Update on NAF Board Members | | | |
During the NAF Annual Member Meeting on June 11, the members approved the appointment of new Board Members, while others stepped down from their roles.
Thank you to the following departing Board Members for their many years of service to the NAF!
| | Welcome to the NAF's newest Board Members! | | Education & Internships Spotlight | | | |
Get ready for an unforgettable evening! Join us for the annual Netherland-America Foundation NL Transatlantic Dinner at Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam on September 4, 2026.
This year’s theme, Setting New Tones, Strengthening Ties, celebrates the dynamic spirit of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship shaping Dutch-American relations. Kick off the excitement at 1:30 PM with the Executive Business Roundtable — “The Business of Art, Music & Culture” — where trailblazers from art, music, film, and culture will share fresh ideas and bold strategies for global impact. As the sun sets, join us at 6:00 PM for an elegant cocktail reception, a sumptuous dinner, and the inspiring presentation of the 2026 Adams Van Berckel Award — honoring visionaries who are redefining Dutch-American connections. Reserve your spot now to be part of this exceptional evening!
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We'd love to spotlight two NAF alumni with upcoming projects:
- NAF Education Committee member and Fulbright alum Vivienne Aerts presents NEW AMSTERDAM SOUNDS. On Sunday, June 28, this floating concert in NYC features songs from Aerts’s new album Current, a project recorded aboard Aerts’s own 1951 Dutch mahogany sailboat, De Vouw, while traveling through the waterways of the Netherlands. Buy your ticket here.
- NAF Alumni Committee chair and study loan alum Sjaña Holloway, PhD, is the author of the newly published Ditch the Mask! How to Stop Avoiding and Resisting and Show Up as You Are!, which is set for release in July.
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250 Years United: U.S. and Netherlands, A Journey of Shared Freedoms
In our series reflecting on the 250 years history of the United States and Dutch American relations over that time span, we have arrived at perhaps the most transformational 50-year period: 1876-1926. The Gilded Age, the spread of modern technology of steel and electricity, imperialism and the outbreak of a global war on a scale never seen before. The era also saw the birth of the NAF.
What happened during this period in the United States, the Netherlands and how did Dutch-American relations develop?
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The following cultural projects were awarded support in 2026 through the NAF Cultural Grant Program:
- Exhibition costs for uncommissioned: Curaçao by Nōvo Collective, Curaçao's first island-wide public art exhibition, bringing together established artists and local art students to create site-specific installations across urban, rural, and natural landscapes
- The Medina Triennial, now taking place in Western New York until September, commissioned a piece by Dutch-American artist James Beckett.
- Many Voices: Music, Art and Memory, a concert, art exhibition, and literary book launch showcasing Dutch-American-Indonesian cultural connections through music, art, storytelling, and cuisine, organized by Lisa Graciano
- Concerts with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and Lucas and Arthur Jussen
- A new composition in collaboration with the ensemble Insomnio by composer Geli Li
- Support for a Dutch participation in the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo
- ydraulis*Netherlandish Polyphony from Historical Notation, a project led by performer, musicologist and art historian Willem Peek
- Commissioned essays for New–Old Masters of Dutch Realism, 1920s– 1940s, curated by art historian Stephanie Huber
- Public programming for The Center for Brooklyn History
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Other Minds' PastForward series
| | Check out these Dutch-American collaborations! | | 250 Years of America Special | | | | |
A Fifth Day of Freedom - the Beloved Island at the end of the world
Those readers who remember a column I wrote in 2024 titled Four Days of Freedoms and are interested in the life, times and legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt, here is another travel tip: Campobello Island, in New Brunswick, Canada. A bit off the beaten track, or some might say, at the end of the world.
Having visited six Roosevelt sites in the Tri-State Area, and reading up more about where Theodore, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt spent their time, Campobello Island had made my list of places next to visit quite some time ago.
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The Dutch Ship, Oosterschelde, will be the first tall ship of the parade happening on July 4th. The ship will also participating in various events on their schedule.
Check out the full schedule: https://sail4th.org/schedule
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Sail4th is an event taking place around the 4th of July to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary. Tall ships from over twenty nations will be sailing on the Hudson River on the day, before going on display to the public in the days after.
Free Event: Sail4th has contacted the NAF to confirm that the Tall Ships will docked in around NYC and able to be boarded during select hours.
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Ambassadors' Awards Dinner
Washington DC, June 10, 2026
We are delighted to share the success of the 2026 Ambassadors’ Awards Dinner in Washington, DC—a memorable evening of leadership, friendship, and transatlantic connection. Our sincere gratitude goes to everyone who attended, participated in the silent auction, and supported the event. Special thanks to our NAF Washington, DC Interns for sharing their experiences, and to Dinner Chair, Wendy Gowdey and the Dinner Organizing Committee for making the night a success.
Special thanks to our keynote speaker, Shefali Razdan Duggal, 72nd U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, whose inspiring words set a meaningful tone for the evening.
Congratulations to our honorees: Gunay Uslu, Jay Kovacs, and Yolanthe Cabau. We value their contributions and thank them for making the evening memorable.
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Membership is at the core of the NAF community, connecting you with fellow patrons and exclusive opportunities. By enrolling or renewing your membership, you gain access to special membership events and valuable discounts on select chapter and global events.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of something meaningful—join or renew today. Experience all the benefits that NAF membership has to offer!
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