The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised another Open Day on Saturday, 18 November 2023. The first group of guests met Head of the Foreign Service Piotr Rychlik, who encouraged them to study the history of Poland’s foreign service and the day-to-day work of Polish diplomats, as well as embark on diplomatic and consular careers.

Visitors could familiarise themselves with the history of the Polish foreign service, take a look at archival and contemporary diplomatic documents, learn about the basic rules of the diplomatic protocol, and discover the interesting MFA archives. A special highlight of the event was a visit to the Press Centre, which hosts meetings between MFA senior officials and media.

Guests were allowed into rooms usually closed to the public: the Foreign Minister’s office and lounge, and the Jerzy Giedroyć Hall, where plenary talks are held in the MFA.

Visitors could also talk with Ministry staff about the unique nature of working in the foreign service and, via a video link, with Polish diplomats posted to missions across the world.

A special attraction zone welcomed the youngest guests. Under the slogan YOU/NIVERSE, VR workshops, exhibitions and displays related to Nicolaus Copernicus and astronomy were held in cooperation with the Institute B61. Visitors were also presented the equipment and activities of the State Protection Service, whose officers demonstrated the principles of first aid to children and their carers.

The grounds around the MFA building, in addition to two thematic exhibitions on Polish development cooperation, hosted a collection of old and modern security vehicles for the country’s most important persons. A car rollover simulator also attracted a huge interest among the public.

This year’s partners in the organisation of Foreign Service Day celebrations were museums based in the Warsaw Citadel—a place from which Supreme Commander Józef Piłsudski’s historic cable was sent on 16 November 1918 to announce the rebirth of an independent Polish State—the Polish History Museum, the Museum of the Polish Army, and the Museum of Independence in Warsaw.