The Complete History of Bilderberg: From 1954 to Today
From a Cold War initiative at a Dutch hotel to the world’s most influential private forum—discover how the Bilderberg Group has shaped transatlantic relations for over seven decades. Explore the founders, key moments, controversies, and evolution of this secretive organization.
Understanding Bilderberg History: How a Post-War Initiative Became the World’s Most Exclusive Forum
En historia de Bilderberg begins in the aftermath of World War II, when Europe lay in ruins and the Western alliance faced an existential threat from Soviet expansion. What emerged from this crucible of Cold War anxiety would become one of the most enduring and controversial institutions in modern political history—the Club Bilderberg.
Named after the Hotel de Bilderberg in Oosterbeek, Netherlands, where the first meeting took place on May 29, 1954, the organization was conceived as a forum to heal the growing rift between Western Europe and the United States. Anti-American sentiment was rising across Europe, threatening the unity that Western leaders believed essential to containing Soviet influence.
A lo largo de siete décadas, la Bilderberg Group history has intertwined with some of the most significant events of the modern era—from European integration and the end of the Cold War to the rise of globalization and the digital revolution. The forum has hosted future presidents, prime ministers, and the architects of institutions that shape our world today.
Today, Historia de Bilderberg continues to unfold as the organization adapts to new challenges—artificial intelligence, great power competition, and the transformation of the global order. Understanding where Bilderberg came from is essential to understanding the role it plays in contemporary global discussions and why it remains a subject of intense public interest.
Learn How Bilderberg Works Today →Key Bilderberg History Milestones
1954
First meeting at Hotel de Bilderberg, Netherlands
1976
First cancellation due to Lockheed scandal
~2010
Official website launched, transparency increased
2024
70th anniversary meeting in Madrid
71
Total conferences held through 2025
The Founders: Architects of Bilderberg History
En historia de Bilderberg begins with a small group of visionary figures who believed that informal dialogue between Europe and America could prevent another catastrophic war. These founders established the principles and structure that continue to define the Club Bilderberg today.
Józef Retinger
Primary Founder & First Secretary
A Polish political advisor and diplomat, Retinger conceived the idea for Bilderberg after observing growing anti-American sentiment in post-war Europe. He had extensive connections in European political circles and had previously worked with the Polish government-in-exile during WWII. Retinger served as the organization’s Secretary General until his death in 1960, establishing the Chatham House Rule and invitation-only format that define Historia de Bilderberg.
Prince Bernhard
First Chairman (1954-1976)
Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands provided the royal patronage and organizational support essential to launching Bilderberg. He hosted the first meeting at the Hotel de Bilderberg and served as Chairman for over two decades. His involvement lent credibility and helped attract high-level participants. He resigned in 1976 following the Lockheed bribery scandal, marking a significant turning point in Bilderberg Group history.
David Rockefeller
American Co-Founder & Longtime Member
The American banker and philanthropist provided crucial financial support and helped recruit prominent American participants. As Chairman and CEO of Chase Manhattan Bank, Rockefeller represented the intersection of American business and foreign policy interests. He remained an active participant for over 60 years until his death in 2017, becoming synonymous with Historia de Bilderberg and a core member throughout.
🏨 The Hotel de Bilderberg: Where History Began
The Hotel de Bilderberg in Oosterbeek, Netherlands—just a few kilometers from where Allied forces fought during Operation Market Garden—was chosen for its discretion and accessibility. From May 29 to 31, 1954, 80 delegates from 11 countries gathered at this quiet Dutch hotel for three days of discussions. The meeting was originally called “The Bilderberg Conference,” but the name stuck and became synonymous with elite transatlantic gatherings. The hotel still exists today and bears a plaque commemorating its place in Historia de Bilderberg. While the conference has since rotated through dozens of venues across Europe and North America, the name of that first location has become one of the most recognized terms in global political discourse.
Complete Historia de Bilderberg Timeline: 1954-2025
Seven decades of Historia de Bilderberg have seen the organization evolve from a Cold War initiative to a forum addressing AI and great power competition. Explore the key moments that have shaped the Club Bilderberg from its founding to the present day.
Origins and Early Cold War Years
En historia de Bilderberg begins with the first conference at Hotel de Bilderberg on May 29-31, 1954. Józef Retinger, alarmed by rising anti-American sentiment in Western Europe and the potential fracturing of the Western alliance, convinced Prince Bernhard to host an intimate gathering of European and American leaders. The 80 delegates from 11 countries included politicians, business executives, academics, and journalists—a mix that would become the standard formula.
Key moments: The success of the first meeting led to annual conferences. Early discussions focused on containing Soviet influence, strengthening NATO, and building economic cooperation between Europe and America. The foundations laid during this period—Chatham House Rule, invitation-only participation, no press access—continue to define Bilderberg today. Retinger served as Secretary General until his death in 1960.
Institutionalization and Growing Influence
Following Retinger’s death, Ernst van der Beugel became Secretary General, and Historia de Bilderberg entered a period of consolidation. The conference became an established fixture in the transatlantic calendar, with meetings rotating between European countries and the United States. Prince Bernhard continued as Chairman, lending royal prestige to the gatherings.
Key moments: Discussions during this period influenced the creation of the European Economic Community and early steps toward European integration. Future US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger became a regular participant. The agenda expanded to include détente with the Soviet Union, the Vietnam War, and the oil crisis. Many participants from this era went on to hold the highest offices in their countries.
The Lockheed Affair and Leadership Change
1976 marked a watershed moment in Historia de Bilderberg. Prince Bernhard was implicated in the Lockheed bribery scandal, accused of accepting $1.1 million from the American aerospace company in exchange for influencing Dutch defense contracts. The scandal forced the only cancellation in Bilderberg’s history until the COVID-19 pandemic and ended Prince Bernhard’s chairmanship.
Key moments: Lord Home (former British PM) became Chairman in 1977, followed by Walter Scheel. The organization weathered the scandal and continued its mission. Discussions during this period focused on the final stages of the Cold War, the rise of Japan as an economic power, and the transformations reshaping Europe. Future leaders like Bill Clinton attended during this era.
New World Order and Digital Age
The end of the Cold War transformed Bilderberg Group history. With the Soviet threat removed, discussions shifted to globalization, European integration (including the euro and EU enlargement), the rise of China, and emerging technologies. Étienne Davignon became Chairman in 1999, steering the organization through a period of increased public scrutiny.
Key moments: The 1999 meeting reportedly included discussions that influenced NATO’s response to the Kosovo crisis. Tech entrepreneurs joined traditional attendees as the digital revolution transformed the global economy. Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Angela Merkel attended during this era. The organization faced growing criticism from activists and conspiracy theorists, leading to increased security at reuniones.
Crisis Management and Opening Up
The 2008 financial crisis thrust Historia de Bilderberg into a new chapter. Discussions at the 2008 and 2009 meetings focused intensely on stabilizing the global financial system. Henri de Castries, former CEO of AXA, became Chairman in 2012 and initiated significant transparency measures—launching an official website and publishing participant lists and temas del programa después de cada reunión.
Key moments: The new transparency policy represented a historic shift in Historia de Bilderberg—for the first time, the public could officially know who attended and what broad topics were discussed. Meetings during this era addressed the eurozone crisis, the rise of populism, cybersecurity, and the early implications of AI. Silicon Valley executives like Eric Schmidt and Peter Thiel became regular miembros.
Disruption, Cancellation, and the AI Era
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 meetings—only the second and third cancellations in Historia de Bilderberg. Unlike other forums that moved online, Bilderberg chose to wait until in-person gatherings could safely resume, underscoring the organization’s commitment to face-to-face dialogue as essential to its mission.
Key moments: Meetings resumed in 2022 in Washington, D.C. The Reunión de Madrid 2024 celebrated the 70th anniversary with 131 participants and featured AI as a dominant topic—with executives from Google DeepMind, Microsoft AI, and Anthropic in attendance. The Reunión de Estocolmo 2025 marked Sweden’s NATO accession and continued the focus on AI governance and European security.
Presidentes Historia de Bilderberg
En Comité de Dirección Chairman guides the organization’s direction and oversees the selection of topics and participants. Throughout Historia de Bilderberg, only a handful of individuals have held this prestigious position, each shaping the forum during their tenure.
Prince Bernhard
1954-1976
Founding Chairman, Prince of the Netherlands
Señor Hogar
1977-1980
Former UK Prime Minister (Alec Douglas-Home)
Étienne Davignon
1999-2011
Belgian politician, Former EU Commissioner
Henri de Castries
2012-Presente
Former Chairman and CEO of AXA
Controversies and Criticism in Bilderberg History
No account of Historia de Bilderberg would be complete without acknowledging the controversies that have surrounded the organization. From its earliest days, the secrecy of the meetings has attracted critics who question the propriety of unelected elites meeting behind closed doors to discuss matters of global importance.
The most significant scandal came in 1976 when Prince Bernhard was implicated in accepting bribes from Lockheed Corporation. The revelation forced the cancellation of that year’s meeting and led to the Prince’s resignation as Chairman—a turning point in Bilderberg Group history that demonstrated the organization was not immune to accountability.
Critics from both the political left and right have questioned the Club Bilderberg‘s influence. Progressive critics argue that the meetings facilitate coordination among economic elites at the expense of democratic accountability. Conservative critics have focused on the organization’s alleged promotion of globalization and international institutions.
The organization has also been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories, many of which have been debunked but persist in popular imagination. The Comité de Dirección‘s decision to increase transparency since 2010—publishing participant lists and temas del programa—was partly a response to such criticism. Supporters argue that the forum’s value lies precisely in its confidentiality, which enables frank discussion impossible in public settings.
Key Controversies in Bilderberg History
1976: Lockheed Scandal
Prince Bernhard accused of accepting $1.1M in bribes, forcing his resignation and the only pre-pandemic cancellation.
Secrecy Criticism
Ongoing criticism that private meetings of powerful figures lack democratic accountability—partially addressed by transparency measures.
Conspiracy Theories
Various unfounded theories about “world government” plans—the organization maintains it makes no decisions and issues no policy statements.
Preguntas frecuentes sobre Historia de Bilderberg
Common questions about the origins, evolution, and key moments in the historia de Bilderberg.
When was Bilderberg founded?
En Club Bilderberg was founded in 1954. The first meeting took place from May 29-31, 1954, at the Hotel de Bilderberg in Oosterbeek, Netherlands, which gave the organization its name. The conference was organized by Polish political advisor Józef Retinger with the support of Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands and American banker David Rockefeller.
¿Por qué se creó Bilderberg?
Bilderberg was created to address growing anti-American sentiment in post-war Western Europe and to strengthen transatlantic relations during the Cold War. Józef Retinger was concerned that divisions between Europe and America could weaken the Western alliance against Soviet expansion. The forum was designed to foster informal dialogue between European and American leaders in a private setting.
How many Bilderberg meetings have been held?
As of 2025, 71 Reuniones Bilderberg have been held. The organization has met annually since 1954, with only three cancellations: 1976 (due to the Lockheed scandal involving Prince Bernhard), 2020, and 2021 (due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
Where does the name “Bilderberg” come from?
The name comes from the Hotel de Bilderberg in Oosterbeek, Netherlands, where the first conference was held in 1954. The hotel was chosen for its discretion and accessibility. While the organization has since met at dozens of different venues across Europe and North America, the name of that first location has become one of the most recognized terms in global political discourse.
What was the Lockheed scandal?
In 1976, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands was accused of accepting $1.1 million in bribes from Lockheed Corporation in exchange for influencing Dutch defense contracts. The scandal forced the cancellation of the 1976 meeting and led to Prince Bernhard’s resignation as Bilderberg Chairman—a position he had held since the organization’s founding. This remains the most significant controversy in Historia de Bilderberg.
When did Bilderberg become more transparent?
Around 2010, the Comité de Dirección launched an official website and began publishing listas de participantes y temas del programa after each meeting. This represented a significant shift toward transparency in Historia de Bilderberg. While specific discussions remain confidential, the public can now officially know who attended and what broad topics were discussed.
¿Quién es el actual Presidente de Bilderberg?
Henri de Castries has served as Chairman since 2012. He is the former Chairman and CEO of AXA, the global insurance company. Previous chairmen include Prince Bernhard (1954-1976), Lord Home (1977-1980), Walter Scheel, and Étienne Davignon (1999-2011). Learn more about leadership on our Steering Committee page.
What was the most recent Bilderberg milestone?
En Reunión de Madrid 2024 marked the 70th anniversary of the Club Bilderberg. With 131 participants from 25 countries, it featured extensive discussions on AI—with executives from Google DeepMind, Microsoft AI, and Anthropic in attendance. The Reunión de Estocolmo 2025 continued this trajectory while also marking Sweden’s historic NATO accession.
Continue Exploring Bilderberg
Ahora que entiende Historia de Bilderberg, dive deeper into the world’s most influential private meeting. Browse our complete archivo de reuniones spanning seven decades, explore the participantes destacados who have attended, or discover what topics are discussed en estos exclusivos encuentros.