Crocuses bloomed around the memorial, which depicts the shade of a real-life tree, thus giving the impression that the memorial has grown leaves. The flowers were planted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Max van der Stoel was the first Western politician to meet with a Charta 77 member, de facto recognizing and highlighting Czech dissent. The meeting took place during an official visit to Prague in March 1977. Other Western representatives followed Van der Stoel’s example, combining official visits with contacts with dissidents and emphasizing the 1975 Helsinki Accords to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. In recognition, Van der Stoel received the Masaryk Order from President Havel in 1996.

“We are commemorating a meeting that required courage and leadership and that is still inspiring today. It shows how important is to shed light on the facade of authoritarian power to reveal its cracks,” said on 24 March 2023, Daan Huisinga, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He added: “The dilemmas that Van der Stoel faced in 1977, and the choices that he made, are still very much relevant today. Promotion of Human Rights and support for those who uphold democratic values in the face of oppression are part of Dutch, Czech and European foreign policy.”

“I value the commemoration of this important meeting very much. It touches me personally because it is a continuation of my family heritage,” said the mayor of Prague 6, Jakub Stárek, son of the well-known dissident František Stárek.

In 2014, a park was named after Max van der Stoel, next to Patočka street in Prague 6. On March 1, 2017, a monument created by Czech sculptor Dominik Lang was erected there to commemorate Van der Stoel’s support to the Charter 77 movement.