Change of director at the Hermitage-Amsterdam centre

Celebrations to commemorate the retirement of Ernst Veen, director of De Nieuwe Kerk and Hermitage-Amsterdam, were held 10 and 11 November 2011 in Amsterdam. Vladimir Matveev, deputy director of the Hermitage for exhibitions and development, attended on behalf of the State Hermitage.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands awarded Ernst Veen the Order of Orange-Nassau, one of the highest state awards of the Netherlands.

On 11 November 2011 an official ceremony was held for handing over power from Ernst Veen to the new director of De Nieuwe Kerk and Hermitage-Amsterdam Cathelijne Broers. The official act was signed by Ernst Veen, Cathelijne Broers and members of the management boards of De Nieuwe Kerk and the Hermitage-Amsterdam, Maarten van Veen and Niels Koeman.

The celebrations ended with a special dinner in the Hermitage-Amsterdam centre, which was honoured with the attendance of the Patron of the Hermitage-Amsterdam and heir to the Dutch throne His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange.

Hand over ceremony
Photograph Evert Elzinga

Ernst Veen at the awards ceremony
Photograph Herman van Heusden

His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange and the new director of the Hermitage-Amsterdam centre Cathelijne Broers
Photograph Herman van Heusden