About The Dutch Centre
The Dutch Centre Experience
The Dutch Centre is a place to showcase, engage and inspire. A place in the heart of the city of London where people who are interested in the rich culture that the Netherlands has to offer come together. Join us in celebrating the diversity and creativity of the Dutch culture.
Our base is the Dutch Church at Austin Friars where in 1550 King Edward VI granted Dutch and French speaking refugees shelter and freedom of worship. Here in the heart of the City of London we have all the facilities needed to host exciting events and extend a warm welcome to all our guests.

History
The Dutch Centre was founded in 2013 as a Centre for Dutch arts and Culture. Under the inspiring leadership of Leonard and Carola Broese van Groenou, with financial support of the Dutch Embassy and the Dutch Church and a large grant from the Abellio foundation. Since 2013 the Dutch Centre has showcased hundreds of diverse events promoting Dutch language, culture, and heritage across the United Kingdom.
Our programme today is packed with a broad range of events highlighting the Netherlands‘ cultural life, often with an additional UK perspective; bridging the two countries is at the heart of what we do. Dutch film screenings, literature nights, live comedy, concerts, talks and exhibitions by Dutch artists and designers… There really is something for everyone!
We bring our audience a diverse programme that is informative, educational, thought provoking, engaging and entertaining in a welcoming and inclusive environment, our very own wonderful venue at Austin Friars. Many of our events are now also available to follow online.

Our Audience
Our diverse audience is made up of people who have one thing in common: a love for – or curiosity about – Dutch life, heritage and culture. Anyone who’s keen to discover more about what’s going in the Netherlands in terms of arts, culture and contemporary issues will find a home-from-home at the Dutch Centre. We hope we can welcome you here soon!
Events are either held in English or have English subtitles. We occasionally put on events in Dutch. This is always clearly announced beforehand. It’s also a great opportunity to practise your Dutch!
Meet the Team
The Dutch Centre is run on a day-to-day basis by a small dedicated team:

Jacobine van Laar
Business Manager
Jacobine van Laar originates from The Netherlands. She started her career as a classical flautist and moved to England to further her career as a classical singer. In 2007 she returned to The Netherlands where she qualified as a lawyer. Having had a stint at a career in law in The Netherlands, Jacobine returned to the UK in 2020, where she revived her singing career and work as an event manager. She is also a pro bono board member of Stichting Nederlanders Buiten Nederland, advocating the interests of Dutch nationals abroad. Since January 2025 Jacobine is the Business Manager of the Dutch Centre, where she dedicates her time and experience to promoting Dutch art and culture for people in and around London. Jacobine is responsible for business continuity & development, sponsoring, and marketing (website and social media).

Jasmijn Maljers
Programme Manager
Jasmijn has a BA in Childhood, Family and Education Studies and worked as Deputy Headteacher at De Regenboogschool in London. Jasmijn brings a deep passion for education and cultural enrichment to her work. She organises a variety of cultural events and celebrations honouring Dutch heritage while fostering a vibrant and culturally rich learning environment. Growing up immersed in the arts, with frequent visits to museums and a great love for Dutch culture, Jasmijn developed a lifelong appreciation for the richness of several artistic traditions. As programme manager at the Dutch Centre, she is dedicated to sharing the best of Dutch art and culture with audiences in London, creating meaningful connections and inspiring appreciation for this heritage. Jasmijn is responsible for the event programming and makes sure all runs smoothly on the night. She is supported by the Programme Committee, our enthusiastic team of volunteers. Jasmijn is also the liaison for the Volunteer Coordinator.
Christine Sas
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Programme Committee
Marjolein Koppelaar
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Programme Committee
Pia Rainey
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Programme Committee
Friends Coordinator
Rein Roos
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Programme Committee
Vacancy
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Programme Committee
Vacancy
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Programme Committee
George Rudolph
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Finance Administrator
Godelieve van Ansenwoude
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Volunteers Coordinator
Vacancy from Sept '26
Trustees
The board of trustees is responsible for strategy and governance. The current trustees are:
Team and Trustee pictures:
© Bianca Maaskant
