Coordinator of International Heritage Cooperation

Who are we? 

The Dutch Open Air Museum passes on tangible and intangible heritage to future generations. We collect and preserve stories, traditions, buildings, objects, plants, and crops related to daily life in the Netherlands. Through engaging presentations, the Dutch Open Air Museum makes history relevant—for today and tomorrow.  

The Open Air Museum organizes History Month and oversees the Network of Canon Museums. The Dutch Intangible Cultural Heritage Knowledge Center is also part of the museum organization. Intangible cultural heritage is living heritage: cultural expressions of heritage communities that are passed down dynamically from generation to generation. Since 2012, the Dutch Intangible Cultural Heritage Knowledge Center has been responsible for implementing the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in the Netherlands.   

 International Heritage Cooperation  

From shared heritage to shared challenges  

Through International Heritage Cooperation, the implementing partners collaborate with countries with which we share a (colonial) past to protect heritage and exchange knowledge about it. International Heritage Cooperation is part of the Netherlands’ International Cultural Policy. 

The protection of cultural heritage is increasingly linked to societal discussions about, for example, changes to our environment (such as urbanization), sustainability, and identity. Together with international partners, we contribute to solutions for these shared challenges. We do this, among other things, by bringing heritage communities together and facilitating the exchange and development of knowledge, for example in the area of passing on intangible heritage to younger generations. This enriches heritage preservation in both the Netherlands and our partner countries.  

In addition to the Dutch Intangible Cultural Heritage Knowledge Center, international heritage cooperation is carried out by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science; the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the National Archives; the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands; DutchCulture; and the Dutch embassies, in collaboration with various organizations and heritage communities in the Netherlands and partner countries.  

For this policy period (2021–2024), the Knowledge Center has chosen to focus on the shared intangible cultural heritage of heritage communities with a migration background in the Netherlands and of heritage communities in the countries of origin: Suriname, India, and Indonesia. 

What will you be doing? 

The position of Coordinatorfor International Heritage Cooperation at the“ ” Knowledge Center is a new one: 

• You are essentially the program coordinator within the Knowledge Center; 
• You will be responsible for developing and implementing the Knowledge Center’s programming and activities in the context of international heritage cooperation;  
• You will develop and monitor the annual plans and project budgets for 2023 and 2024;  
• You will represent the Knowledge Center at the national and international levels in matters related to international heritage cooperation activities; 
• You will network extensively with representatives of heritage communities in the Netherlands, but especially with representatives of heritage communities and heritage organizations, as well as the Dutch embassies in Suriname, India, and Indonesia; 
• As a coordinator, you will participate in the regular coordination meetings for International Heritage Cooperation, where the implementing partners discuss the project’s implementation; 

This role places particular emphasis on developing equal and meaningful relationships and partnerships with communities, as well as on creating social impact, both nationally and internationally. To this end, the Knowledge Center adopts a “bottom-up” and reciprocal approach, in which heritage communities take the lead. 

Who are you? 

• You have a college-level education and way of thinking;  
• You have experience with project-based work and/or coordination in the heritage sector;   
• You are culturally sensitive; 
• You take the initiative and are a team player who fosters connections;  
• You are a good networker and have a knack for dealing with people; 
• You have a good command of Dutch and English (both spoken and written). 

 What we offer you 

• A temporary contract for 14.4 to 16 hours per week, with a maximum duration until the end of 2024. 
• A gross monthly salary between €3,208.00 and €4,196.00 based on a 36-hour workweek (Scale 10 of the Museum Collective Bargaining Agreement). 
• A year-end bonus of 3.4%. 
• Full reimbursement of travel expenses if you use public transportation. For travel by private vehicle, you will be reimbursed €0.19 per kilometer (up to a maximum of 50 kilometers one way) 
• A pension plan with PFZW. 
• A laptop, a phone, and the ability to work from home. 
• An environment where initiative (proactivity) is encouraged. 
• A challenging position with a lot of responsibility. 
• A positive work environment where teamwork and camaraderie are highly valued. 

Interested? 

The Dutch Open Air Museum endorses the Diversity & Inclusion Code and strives to embed it systematically throughout all levels of the museum. Because we create programs for everyone, we naturally want to see that diversity reflected in our team as well. We are convinced that people from different backgrounds can motivate and inspire one another. After all, we have more in common than we realize. We encourage anyone who fits the required profile to apply for this position. Please send your cover letter and resume by July 18, 2022, to ikwilsolliciteren@openluchtmuseum.nl 

For questions regarding the content, please contact Marco van Baalen, Director of the Dutch Intangible Cultural Heritage Knowledge Center, at 06 82844283 or m.vanbaalen@immaterieelerfgoed.nl