President Mary McAleese had lunch with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands at the Noordeinde Palace today on the last day of her two-day official visit to the country.
The President told the queen that Ireland had been "hit early and hard" by the global economic crisis and doubly hit by a disasterous national property bubble.
She said the country faced tough times now and in the future in order to put the crisis behind it.
"We are a hardy, adaptable and creative people, working now with great commitment to get through this time of difficulty and beyond it," she said.
"Our future prosperity will depend on the speed with which we can return to the kind of sustainable growth that will enable us to pay down our debts and continue to invest in our country as a smart technologically advanced society. Right now we are focused on doing what it takes to follow through on the coherent plans set out in our road map to recovery."
Mrs McAleese said history had brought Irish and Dutch people into close contact over the centuries.
"Their imprint even finds expression in the national flag of Ireland, a tricolour, where the white of peace unites the orange and green traditions, into one peaceful, integrated shared community," she said.
"There are other fascinating imprints for the legacy of 18th century Dutch artists and architects who came to Ireland can still be seen in our cities and museums and there was too the scholarly and intellectual impact of the Irish students who studied at the universities of Groningen, Utrecht and Leiden at a time when imperial law denied them access to education at home."
The President said she was particularly pleased to visit the country during the tulip season and to report to the queen that the tulip bulbs named in her honour last year were flourishing in the gardens of Áras an Uachtaráin.
She thanked the queen for her hospitality and said she was "grateful for the strong trading links between us that create economic opportunities both ways".
Mrs McAleese, accompanied by her husband Dr Martin McAleese, visited the European Space Agency later before addressing a reception for Irish business people in The Hague.
At the reception, she thanked members of the Irish community in the Netherlands for their work in "bringing Ireland to the heart of life in Holland."
"During these tough times, the invaluable role played by Irish communities throughout the world in promoting Irish culture, Irish business and a positive image of Ireland has become ever-more apparent and needed so many thanks to those who fly the flag in the Netherlands," she said.
"You are the people who really open Ireland and the Netherlands up to one another through your lives and relationships and we are very grateful for these quiet unofficial but very powerful ambassadorships."
Mrs McAleese said the economic recovery underway in Ireland was being led by export growth. She said the story in the Netherlands was particularly reassuring with very healthy trade between the two countries in both merchandise trade and traded services.
"That represents a lot of hard work by business people in both countries and a lot of hope generated by their efforts as we try to get through this period of economic difficulty and maintain the momentum of recovery."
The President paid tribute to Dr Tiede and Elisabeth Herrema who attended the reception. Dr Herrema was kidnapped by the IRA in October 1975 and held for two weeks.
"Your forgiveness, strength and resilience have been inspirational to those who have worked to bring peace and reconciliation to the island of Ireland," she said.