Since when have you been a member of the Economic Board The Hague and why did you decide to become a member?
I am secretary of the EBTH and a member from the beginning in 2017. It was not a difficult decision to become a member: in my work at the World Forum The Hague, I am involved with the local economy and employment on a daily basis. That employment issue in particular is something that fascinates and motivates me enormously. I like to dedicate myself to the local economy and what that can mean for the residents of The Hague. We don’t have much physical space for manufacturing in The Hague, so we will have to work extra hard to serve the entire labour market and not just that for university-educated people. Inbound business and leisure tourism is the only opportunity we have in The Hague to create jobs for this important part of the labour market. We should therefore nurture that sector.
From what background are you affiliated and what domain do you represent?
The conference sector, hotels and restaurants, but also more broadly: all businesses that benefit from inbound business and recreational tourism, is the domain I represent. My main focus is on employment. I have been working in these sectors since I was 16 and they all come together in my current day-to-day work at World Forum The Hague.
What would you like to achieve with the board and what are you most proud of?
I am most proud of ‘The Hague Inspired’, this annual event is already the highlight of the year for everyone involved in the business activity of this beautiful region. With the board, I would still like to achieve real depth in cooperation with the municipality of The Hague to optimise the labour market. We initiated this a few years ago, but to go in depth you need an overlapping strategy from the Economy, Social Affairs and Education departments. Those usually fall under three different aldermen so it doesn’t happen automatically, but this integrated approach is the only solution.
What is the biggest opportunity in The Hague?
We are already known as an international City of Peace and Justice. Any city would give anything for such a bright profile! The opportunity we have in The Hague is to continue ‘filling’ that profile: attracting international organisations and companies, international studies and, now I am preaching to my own parish, international events like the NATO Summit 2025.
