Today, Klasja van de Ridder has been appointed as new Head of the European Commission Representation in The Hague, The Netherlands. In this function, she will act as the official representative of the European Commission in the Netherlands, under the political authority of President Ursula von der Leyen. The date of effect of her appointment will be determined later.
Klasja van de Ridder, a Dutch national, will draw on her extensive experience of 28 years in the European Commission, both in Brussels and in the Commission Representation in the Netherlands. Throughout her career, she has gained thorough insights into a number of policy areas, while also building up robust representation, communication and co-ordination skills.
She joined the Representation in the Netherlands in 2016 as Deputy Head of Representation and Head of Communication. She has been serving as acting Head of Representation since September 2022. Between 2008 and 2016 she worked in the Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM) as a Team Leader for political reporting, as Head of Sector for websites & social media and previously as Editor in chief of the EU Calendar. In 2001, she worked in the Representation in The Hague as press and media officer. Before joining the Commission in 1995 as an interpreter, she served as a freelance interpreter in the Netherlands.
Her educational background includes studies in Antwerp University with diplomas in translation and interpretation.
Background
The Commission maintains Representations in all capitals of EU Member States, and Regional Offices in Barcelona, Bonn, Marseille, Milan, Munich and Wroclaw. The Representations are the Commission's eyes, ears and voice on the ground in EU Member States. They interact with national authorities, stakeholders and citizens, and inform the media and the public about EU policies. Heads of Representation are appointed by the President of the European Commission and are her political representatives in the Member State to which they are posted.
