Proposed themes

• The Dutch business and work cultures
• The cultural context of controversial Dutch legislation
• How the Dutch see the rest of the world
• European cultural differences and similarities
• The cultural aspects of international knowledge transfer
• Culture and communications technology

Jacob  Vossestein

Jacob (Jaap) Vossestein, a Dutch national, has over 15 years international management and communications experience, and has travelled to over 60 countries. He works as an intercultural trainer and adviser to international companies and organisations, both independently and as a senior consultant with the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in Amsterdam, where he runs an ‘Understanding the Dutch’ programme for foreign employees posted to the Netherlands.

Other functions at the KIT include the design and implementation of ‘Business Briefings’ on the Netherlands, cultural exchange workshops, and the Institute’s Europe-related training programmes. Clients include such organisations as Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, Philips, DSM, Quest International and a number of banks. He also teaches and trains at Amsterdam University, various business schools, and at Holland’s leading training institute, De Baak.

Jacob Vossestein is the author of the best-selling ‘Dealing with the Dutch’, published in English, Dutch and German. He is now working on a second book, ‘Worlds – the Logic behind Cultures’, an examination of the reasons underlying cultural differences. He also writes for various publications and is a guest speaker at the IDL military training institute and the Dutch School for Peace Missions.