SNBN in your country
To be easily accessible to all Dutch people outside the Netherlands, we have Regional Representatives (RVs). These are our points of contact in as many countries or regions as possible. Below you can see where we have RVs. Click on the location marker to see who your RV is.
RVs are active in their own countries and organize annual meetings for Dutch citizens to discuss their concerns and ideas. This allows them to inform the board about current issues in each country. Conversely, the board also communicates important information to its representatives. When diplomats or politicians visit a particular country, they can contact an RV from that region.
We have several RV coordinators who ensure smooth communication between the board and RVs worldwide. Below, you'll find who they are and what they do on a daily basis.
These are our regional coordinators
Coordinator for Europe
Berry Drijsen
Berry has lived in Mâcon, France, with his French wife since 2008, after having lived in the US, Belgium, and previously in France and the Netherlands. With a background in education at Nyenrode Business University and International Business, he works as Director of Marketing Europe at an international company in the water and wastewater industry. His two children have since left home, but their experience living abroad and dual nationality have inspired him to dedicate himself to SNBN in Europe.
Coordinator for Europe
Ton Pennings
Ton Pennings settled in Sweden for good with an American/Swedish wife and daughter in 2021. As a pensionado in 2022, he was open to the foundation's request to become coordinator of Europe by 2023. In his paid working life, he worked in healthcare as an (interim) manager, consultant, teacher and coach. He is a social pedagogue and studied executive change. He coordinates Europe together with Berry Drijsen
Coordinator for North, Central and South America
Haydee Resort
Haydee has been active as an RV employee for SNBN from the very beginning. She has lived in Victoria, BC, Canada, for over thirty years. Her region is Vancouver Island. Haydee is still Dutch, which means that her two (adult) children have dual nationality – and they are very proud of that! Haydee is looking forward to supporting SNBN in this role and to getting to know different stakeholders better.
Coordinator for North, Central and South America
Maud Hoogenboom
Maud has been living in the US since 2021. She is living 'the American Dream' with her American husband, labrador Luna and son (expected November '23) in Sharon, Connecticut where her husband is originally from. Maud completed the HBO Law course in Leiden, and set up the political campaign #LoveIsEssentialNL during the corona pandemic. With this campaign, unmarried 'long distance' lovers, with a special exception, could be reunited in the Netherlands.
Coordinator for Africa and West Asia
Marloes Abeling
Marloes has been living in Sharm el Sheikh with her husband and daughter since 2014. After years of teaching English and PBL for primary 2 in an international school in Sharm, she is now going to teach Dutch online. As a born and raised Dutch woman, she is actively committed to dual nationality and has united as a volunteer with the SNBN. She has been Regional Representative (RV-er) for Egypt since 2019 with her own dedicated 'SNBN region Egypt Facebook group'.
ASEAN Coordinator
Tom de Bruin
The ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries includes the following countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam)
Tom was born in Rotterdam in 1943, studied Hebrew and Aramaic language and literature in Leiden and Jerusalem and taught at the University of Haifa. Kibbutz member in Israel for 35 years. He has an education and practice as a psychotherapist. For the last 25 years in the Philippines, he has been involved in setting up and leading a company that developed technology for food safety in tropical climates. Currently working as an independent entrepreneur and consultant. Residing in Subic Freeport Zone in the Philippines with Philippine partner. Children spread across the Netherlands, Ireland, Israel and the Philippines.
Coordinator for China
Marc de Beer
Marc has been living in Sanya, China since 2019, where he is both General Manager of the Sofitel Resort and Area Manager Hainan for Accor China. Marc completed the Hotel Management School in Maastricht and has been living outside the Netherlands for more than thirty years now. He has two adult children in Canada with both Dutch and Canadian nationality. Marc has held the position of SNBN RV in the UAE since 2017 and for South China since 2019.
Coordinator for Australia and New Zealand
René Gielen
René was born and raised in North Limburg and has been living in Melbourne since 2007 via Amsterdam and Sydney. Seven years later, he became an Australian citizen. Both his daughters now have Dutch and Australian passports. René has been following SNBN from the very beginning and, thanks to a number of administrative processes, is well informed about what it means to be a NLer outside the Netherlands. He has been voting from abroad since 2001 and hopes to be able to help promote the interests of Dutch people outside the Netherlands through the foundation.