Trade Routes to the Colonies
Life in the Dutch Golden Age
Dutch Golden Age Tour

Henk has a wealth of information about the socio-economic and cultural development of the Netherlands and his hometown, Amsterdam. After completing his University studies, Henk joined the UN and subsequently the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation. He is an avid traveller who has been to over 70 countries all over the world, for work and for pleasure. His global perspective has allowed him to appreciate even more the uniqueness and beauty of the Netherlands and Amsterdam. As an economist, Henk is fascinated by how this small country became the wealthiest nation in the world in the 17th century and how the citizens of Amsterdam contributed to this remarkable development. He loves to share his knowledge with visitors on Context tours. Henk is married to a former classical ballet dancer and actress. He is open-minded, well spoken, humorous and eager to share his knowledge. He loves 17th century Dutch paintings, the French impressionists, music, nature and wildlife photography, meeting other people, and rollerblading around the Vondelpark.

As a PhD candidate and museum professional Iris is dedicated to making history, culture, and art accessible to a large audience. Her PhD research focuses on the relationships between Dutch colonists and the Indigenous Nations of North America in the early 17th and late 18th century. Iris was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to perform research at the American Indian and Indigenous Studies program at Cornell University. In addition to her PhD, Iris works as a freelance museum professional for the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, the Frans Hals museum in Haarlem, and the Catharijneconvent Museum in Utrecht. Here, she designs educational programs, write texts, and of course creates and gives tours. She recently completed her pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela on foot.
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.