Dutch Communities NZ is the website of the Federation of New Zealand Netherlands Societies, the umbrella trust for Dutch clubs and community organisations in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

The Federation has the following objectives:

1. To support Dutch clubs and community organisations to stay healthy and vibrant
2. To circulate information relevant to Dutch communities in Aotearoa/New Zealand
3. To facilitate connections between different Dutch organisations in Aotearoa/New Zealand
4. To increase the visibility and recognition of Dutch communities in Aotearoa/New Zealand
5. To foster relationships between Aotearoa/New Zealand and the Netherlands

The trust has an executive committee consisting of seven people:

President Christiaan Buijsers

President of the Federation since April 2023 after several years as Vice-President. Former President of the Auckland Dutch Club. Born in Groningen and immigrated to NZ with his family in 1984. His dad is originally from Limburg and mum from Indonesia. He works in IT in education and runs 2 Jiujitsu clubs in his “spare time”.

Vice-President Lars Asveld

Lars was elected as Vice President at the ANCM on 28 October 2023. With over a decade of marketing and communications experience, he’s eager to use his expertise to support and strengthen the Dutch communities in New Zealand. In 2018, Lars moved to New Zealand after having worked in multiple countries across different continents. Now he’s settled with his partner in Hamilton, enjoying the great lifestyle, natural beauty, and outdoor adventures that New Zealand offers.

Secretary Iris Beemster

Iris was born in Muiden (Noord-Holland), where you find ‘het Muiderslot’ and ‘cafe Ome Ko’ where you should definitely try a ‘Muier Schipper Bitter’. Iris lived in de Gooi-en Vechtstreek until she immigrated to New Zealand, with her Dutch husband Theo, in 2009. She now lives on a lifestyle block in Lower Kaimai, just outside Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty, from where she runs her Youth Life Coaching business.

Treasurer Wies van den Berg

Wies van den Berg has been the treasurer of the Federation since 2016. She is the president of the Netherlands Society in the Waikato and has been involved with in the Waikato Dutch community since the 1990s in several different ways, starting as a committee member of the Waikato Dutch Choir. Wies teaches nursing at Wintec, is married with Peter, has three adult children and lives in Cambridge.

Officer Communications Arjan van der Boon

Arjan van der Boon, Co-Chair of the Oranjehof Dutch Connection museum Trust. Ridder in de Order van Oranje-Nassau. Oorspronkelijk uit Oldenzaal (Twente), tijdelijk voor langere tijd verblijvend in Nederland.

Officer Grants Margaret May

Margaret May has been a member of the Dutch Club Manawatu for three years and is currently also on the board of the Windmill Trust in Foxton.

Officer Youth Malou Vermeer

Malou was born in Enschede and moved to New Zealand with her husband in 2017 for a working holiday. They decided to stay and grew two Kiwi kids here. Malou has been on the committee of the Auckland Club since 2019 and is the impact manager of a part charity – part enterprise.

Supporting (non-Executive) Roles;

Ron van Santen

Editor Newsletter De Schakel and Website maintenance.