From the Chairman
Just back from China from a vibrant working visit as a delegation member of the knowledge and innovation network of the top sector Creative Industry, which includes CreativeNL. This is the platform where Dutch entrepreneurs find inspiration and information. It was great to be back in China for a while, although I noticed that some things had changed, the dynamics and 24/7 attitude of Chinese society remained the same. My visit took place in the context of the “Knowledge of Design Week,” a three-day event with forums, workshops, master classes, business networking at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the new iconic landmark in the West Kowloon, Cultural District The Netherlands is this year’s chair of the “Business of Design Week (BODW)” which since 2002, is Asia’s premier annual event on design, innovation and brands, engaging the local and international design community.
BODW aims to become Asia’s leading online design portal, featuring green content, the latest insights on groundbreaking design trends and exclusive interviews with creative leaders and emerging talents. A unique combination for culture and economy networking and relationship management. A combination that also fits nicely with VNC’s ambition.
Maintaining relationships does not sound exciting and seems simple, yet it is often not an easy thing. Many people think everything comes naturally, but the true connoisseurs know better. For an organization like the VNC, this has not been cut-and-dried for the past half century. Over the last decade -for various reasons- there has been a baldness among China-related organizations in the Netherlands. Many valuable relationships have broken down or no longer exist. Authoritative organizations such as Ampek, Guanxi, China 2025 and many others have ceased to exist or merged into other organizations. Sometimes this was the end result of too little interest, differences of opinion, too few resources or a combination thereof. But above all, don’t forget the recent top three relationship killers: the Covid, trade wars and geopolitical tensions.
Maintaining an organization and its relationship networks requires an active board. Whether it is a soccer club or an association, if the engine falters a bit, just like in the stock market, there is little time and focus on the long term. The VNC is not sitting on its hands. We are pleased that reinforcements to the board have already come forward. This newsletter introduces the new prospective board members to you. We will be working with the “China Café” and further you can read that Lan Louwe Wang visited the CPAFFC and the BPAFFC to refresh relations and was very warmly received.
Medical studies show that people with strong social ties live longer and are less likely to develop cardiovascular disease, hypertension or mental symptoms such as depression. The VNC relationship management and networking will not be a problem. Unfortunately, surveys of the young generations also show that both China and the Netherlands have high levels of stress. It is not healthy to constantly feel great performance pressure that comes with a lot of stress. The long-term consequences of this are drastic. Young people can suffer from fatigue, depression and loneliness, even resulting in death. High time for the VNC to call attention to this. On September 26, the VNC Education Working Group will hold a closed meeting at Tilburg University to discuss this issue.
Back now to sunny Netherlands; The vacation season is coming up, a time to relax and think about the things that have remained on our list, among other things. If this concerns the VNC, please let us know, we would love to hear from you!
Monique
Meet three candidates for the VNC board
As announced at the last ALV, the board is looking for future board members. We are already proud to announce the three candidates that the board will be happy to propose for appointment at the next ALV. You will of course receive further information about the division of tasks and further plans.
Aldo Spaanjaars has been successfully operating in China since 1992. Having worked with China’s most successful entrepreneurs, he co-wrote the book “Dragon Tactics: How Chinese Entrepreneurs Thrive in Uncertainty “. His China knowledge and experience range from creating award-winning advertisements, managing retail chains in sports and fashion, to investment management. Until the end of 2022, Aldo was Executive Vice President, Outdoor at Anta Sports, China’s No. 1 domestic sportswear company. Aldo has held several top positions including VP Operations at Fosun Fashion Group, CEO of Lacoste Greater China, COO of Adidas Greater China and co-founder of advertising agency J.Walter Thompson Beijing. In the fall, Aldo will give a talk on his book and Chinese experiences.
Frans Greidanus was responsible for research in video, audio and data storage from 2000 as a member of the Philips Research Executive Board. From 2005 to 2013, he was head of Philips Research Asia and CTO Philips Asia, based in Shanghai. Frans is currently a Qiushi Chair Professor at the School of Management of Zhejiang University in Hangzhou and an active member at the Association Netherlands China. Frans Greidanus was a member of the board of the Technical Sciences Foundation and the VNO-NCW Technology Committee. He is a Member of Merit of the Netherlands Physical Society and received the Silver and Gold Magnolia Award from the Shanghai Municipality for his contributions to the economic and social development of the city.
Lianne Baaij is a sinology graduate and a sworn interpreter-translator and CRKBO accredited Chinese trainer. Lianne is the owner of translation and consultancy agency China Access. In positions as area manager of an import and export company, translator, consultant and sales manager at a Chinese airline, she has brought the art of doing business in China and her Chinese language skills to top level. Lianne is founder of the China Café, an active and thriving knowledge network and meeting place for anyone actively engaged with China. Lianne is a founder of the Chinese Circle of the Dutch Society of Interpreters and Translators and is of member of the Chinese section of the Levende Talen teachers’ network. She is an active VNC member and recently co-organized the VNC lecture series ” View of China” with Frans Greidanus.
Further strengthening
At this point we also ask your attention for further strengthening of the VNC organization and working groups with volunteers, experts and especially with “doers”! Especially for the VNC office and the financial department reinforcement is very welcome! We look forward to your reactions and applications.
Meanwhile, a renewed acquaintance and very pleasant and constructive consultation has also taken place with the Chairman of the Committee of Recommendation. To our great joy and pleasure, the Committee has made some suggestions for strengthening and renewal, which will be gratefully taken into account and we will report to you when there is news of new members.
After 12½ years a dues increase; thinking about the future!
Over 45 years ago, the VNC welcomed our first dues-paying members. A lot has happened during these four decades, but the VNC has done a good job of maintaining the objective of “promoting relations between the Netherlands and China in the cultural and economic fields” with its activities and publishing the magazine “China Nu.” Unfortunately, membership and income have declined over the years and, since the last dues increase in 2011, the VNC has been increasingly confronted with substantially higher costs and, since last year, in addition, with relentless inflation. The decision to increase dues has been delayed for a long time, but is now unavoidable.
Therefore, the May 13 general membership meeting approved the board’s proposal for a change/increase in dues and subscriptions. Now what does this mean for your membership? You now have an annual membership/subscription and pay your dues once a year. The chart below shows the proposed increase. The next membership/subscription renewal date will be January 1, 2024. These are the new rates:
- membership for members is increased from €40 to €50
- family membership is increased from €50 to €70.
- student membership is reduced from €30 to €25
- subscriptions to ChinaNow are increased from €22 to €30.
They are not doubling rates and for Students there is even a reduction in dues! The main reason for the fee increase is the board’s ambition to keep the VNC in good standing including the magazine ChinaNow. This requires on a break-even operation. However, based on the 2024 budget, more is needed to obtain a properly balanced budget. Therefore, the board also has new activities planned, which hopefully will contribute to strengthening the financial situation.
Thinking about the future, begins today
In addition to increasing dues and developing new activities, the board has looked to other organizations for possible ideas and or directions in operations. Unlike many other cultural institutions, the VNC receives no grants and no support from private supporters.
The VNC is a unique cultural organization that receives no state and provincial grants and relies on generating its own income. The VNC has been able to sustain itself for nearly 50 years through member dues and organizing cultural economic activities. It does remain exciting every year whether a balanced budget can be made or whether losses or intervening equity can be kept to a minimum. The covid years have unfortunately hit hard and the board would like to ensure the continuity of the VNC with your help also for the next generation
Many cultural organizations are calling to arrange a legacy or endowment for their organization. A named Fund can also be established. For example, Leiden University has received a multi-million dollar gift with The Ailion Foundation and the Leiden Asia Centre has received a bequest of over €4 million. There are also many other ways imaginable. As of 2023, the VNC is not a General Nut Beogende Instelling (ANBI), so the possibilities of deducting donations from income tax are not possible. The future is uncertain and waiting for others to decide for us does not seem the right way to go. The board will investigate the possibilities and will keep you informed.
Report on Lan Louwe Wang’s visit to the Friendship Associations in Beijing
Our new VNC board member Lan Lowe Wang, who was appointed at the last general membership meeting on May 13, started work energetically right away. It was already reported during the meeting that Lan is a good acquaintance of the VNC. In fact, she has previously served on the VNC board (2010-2016), during which time, among other things, she maintained contacts with the Friendship Associations in China. Lan recently let it be known that she needed to be in China in June for a private visit. A great opportunity and no better contact imaginable than Lan to refresh the VNC’s relationship with the Friendship Associations in Beijing (CPAFFC and BPAFFC ) after the past Corona years!
CPAFFC
On June 12, Lan was welcomed with full honors and cordiality by Mrs. Zong Linhong, the Deputy Director General of the European Department of the CPAFFC. Lan handed over a letter from the President Monique Knapen and then they talked about the past period in which, unfortunately, due to the Corona crisis, many activities were stalled. Lan informed Ms. Zong about the new board composition and developments at the VNC.
The CPAFFC was very pleased with the renewal of contacts and pledged all support in activities. Lan handed over the last copies of the VNC magazine “ChinaNow” and received the periodical magazines of the CPAFFC. The atmosphere was very pleasant and animated, it was good to renew the relationship again, Lan said. It was agreed that regular contact will be maintained again. Perhaps another opportunity will arise later this year for Monique to visit Beijing with a small delegation. The VNC is most welcome, said the CPAFFC!
BPAFFC
In the afternoon, Lan then visited the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (BPAFFC). Again, the visit had been announced in advance by the VNC and Lan was received with all etiquette and cordiality by the Vice Presidents Ms. Zhang Qian and Ms. Wang Yanxia. Lan also presented the letter from the VNC Chairman here and informed them of a possible visit with a small delegation to Beijing later this year. This news was received with great enthusiasm.
The BPAFFC emphasized that after the Corona period, they now have a lot of energy to take up new activities, including some new projects where the participation of the VNC is most welcome, such as:
- An exhibition of drawings by children from around the world;
- A city link between Feng Tai (a district outside Beijing) and the flower region in the Netherlands;
In fact, there is already a lot of cooperation between these two regions; - Inviting top Dutch athletes to visit Beijing.
The BPAFFC has agreed to offer whatever assistance is needed. The relationship with the BPAFFC has traditionally always been very cordial, open and casual. The last activity to which that VNC was invited was an excellently organized large-scale “Exchange week for Friendship Associations ” in 2018. It was agreed to keep in touch and further work out the possibilities for said projects
A special thanks to Lan, for her extra effort and time given to these visits as a VNC board member during her personal stay in China.
In the spotlight: Bettine Vriesekoop
As a table tennis player, Bettine Vriesekoop won a total of five European titles and for many years she was the very best Non-Chinese player in the world rankings. After a great career as a top sportswoman, she made her debut as a writer in 1996 with “Homesickness for Beijing,” and several books soon followed. After a correspondent position in China for NRC Handelsblad, she returned to the Netherlands in 2010. Bettine lives in Amsterdam, lectures on China, writes books and presents programs.
Table tennis originated in England around the beginning of the 20th century. When we talk about table tennis, also often called ping pong, almost everyone knows what we mean by the same thing. Pingpong, however, was originally the brand name of the British table tennis manufacturer. ( J.Jaques & Son Ltd.)
Bettine and Monique Knapen, president of the VNC have both lived in China for a long time, and therefore have known each other for many years. Sports and culture are popular forms of (leisure) activities both in China and in the Netherlands and can boast large numbers of practitioners and interested parties. They are also both ideally suited to connecting people and contribute to personal development and social cohesion.
It was therefore obvious that Monique and Bettine were soon developing an initiative for a sports/cultural trip with a focus on language and culture.
Among other things, a two-week table tennis camp in Shanghai and Suzhou, among other places, is being considered. Studies are now underway to organize these unique trips several times a year for:
- children receiving supervised 4 hours /day from top professional Chinese trainers;
- children who play enthusiastically and have fun and are supervised 3 training hours p/day;
- senior citizens and retirees who enjoy playing table tennis at a higher level
The plans are currently being worked out within a working group of the VNC. You will of course be kept informed about the results and further progress.
China Cafe moves to VNC
After the summer, the China Cafés will no longer fall under the Leiden Asia Centre (LAC). From now on, the LAC will switch to organizing Asia-wide meetings. With the “narrow” focus on China, the China Cafés will therefore be better aligned with the activities of the VNC.
For years, the China Cafés have been successful, varied and accessible gatherings where guest speakers are interviewed and come to tell their stories and entrepreneurs and business professionals, active in China, can meet each other. Knowledge sharing and networking can now continue unhindered. The China Café team consists of Lilian Kranenburg and Yoka Bruynzeel.
Lilian Kranenburg
Owner of ChinaMoves, supports and advises Dutch companies operating in China in the field of communication in the broadest sense. She consults newcomers to the Chinese market with entry strategies, links trends to commercial opportunities for SMEs and provides customized culture training.
Yoka Bruynzeel
Owner of Chinpro. Trainer in intercultural communication with focus on China/Asia. Coach for organizations looking for a different approach to their Chinese business contacts. Student mentor/teacher at Hogeschool Rotterdam.
VNC Lecture Cycle “View of China”
Feedback from participants in April this year was extremely positive, hence we are pleased to hereby announce that the lecture series “View of China” will be organized again in the second half of November. We will keep you informed of dates and location.
Reprise in November 2023; contents of lecture cycle
Every day we read or hear about China in the media. Yet for many, China is still a great unknown. To change that, the VNC organized a lecture cycle in April: “View of China.” In three lectures, which could be followed both online and offline, Lianne Baaij and Frans Greidanus discussed a number of relevant China-related topics. The first session focused on Chinese history, understanding of which is indispensable for understanding today’s China. The second session covered Chinese culture, language and literature. The third and final session took us to today’s China, covering topics such as China’s economy, innovation power and (geo)politics.
Stress perception among students/youth in the Netherlands and China
In the Netherlands, almost all students experience stress (97%) and more than half also suffer from performance pressure (54%) (Trimbos institute). The relaxed Netherlands, with the happiest youth in the world, seems to have disappeared. In China, we don’t know any better: gaokao, tiger moms, wolf dads, chicken-blood parents: high ambitions of parents for young people who have to live up to them for their families. How do young people deal with this? Are there differences, similarities, solutions? Can we learn from each other and help each other perhaps?
When teens have work, it is usually a part-time job. Young people with only a part-time job experienced less stress about their work than those for whom the work was not a part-time job: 11 percent versus 31 percent. Of the working young people whose work did not involve a side job, it was mostly self-employed and freelancers who suffered from work stress regularly or frequently. The stress suffered by young people today is unhealthy and worrisome. Something must be done here or the next generation will be very unhealthy with more and more mental problems.
Sept. 26, 2023
This is a current problem facing the Netherlands, China and many other countries. The working group Education of the VNC will dedicate a special meeting on September 26th at Tilburg University to discuss this form of stress with students, young people, among themselves and to go deeper into the similarities and differences between the Netherlands and China, but also to contribute ideas and suggestions in this regard. Do you recognize the above problem or do you have your own suggestions or ideas; come and discuss it in a casual atmosphere!
There is unfortunately only a very limited number of places available for this private meeting at Tilburg University on September 26th. There will be a number of additional meetings. Be quick to register via info@vnc-china.nl and put the date in your calendar. Further details on the location and program will follow shortly.
A wonderful group exhibition of drawings and contemporary ceramics by ceramists from China, Japan, Korea at Terra Delft
Since 2011, Simone Haak and Joke Doedens of Galerie Terra Delft have traveled regularly to China and in particular to Jingdezhen, the porcelain city, the breeding ground for artists, dealers and buyers. The city has a ceramics university with 20,000 students and a host of stores for ceramic supplies, galleries, studios and factories. In this setting, the Delft gallery owners met many international artists with whom contact was maintained and resulted in, among other things, this exhibition.
The artists participating in this exhibition come from contacts and experiences in China. Their work is diverse; drawings and sculptures are shown, as well as vases and bowls. Asian elements are reflected in the works; porcelain is used as well as celadon glaze, the raku firing technique is used. There are depictions of fantasy or mythical figures. It is an adventure to show all this work together.
Ceramics have traditionally been present in all cultures and everywhere the application in objects and utensils has developed in different ways. Despite the enormous influence of social media, which has made the world so much smaller, it appears that the forms of expression and techniques in ceramics are still distinctive among different cultures. That’s what makes this exhibition so interesting.
On display are artworks by:
Naidee Changmoh (TH)
Gen Hoshino (JP)
Young Soo Kim (KR)
Jackson Li (CN)
Wan Liya (CN)
Jay Lu (CN)
Shingo Takeuchi (JP)
Hidemi Tokutake (JP)
Wenna (CN)
Terra Delft Online 2015 – 2023
Nieuwstraat 7, 2611 HK Delft
Tel: 015-2147072
Email: info@terra-delft.nl
Life along the long wall solo exhibition by XiaoXiao Xu
Xiaoxiao Xu emigrated from Southeast China to the Netherlands at the age of 14, where she graduated cum laude from the Fotoacademie in Amsterdam in 2009. She participated in group exhibitions at Noorderlicht Photo Festival (2013), Xiamen China (2020), Breda Photo (2020), Jimei X Arles (2020) and Museum Hilversum (2021). Xu has published five photo books, including three published by The Eriskay Connection (Breda). Over the years, she received several prizes and awards including the Lucie Photo Book Prize and Best Photography Book Award PhotoEspaña. Her photobook Aeronautics in the Backyard (2016) was selected as one of the best photobooks by The Guardian,and the Volkskrant and recently her book Shooting the Tiger was nominated for Best Edited Book 2022.
Xu’s compassion for the people she met around the wall and the stories she tells about them show a part of Chinese culture and society through the eyes of someone who looks at it with both distance and recognition. With Leven langs de lange muur, Fotomuseum Den Haag presents Xu’s first museum solo exhibition.
