Chair and Member of the Supervisory Board

Organization

Fries Museum | Princessehof Ceramics Museum | Fries Resistance Museum is an organization of independent and contemporary museums where quality and the public come first. The organization comprises 58 employees with a combined total of 45 full-time equivalents (FTEs) spread across five departments (Knowledge & Collections, Audience & Presentations, Operations, Relations & Fundraising, and Human Resources & Organization), all organized under a single personnel union. The organization collaborates with 160 volunteers and externally hired staff. The organization is flexible and forward-looking, and the museums have evolved into modern and professional institutions.

Located in the heart of the bustling city of Leeuwarden, the Fries Museum is a dynamic and attractive destination that draws more than 100,000 visitors annually. With its large and varied collection, the museum offers both a reflection of the past and perspectives on the future. The museum is a treasure trove of heritage and visual arts, attracting, connecting, and inspiring both residents of Friesland and visitors from across the country. An innovative and challenging project is “Fries Museum on the Road”: for three years, the Fries Museum will travel with pieces from its collection to the villages in Friesland where the collection originated, to share and gather stories.

The Princessehof is the national ceramics museum and the only state-subsidized museum in the Northern Netherlands, housed in an 18th-century city palace that is also the birthplace of M.C. Escher. With its world-famous collection, the museum tells current and relevant stories, ranging from imperial porcelain from China, beautiful Art Nouveau ceramics, and Delft Blue, to works by modern and contemporary artists and designers.

The Frisian Resistance Museum is an important part of the Fries Museum, focusing on World War II, its lasting impact, and our freedom today. Here, visitors “meet” the people of Friesland during the years 1940–1945. Thanks to the Resistance Museum’s modern presentation, visitors’ knowledge is deepened and broadened. The museums are actively engaged in the social sphere and, through their collections and exhibitions, connect with the local community and relevant social developments.

The national government (Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science), the Province of Fryslân, and the municipality of Leeuwarden are all involved, as public authorities, in the funding of the museum foundations.

For more information about the Fries Museum | Princessehof Ceramics Museum | Fries Resistance Museum, visit:www.friesmuseum.nl, www.princessehof.nl, and www.friesverzetsmuseum.nl.

Supervisory Board

The Fries Museum | Princessehof Ceramics Museum | Fries Resistance Museum has a broadly representative Board of Trustees consisting of five members. The Board oversees the policies and performance of the Executive Director and ensures that the organization fulfills its social mission. The Board serves as a sounding board and sparring partner for the Executive Director, with a focus on strategy, quality, and the interests of visitors, employees, and partners. The members bring diverse expertise to the table, enabling the Board to provide broad and independent advice and assessments.

Due to resignations and the expiration of terms, two vacancies have arisen: a member of the Supervisory Board with a cultural background and a Chair of the Supervisory Board with an administrative background. Together with the three remaining members, the new members will form a new team. The current members look forward to getting started on this. The new members are also expected to be willing to devote the necessary time and attention to this.

General Profile of Supervisory Board Members

The Board of Trustees expects each member to possess the following general competencies:

• Commitment (but with objectivity and independence)
  

An affinity for and commitment to the museums’ objectives, along with the right balance between that commitment and the necessary administrative detachment; integrity and consistency; independence and critical thinking

• Ability to work with others
  

Able to work as part of a team and share personal expertise with the Board of Trustees and the Executive Director; helpful in establishing contacts with other parties in the cultural sector

• Entrepreneurship
  

Possess an excellent network and the ability to identify market opportunities and contribute ideas for improvements or innovations within the organization

• Impact
  

Confident and self-assured; possessing natural authority and persuasiveness; open and self-reflective

• Judgment (political sensitivity, situational awareness)
  

Have a frame of reference based on previous experience in similar situations and a sufficient understanding of the duties and roles of the Supervisory Board and the CEO; be familiar with corporate governance issues and the Cultural Governance Code

• Analytical skills
  

They are curious and able to identify the key points from a wealth of information, process information in various ways, and use it as a basis for decision-making; they are able to form a general opinion on matters presented by the managing director

• Availability
  

Have sufficient time to perform their duties (expected to be an average of 1 day per month) and be willing to do so for a modest fee

Profile of a Supervisory Board member with a cultural background

The candidate has knowledge of and experience in the museum sector and is a respected professional partner for the executive director and other internal and external stakeholders of the museums. Thanks to their experience, overview, and vision, the candidate is uniquely qualified to effectively oversee the institution’s strategic and organizational positioning. Knowledge of fundraising and grants is a plus. The candidate has strong connections in the cultural world and, preferably, a national network as well. Partly because of this, the candidate is able to think outside the box and contribute strategically to the future of the organization.

Profile of the Chair of the Supervisory Board

The ideal chairperson is someone with a strong administrative background and an extensive network in Friesland and beyond. The chairperson possesses supervisory and/or administrative experience and skills, as well as knowledge of national, regional (Frisian), and local (administrative) culture. In addition, the chairperson has a strong sense of compliance and governance, as well as sufficient financial, organizational, and legal knowledge to lead the entire team.

The chairperson is an authoritative figure who is capable of representing the organization with dignity in a variety of settings and at various times, and who can actually set aside time to be visible and approachable alongside and in addition to the executive director. In terms of personality, the chairperson is a warm and engaging person who knows how to open doors and forge lasting relationships with museums. The chairperson knows how to handle the media and has a keen sense of political and administrative dynamics. Furthermore, a healthy sense of perspective and a good sense of humor are also appreciated.

Note: Based on the belief that a diverse Board of Trustees enhances the quality of oversight, diversity is a key priority. The same principles apply to the composition of the Board of Trustees as to the organization as a whole: the museum is an inclusive organization that is open to all groups in society. The museum aims to provide equal opportunities for everyone and does not tolerate discrimination. A diversity of backgrounds and knowledge is welcomed, and employees are selected based on the required qualifications.

Recruitment Process

Boer & Croon is responsible for overseeing the recruitment and selection process.

Boer & Croon will conduct initial interviews with candidates and then submit their names to the Fries Museum | Princessehof Ceramics Museum | Fries Resistance Museum. The final selection will take place there. Below is the proposed timeline in weeks, with the goal of completing the process in March 2026:

Weeks 6–8 Preliminary interviews at Boer & Croon

Nomination of candidates (February 24)

Week 10 Auditions at the Fries Museum (March 4)

Week 11 Consultations at the Fries Museum (March 10)

Feedback to the selection committee

Nomination of preferred candidates to the Board of Trustees by the selection committee

Week 12–13 Introduction to the full Supervisory Board and appointment

Comment

If you are interested, please send your resume and cover letter to c.vanzanten@boercroon.nl by January 31, 2026. Please address your cover letter to Boer & Croon, attn. Mr. S.Y. Leistra. He can be reached through the Boer & Croon office (Carla van Zanten, 020 - 3031449).

Recruitment agencies are asked to refrain from contacting us regarding this job opening