Semarang, 2-12-1932 – Rotterdam, 30-1-2026
On Friday evening, January 30, Agnes Ko passed away. Unfortunately, her health failed her more and more in recent years and eventually she had to give up.
Agnes Ko (maiden name Goey Swan Lioe) became active for the VNC in the eighties. After a period of study in China, she started guiding trips for VNC Asia Travel from 1987. She also wrote for VNC’s magazine, China Now, and after a short time became editor-in-chief, she was part of the editorial board until 2011. Because of her background as a sinologist, she was able to further strengthen and broaden the content of the journal.
Former colleagues of Agnes at VNC knew her as “a sympathetic woman” and “a very nice, active and good employee, who took care of everything down to the last detail.” “She has meant a lot to VNC” and “She was our office mother”.
“Agnes was very important to our travel organization,” said then director of VNC Asia Travel Kees van Galen. “As a Special Travel Manager, she played a central role in VNC Asia Travel for 20 years. With her knowledge, engaging personality and great commitment, she introduced many Dutch people to China in a special way. Trips in which professionals, entrepreneurs, governments and people with a special interest got to know a China behind the façade of sights. In which there was meeting and exchanging with people in China. In that sense, she worked in the spirit of the VNC’s objective. Agnes had a connecting role within the team. She became a friend to me and to several others and has always remained so. Myself and her colleagues will miss her terribly.”
We wish her loved ones strength in missing Agnes.
