Martijn van Dam new chairman Van Gogh National Park

The Van Gogh National Park in the heart of Brabant is the birthplace of master painter Vincent van Gogh. In this area the scenic gems from his time are still present. Here you will find forests, heathland, fens and sand drifts (one of the largest in Europe), authentic villages, lively squares and charming alleys. All are worth being discovered by visitors from home and abroad. But also by the residents of the area itself. Van Gogh Brabant is thus in direct connection with Van Gogh National Park and go hand in hand.

Martijn van Dam has been appointed chairman of Van Gogh National Park. He succeeds current chairman Paul Rüpp as of March 1. As chairman, Van Dam will support the cooperation between public and private partners to take the step towards official National Park status. As State Secretary for Economic Affairs (2015-2017), he spearheaded the approach for new-style national parks, in which nature, society and economy are more strongly linked.

Engage business in strengthening Brabant's landscape

Martijn van Dam (1978) lives in the middle of the country, but grew up in Brabant. After studying at Eindhoven University of Technology, he was parliamentary group chairman of the PvdA in the Eindhoven City Council. After a career in national politics, Van Dam was director of the NPO from 2017 until last October. He is currently a director of the Dutch Data Safe Foundation, an initiative of the five major Dutch media companies to achieve a new technology that puts people back in control of their personal data.

Van Dam: "I have two great passions: digitalization and innovation on the one hand, and nature and food on the other. So I really enjoy being able to contribute as chairman to the ambitions of Van Gogh National Park. The idea of National Parks new style was to make nature protection not opposed to other ambitions, but much more hand in hand with social and economic developments. That is at the heart of the plans of Van Gogh National Park, to which I will therefore gladly contribute."

Van Dam therefore hopes to boost business involvement in strengthening Brabant's landscape. This ambition is in line with the next step in the development of Van Gogh NP, which expects to receive clarity from the Ministry of LNV in 2023 on the status application according to the new National Parks Policy Framework now being developed.

"The broad cooperation with so many partners and the innovative approach is unique and fits perfectly with the ambitions of this top region and its residents. This is precisely where nature, landscape, business climate, innovative concepts, new economic developments and agriculture and food supply of the future can come together. I look forward to being able to contribute to that."

Vice Chairman Erik de Ridder: "We believe with Van Dam, with his strategic-content vision and network, we have once again found a strong chairman to move the Van Gogh NP movement forward at this stage."

Movement and area together with sustainable ambition

Van Gogh National Park has grown over the past three years into a movement of now seventy partners who jointly invest in the quality of nature, landscape and vital farmland. These partners convert the urgency of social challenges such as agriculture, water, housing and climate adaptation into integral solutions for a healthy, beautiful and vital living environment with greenery right into the heart of cities and villages. The innovative and idiosyncratic approach of Vincent van Gogh who grew up in the area serves as inspiration for this.