Member of the Supervisory Board - Manufacturing Industry Profile

The National Glass Museum in Leerdam preserves and exhibits the heritage of Dutch glass art and decorative arts, with a focus on the creation of glass art through the traditional craft of glassblowing.

The National Glass Museum consists of two locations: the museum and the glassblowing workshop. The museum has been in existence since 1953 and houses a unique collection of Dutch glass from 1850 to the present. Exhibitions, activities, and educational programs are organized for a broad and diverse audience. Since 1997, the glassblowing workshop has been a center of craftsmanship where the public can experience glassblowing and where artists, designers, and artisans can showcase their work and develop their skills. The glassblowing workshop is inextricably linked to the museum because the craft of glassblowing is an important part of Leerdam’s heritage.

As a network organization, the National Glass Museum focuses on connecting with the wider community: within the municipality of Vijfheerenlanden and the Alblasserwaard region, and beyond, through collaborations with various international glass studios and museums. The National Glass Museum welcomes a total of approximately 60,000 visitors per year across both locations and is subsidized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the municipality of Vijfheerenlanden.

Supervisory Board

The Supervisory Board consists of five members. Due to the expiration of the second term of office, two positions on the Supervisory Board will become vacant as of January 1, 2026.

The Supervisory Board has the following responsibilities, among others:

• Maintain comprehensive oversight.
• Monitoring the achievement of objectives.
• Approval of the budget and the annual financial statements (annual report and financial statements).
• Approval of the multi-year policy plan.
• Approval of amendment(s) to the articles of incorporation.
• Advising the director/manager.
• Acting as the employer for the director/officer.
• Representation of the foundation.

Qualifications for Supervisory Board Members

All members are expected to:

• Have administrative or supervisory experience, with an understanding of political and social dynamics.
• An interest in culture, industrial heritage, art, design, and/or the history of Leerdam.
• Have an interest in the cultural sector and in the role that culture plays in society.
• Understand the dynamics of public sector organizations.
• Have a vision regarding strategy, positioning, financing, collaboration, and cultural entrepreneurship.
• The ability to act analytically, critically, and decisively when evaluating the foundation’s policies and the performance of the director/executive.
• Being engaged while remaining capable of forming an independent and authentic judgment, and having the ability to strike a good balance between engagement and the necessary detachment.
• Be a person of integrity and beyond reproach, but also be responsible and vigilant regarding potential conflicts of interest.
• Have sufficient time to devote to the work of the Supervisory Board and be willing to dedicate that time to it.

Manufacturing Industry Profile

The candidate has extensive knowledge and experience in the manufacturing industry and/or the field of traditional crafts, for example in disciplines such as glass, ceramics, or textiles, as well as other traditional and contemporary crafts such as woodworking and metalworking. The ideal candidate understands how craftsmanship, design, innovation, and entrepreneurship reinforce one another and can apply that experience to the development and positioning of the National Glass Museum.

Background and experience

• Demonstrable experience in the manufacturing industry or the arts and crafts sector, such as glassblowing, ceramics, textiles, blacksmithing, woodworking, furniture making, or metalworking.
• An understanding of the interplay between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovations, such as materials research, new production methods (e.g., 3D printing or hybrid techniques), and crossovers with design and art.
• Familiar with innovative artisanal workshops where artists, designers, and makers collaborate.
• Experience with collaborations that bring together artisans, artists, designers, museums, educational institutions, and businesses.

Networking and positioning

• Has an extensive network within the manufacturing industry, artisanal workshops, or the design world.
• Advises the National Glass Museum on positioning itself as a bridge between tradition and the future, with the Foundation drawing inspiration from the role of laboratories and workshops in other crafts.
• Can establish connections between local craft traditions (such as Leerdam glass or Dutch metalwork) and international networks of makers and designers.
• Actively contributes ideas on how the glassblowing studio can be further developed as an innovative hub for experimentation, learning, and collaboration.

Administrative and personal qualities

• Possesses an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, with a focus on sustainability, circular processes, and new materials.
• Provides direction for a vision in which craftsmanship and manufacturing are not merely part of our heritage, but also dynamic and innovative forces.
• Core strengths: extensive knowledge of craftsmanship and the manufacturing industry, an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, strategic insight, and the ability to bridge the gap between heritage and the future.

Are you interested? Please send us your cover letter and resume by December 31. You can email them to the Chair of the Supervisory Board, Marike Gelderblom: mhjnooijen@gmail.com. Do you have any questions? Please contact Marike Gelderblom at 06-21 11 32 60.

A committee from the Supervisory Board conducts the selection interviews. Dates for these interviews are scheduled in consultation with potential candidates. The goal is to achieve a balanced mix of backgrounds, experiences, and qualities.