Professional Learning Course
Starting April 2026, HCSS launches a Strategic Negotiations course for professionals operating at the intersection of business, geopolitics and international affairs. Led by HCSS peace negotiation specialist Sven Koopmans and deputy director Michel Rademaker, the programme equips mid- to senior-level executives and policymakers with the insight, tools, and confidence to navigate high-stakes negotiations across cultures, borders, and sectors.
Over five afternoons across two weeks, participants engage with real-world cases, model exercises, and practical lessons from both corporate and diplomatic settings. By combining cutting-edge research with hands-on experience, the course empowers leaders to approach complex negotiations with clarity and strategic foresight.
About the Course
Strategic Negotiations is an intensive, practice-oriented programme designed for executives facing complex international negotiations. Delivered over five afternoons within two weeks, the course blends in-person learning with ongoing professional commitments. The curriculum combines rigorous research with practical exercises, providing participants with both analytical depth and actionable strategies. Throughout the programme, participants engage in model negotiations, case studies, and scenario-based exercises designed to mirror real-world challenges.
Participants explore lessons drawn from:
- Corporate business-to-business negotiations
- Negotiations between companies and foreign governments
- Intercultural and multiparty negotiation settings
- High-level diplomatic negotiations on issues of war, peace and security
Who Should Attend
This course is designed for mid- to senior-level professionals who navigate complex deal-making in an international context. Participants can include executives in internationally operating firms, teams managing long-term or politically sensitive negotiations, and professionals engaged in government relations or strategic partnerships.
The programme can be booked individually, exclusively for a company, or as a tailor-made course adapted to a specific industry, region, or strategic challenge. Participants benefit most if they are ready to apply advanced negotiation concepts directly to their ongoing professional responsibilities.
Why Attend? What Participants Gain
Participants gain practical tools, strategic insight, and the confidence to manage complex negotiations effectively. After the course, participants receive follow-on coaching from HCSS representatives, ongoing access to advanced exercises and simulations, and entry into a growing network of HCSS-trained negotiators. The programme equips leaders to anticipate challenges, manage uncertainty, and achieve superior outcomes in high-stakes international negotiations.
The course provides:
- Executive-focused reading materials prepared by HCSS
- Hands-on case studies grounded in real-world data
- Model negotiation exercises based on HCSS scenarios
- Team-based and individual exercises
- Personal feedback from senior HCSS trainers
- Negotiating Peace (Hard copy, Oxford University Press) by Sven Koopmans
Why HCSS?
HCSS brings a unique combination of strategic insight, practical experience, and international perspective. With decades of experience in diplomacy, peace negotiations, and international law, Sven Koopmans leads the course alongside HCSS senior trainers.
A peace negotiation specialist, senior diplomat, former national politician, and international lawyer, Koopmans was EU Special Representative for the Middle East Peace Process from 2021 to early 2025. Between 2003 and 2016 he worked for the European Union, United Nations and other international organisations on peace processes for Cyprus, Kosovo, Mali, Sudan and Syria, among others. Koopmans is the author of several books on conflict resolution, security and foreign policy.
With a background in the military, strategic advisor at the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research and as cofounder of The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), Michel Rademaker has led track 1.5 initiatives like the Global Commission on Responsible AI in the Military Domain, supported the developments of strategic initiatives like The Hague Security Delta (HSD), the Hydrabad Security Cluster, and many (inter)national projects, programmes and serious gaming excercises.
Participants benefit from HCSS’s expertise in geopolitics, geoeconomics, security, and corporate strategy, and from the centre’s scenario-based approach to complex negotiations. By learning from practitioners who have navigated both political and business negotiations at the highest level, participants gain insights unavailable elsewhere — combining academic rigour with actionable strategies to succeed in complex international environments.
Course Logistics
- Duration: 5 afternoons & evenings over two weeks
- Participants: 12–15
- Language: English (or Dutch if all participants speak Dutch)
- Location: HCSS offices, Lange Voorhout 1, The Hague
- Trainers: Sven Koopmans & Michel Rademaker
- Materials: Reading pack prepared by HCSS
- Start: First course begins April 2026
Download the Course Brochure for the full details.
| April 2026 – Course dates | May 2026 – Course dates TBA | June 2026 – Course dates TBA |
| April 7th : 13.00 – 18.30 (+ lunch) | ||
| April 9th : 16.00 – 20.00 (+ dinner) | ||
| April 13th : 16.00 – 20.00 (+ dinner) | ||
| April 15th : 16.00 – 20.00 (+ dinner) | ||
| April 17th : 13.00 – 18.30 (+ lunch) |
Take Your Negotiation Skills to the Next Level
Don’t miss this opportunity to master the art of high-stakes, international negotiations under the guidance of Sven Koopmans and HCSS senior experts. The Strategic Negotiations course equips you with the strategies, tools, and confidence to navigate complex deals across borders, cultures, and sectors—skills that can transform outcomes for you and your organisation.
Spaces are limited to ensure an intensive, hands-on experience. Secure your place today or contact HCSS to explore bespoke courses tailored to your team’s strategic needs. Step into negotiations with clarity, authority, and impact.
Contact Our Team
Are you interested in enrolling in the course? Register via Eventbrite.
Interested in commissioning a dedicated course for your organisation? Contact HCSS to explore participation options or tailor-made programmes.
Email: info@hcss.nl / Telephone: +31 (0) 70 318 4840
Link to: Sven Koopmans
Sven Koopmans
Chair Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
HCSSLink to: Michel Rademaker
Michel Rademaker
HCSS Deputy Director
HCSSLink to: Paul Sinning
Paul Sinning
HCSS Executive Director
HCSS