News

GENERAL MEMBERS MEETING

During the General Members’ Meeting, 30 January 2026, a new board of the association has been elected. As from that date the board is formed by:

Chair: Kees Jan Rietveld (Honorary Consul Seychelles) Secretary: Sonia Meyer (Honorary Consul El Salvador) , Vice Chair: Angelique Heemels (Honorary Consul France), Treasurer: Ellen Groeneveld (Honorary Consul general, Norway), Member: Ben Melissa (Honorary Consul Zwitserland)

GENERAL MEMBERS MEETING

During the General Members’ Meeting, 30 January 2026, three Board members Eliseo de la Fuente (Honorary Consul Ecuador), Karin van Rooyen (Honorary Consul of Slovenia) and Andrea C Teunissen (Honorary Consul of Romania) stepped down, with full discharge, after having served the Union over many years and terms as board members.

MR KEES JAN RIETVELD, HONORARY CONSUL OF SEYCHELLES, AWARDED WITH A ROYAL DISTINCTION ON KINGS DAY 2024

On the occasion of King’s Day 2024, and because of his exceptional dedication and for merits in fields including culture, entrepreneurial interests, social causes and international relations. Kees Jan Rietveld, Honorary Consul of Seychelles received, a royal distinction, “ Ridder in de Orde van Oranje Nassau” Conferred during a festive ceremony, by the Mayor of Rotterdam, Mr Ahmed Aboutaleb.

MS JUDITH HUIJEN – APPOINTED AS HONORARY CONSUL OF THE COMMOMWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS, 2023

Judith Huijnen, a Bahamian national and veteran working in the Financial Services sector for the last 23 years, wanted to see where she could help other Bahamian nationals living in the Netherlands. Mrs. Huijnen is an experienced Insurance Director with a demonstrated history of working in the Financial Services industry and long tenure working at Franklin Templeton, specializing in strategic EMEA initiatives and working with some of the largest Dutch Institutional clients. Skilled troubleshooter and problem solver, with a track record in building and maintaining client relationships.

ELECTION NEW BOARD OF THE ASSOCIATION

2 December 2022

Jachtclub Hillegersberg Rotterdam

At the annual meeting on 2 December 2022, members voted and elected a new board for the next three years. The incumbent board members, Eliseo de la Fuente González, honorary consul Ecuador, chairman, Bert de Nooijer, former honorary consul Gambia, vice-chairman, Karin van Rooyen-Winkelman, honorary consul Slovenia, member, Alexander Roos, honorary consul Belize, treasurer and Andrea Teunissen-Oprea, honorary consul Romania, general secretary, were re-elected. Kees Jan Rietveld, honorary consul Seychelles, was elected as a new board member.

Andrea C. Teunissen – Oprea awarded National Order of Faithful Service of Romania

In November 2019, Andrea C. Teunissen – Oprea, honorary consul of Romania for South and North Holland, has been awarded by the president of Romania, Mr. Klaus Iohannis, for her continuous commitment and involvement for over thirty years as a bridge-builder between Romania and the Netherlands, with the second highest Romanian decoration, the National Order of Faithful Service in the rang of Knight. The decoration has been handed during a meeting at the Romanian embassy in The Hague by the ambassador of Romania in the Netherlands, her excellency Mrs. Brânduşa Predescu.

All posts loaded

No more posts to load

GENERAL MEMBERS MEETING

MR KEES JAN RIETVELD, HONORARY CONSUL OF SEYCHELLES, AWARDED WITH A ROYAL DISTINCTION ON KINGS DAY 2024

MS JUDITH HUIJEN – APPOINTED AS HONORARY CONSUL OF THE COMMOMWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS, 2023

Andrea C. Teunissen – Oprea awarded National Order of Faithful Service of Romania

ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING AND THE ANNUAL DINNER 2020

November 27, 17.00 – 21.00

The Hague

The Annual Meeting will be followed by the Annual Dinner, and will be held this year in the Hague.

Please save the date, detailed information and an invitation is following.

SUMMER MEETING

July 24, 15.00 – 17.00h

Jachthaven Hillegersberg, Rotterdam

An informal summer meeting at Jachthaven Hillegersberg, a private venue in Rotterdam. Followed by a farewell drink honouring Gert Zandsteeg and Ehsan Turabaz, two of our distinguished board members whose term as board member is finished. As appreciation for their valuable contribution within the association the board will offer, on behalf of the association a nice art work made by a Dutch artist.

An invitation to all our members is sent by mail.

PRESENTATION / BREXIT – experts meeting

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Port of Rotterdam / Havenbedrijf

Brexit, the transition period: Presentation by: Roel in het Veld,

EU Customs Policy Lead at National Office Dutch Customs, Brexit coordination

Insight in the transition period until the end of 2020 while the UK and EU negotiate additional arrangements and the way the current rules on trade, travel, and business for the UK and EU will continue to apply during the transition period.

The Post Brexit: Presentation by: Mark Dijk,

Manager External Affairs, Port of Rotterdam

New rules will take effect on 1 January 2021. The meeting, followed by a Lunch.

MR. Kees Jan Rietveld – Appointed as Honorary Consul of the Republic of Seychelles, 2020

With roots in Rotterdam, started his professional career in 1988 with General Electric, who he served for 13 years in various commercial, marketing and senior management positions in the UK, Benelux and Hong Kong. Since 2001 Kees Jan is has been an entrepreneur, initially as Managing Partner of a advertising and market research firm (VDM-Dataview). As off 2006 he started his own agency, aptly named Buro Rietveld (www.buro-rietveld.nl): professional communication services to a wide range of B2B and B2C clients with inhouse creatives, designers and communication strategy experts. Additional professional ventures include an telecommunications infrastructure development company (Mabin), investments in various e-commerce scale ups, techfunds and StartupBootcamp in Amsterdam.

As board member, Kees Jan endeavor to spend time and energy on helping other organizations and institutions with their ambitions such as Theater Walhalla, Zangexpress, Classic Young Masters, Vokaal Talent Nederland, Comite ter Behartiging van Nationale Belangen and Stichting KinderOncologie Rotterdam.

All posts loaded

No more posts to load

GENERAL MEMBERS MEETING

MR KEES JAN RIETVELD, HONORARY CONSUL OF SEYCHELLES, AWARDED WITH A ROYAL DISTINCTION ON KINGS DAY 2024

MS JUDITH HUIJEN – APPOINTED AS HONORARY CONSUL OF THE COMMOMWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS, 2023

MR ELISEO DE LA FUENTE GONZALEZ Honorary Consul of Ecuador, new Chairman Union des consuls a Rotterdam et La Haye

During the Annual Meeting, October 2019 the members of the association have chosen as the new Chairmen of the association, Mr Eliseo de la Fuente Gonzalez. Mr Eliseo de la Fuente Gonzalez, Honorary consul of Ecuador is since many years an active member of the Board, the last few years as the association treasurer. Mr Eliseo de la Fuente lives and works in Rotterdam as managing partner of De la Fuente Advocaten.

UNIFICATION UNION DES CONSULS A ROTTERDAM ET UNION DES CONSULS LA HAYE

Union des Consuls à Rotterdam, founded on Avril 25, 1906 is one of the oldest, if not the oldest consul’s association in the Netherlands. In 2019 the association unified with the sister association, Union des Consuls La Haye, to consolidate the good cooperation between the two associations and to respond to the actual strategies of local government to more regional cooperation. Approximately 160 honorary consuls are active in the Netherlands, 70 of which are members of our association, representing over 40 countries.

JAN VALKIER, HONORARY CONSUL OF FINLAND, Gekozen tot Havenman van het jaar 2019

De Stichting Havenman/-vrouw van het Jaar in Rotterdam heeft ceo Jan Valkier van rederij Anthony Veder gekozen tot Havenman van het Jaar 2019.

VICTOR SCHOENMAKERS, HONORARY CONSUL OF SEYCHELLEN, Farewell reception, as Director Corporate Strategy, Port of Rotterdam

Our board member Bert de Nooijer, represented the association during the farewell retirement reception of Victor Schoenmakers at the Port of Rotterdam, February 2020. Victor worked for a very long period at the Port Authority, as an International Logistics Port Corporate/strategist. On 10 October 2014 Victor Schoenmakers has been appointed as Honorary Consul of Seychelles in Rotterdam, position that will be continued by his successor, the new Honorary Consul of Seychelles in Rotterdam, Kees Jan Rietveld.

Victor confirms he will continue his membership of the association, of which he has been a valued member for many years.

All posts loaded

No more posts to load