOMO to hit when he’s chairing at LakeMUN and I’m stuck in the middle of a traffic jam on the way to The Hague…