Former Prince Claus Fund Chair receives national honour

Press Release- 24 April 2020, Amsterdam. The Board and staff of the Prince Claus Fund are delighted with the news that Henk Pröpper has been named Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau for his contributions to literature, art and culture. The honour Orange-Nassau is awarded in recognition of longstanding meritorious service to society. Nederlands hier

Henk Pröpper served as Chair of the Board of the Prince Claus Fund for six years from 2013 - 2019.

Before taking up his post with the Prince Claus Fund, Henk Pröpper served as Director of the Institut Néerlandais in Paris, the Director of the Dutch Foundation for Literature, the Director of the publishing house De Bezige Bij, and interim Director of CPNB, the Foundation for the Promotion of Dutch Literature, an association of bookstores, libraries and Dutch publishers. In 2017 he established Pröpper Advies, a consultancy for government, cultural organisations and publishing houses.

In his speech at the 2018 Prince Claus Awards Ceremony, his last as Chair of the Board, Pröpper said of his years working with the Fund:

“I have experienced beautiful things over the years, I had the chance to meet so many wonderful people…people with open faces, open to learn, open to the other, open to create something together. But also open to face the often ugly reality, trying, with the means and the greater or smaller talent we have, to be part of this community that works on positive change.”

HRH Prince Constantijn, Honorary Chair of the Board, thanked Henk Pröpper for his service at the 2018 ceremony. He noted particularly Pröpper’s intellectual contribution and his humility. He stated, “You have invested a lot to lead us forward, and I think you are leaving the Fund in very good shape.”

Henk Pröpper’s successor as Chair of the Board of the Prince Claus Fund, Ila Kasem agrees:

“Henk was an inspiring Chair of the Fund’s Board. He filled his role in a stimulating and sympathetic manner, committed to the international vision of the Fund. Along with his other work, promoting Dutch literature and culture nationally and internationally, Henk’s contributions are most deserving of this honour.”

 

The Prince Claus Fund supports, connects and celebrates artists and cultural practitioners where cultural expression is under pressure and cultural heritage is under threat. 

Photo credits: Henk Pröpper, 2017 Prince Claus Awards, Royal Palace Amsterdam (c) Frank van Beek;  Henk Pröpper's valediction as Chair, with Honorary Chair HRH Prince Constantijn, 2018 Prince Claus Awards, Royal Palace Amsterdam, 2018 (c) Frank van Beek

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Note for the Editors

For more information, please contact Martine Willekens, Prince Claus Fund PR Manager

[email protected] +31.65.36.00431