Brazil

Brazil has played a big part in my carreer. Ever since I have traveled to the country in 2003 I started visiting it approximatly three times per year. Most of the Brazilian projects I am involved in are cultural projects between the Netherlands and Brazil. On behalf of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, I was the project manager to create an extensive mapping of the Brazilian cultural infrastructure. This mapping paved the way for a two-year cultural funding program Central de Cultura (2011-2012) that I set up in order for the six major Dutch cultural funds. The purpose of this program was to strengthen and stimulate the cultural exchange between Brazil and the Netherlands. The focus of the program was on exchange rather then Holland promotion.

Apart from this, I have produced and led many cultural and diplomatic missions from the Netherlands to Brazil, including the royal trade mission with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima. A strong delegation of Dutch architecture and design was part this mission. Lastly, I have a strong interest in Brazilian architecture and music, collecting Brazilian vinyl from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s.