With this column in our new ChinaNU+, we would like to keep you informed about our association.
Our association is one of the oldest associations in the Netherlands that focuses on the relationship between the Netherlands and China. We do this as an independent Dutch organization that seeks not only to make knowledge about China available, but also by networking for the benefit of Dutch and Chinese people in all variations possible. We are not activist in nature and seek the connection, nuance and different perspectives.
On Feb. 24, we celebrated the National Chinese New Year Celebration in The Hague. The VNC has long supported the National Chinese New Year Celebration. Again this year it was quite a happening and ushered in the New Year of the Dragon well.
Earlier on Feb. 18, we hosted a VNC New Year lunch in Delft where our esteemed active member Then Ping Oei enlightened us on the Chinese calendar and the origins of the Chinese New Year.
On March 7, Chi Keung Lau together with Floor Perquin organized an evening in region East, in Deventer in cooperation with the SME trade office with a lecture by our board member Aldo Spaanjaars following his book “Dragon Tactics” on Chinese management styles and how we might relate to them.
A week later, on March 14, together with a number of travel market organizations and companies and others, we organized “Experience China.” a meeting in Utrecht focusing on travel to China. Now that visa-free travel is possible for visits of up to 15 days and all travel restrictions surrounding the pandemic have been lifted, there is nothing to stop us from traveling to China. The evening was enlivened by Chinese music, calligraphy, snacks and a real quiz with prizes and a goody bag for everyone thanks to the many partners.
On March 25, we organized the first China Café of this year. We organize 4 times a year a China Café in Utrecht where we meet for people working with or in China around various topics. This time the China Café was about China’s aging population. Lilian Kranenburg interviewed Thijs de Blok about his work at Buurtzorg. Buurtzorg is active in China and he spoke candidly about how the very flat organizational structure is experienced in China. Henk Schulte Nordholt began by outlining the macro economic picture and Peter gave his vision as an experienced official from the embassy in Beijing on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
On April 7, we organized a tour of Holland’s oldest Chinese neighborhood, Katendrecht in Rotterdam, a tour given by the expert David Zee who also gave a lecture at the Verhalen huis Belvedère following his book “Chinese Kees, my father, my grandfather, my family in Chinatown Katendrecht.”
May 21 we will organize an evening in Amsterdam with our esteemed member of the Committee of Recommendation Bettine Vriesekoop about her new book: Chinese wisdom in a ball; the game of Tao. Details will follow but keep your agenda free May 21, 7:30 p.m. in Amsterdam.
Check our site www.vnc-china.nl for further upcoming events.
By the way, we as VNC are also active in accompanying delegations from China. This is at the request of our relations and is organized on a non-profit basis. At the end of April a delegation from Shanxi and in June from the People’s Congress will come to China to shed their light on Dutch legislation.
If you are interested in becoming an active member to help us organize events or delegations; please let us know. We hope to achieve more with more active members, more impact to achieve our goals.
If you are interested, please approach one of our board members or sign up through our site www.vnc-china.nl
