Gert Jan Verhoog (1962) works with entrepreneurial directors and organizations that want to win a world.

Gert Jan Verhoog is a good listener, discreet, has excellent strategic insight, and possesses very good political and diplomatic instincts

- Patrick Cammaert

For more references on Gert Jan Verhoog, click here

For a concise overview of clients and work experience, click here

Henriette van Wermeskerken (1960) has been a writer since 2005. Previously, she worked for twenty years as a lawyer, complaints investigator at the National Ombudsman, and senior policy officer at the (then) Ministry of Justice.

Policy papers, annual reports, meeting minutes, and other documents and articles: Henriette writes and edits them. She turns complex narratives into clear language, making them easy to read and tailored to the target audience. She has a keen eye for societal developments and is interested in understanding what motivates people, often writing based on interviews. Thanks to her extensive work experience, she can quickly familiarize herself with diverse subjects. She is diplomatic and meticulous.

Henriette has authored numerous articles and several books, some of which were commissioned (for example: "Samen gebundeld," stories about the government's approach to organized crime, Ministry of Justice, 2015). For more information, visit www.hvws.nl.

Gosse Bosma is an experienced 'social' executive, advisor, and lobbyist. He thrives in complex, governance environments, including internationally. As the director of the charity sector organization, Goede Doelen Nederland, he has established himself as a lobbyist for the charity and philanthropy sector and an expert in 'good governance.'

His strength lies in strategic insight and vision development; he is analytically skilled and can patiently navigate through content. He has a keen eye for interests in the societal landscape and can provide substance, color, and direction to them.

Lars Kuipers (1966) is a journalist by trade, and he brings that mentality to every task he undertakes. Driven and curious, he always wants to know the ins and outs of a situation, and he translates that knowledge into clear, concise texts and advice that answer the questions: who, what, why, when, and how?

Over the past few years, Lars has worked with a diverse range of clients in the business world, public administration, and the legal field. He has provided advice on media development, written and edited columns, interviews, policy visions, and corporate stories, and has published two books. Lars provides customized writing training, ranging from short, powerful press release writing sessions to tailored training sessions for policy advisors that span multiple sessions.

Lars runs his own text and advisory firm (www.andale.nl) and has been collaborating with Saam & Verhoog for several years.

Patrick has a background in Law and European Studies from Maastricht University in The Netherlands. After completing his studies, he moved to Brussels to pursue a career in public affairs. After a brief stint at a lobbying firm mainly serving Dutch clients, Patrick was hired by the European Small Business Alliance (ESBA) in November 2008. ESBA is a pan-European umbrella organization for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), representing the interests and conducting lobbying activities for its 1.4 million members. In January 2009, he took over the leadership of ESBA's Brussels Office, which also serves as the organization's headquarters.

His position within this international organization enabled Patrick to quickly build a broad and diverse network, including policymakers such as Members of the European Parliament and European Commissioners, as well as within the private sector and NGOs. Through his work for SMEs, he also established a reputation for reliability and integrity in Brussels, which is crucial for any lobbyist. In 2010, he secured two nominations for ESBA at the European Public Affairs Awards for the best lobbying campaign of 2010 and the best lobbying organization of 2010, with the latter being won.

In April 2011, Patrick founded his company, Gibbels Public Affairs (GPA), and established two international umbrella organizations in Brussels. In April 2012, GPA moved to a new office in Clos du Parnasse, just a stone's throw from the European Parliament. In 2016 and 2017, Patrick was elected Lobbyist of the Year by the same EPA Awards. In 2018, he was a finalist.

Martin van Bruggen (1956) is an associate at Saam & Verhoog.

Van Bruggen is an experienced and versatile communications specialist with a preference for public administration. He has worked in Voorschoten, Schiedam, The Hague, and in Stichtse Vecht. With his years of experience, he knows his way around government circles. He has a finely tuned sense for administrative and political relationships and possesses an extensive media network. He is a builder who enjoys shaping and defining a project from the outset and who fosters connections.

At both the strategic, tactical, and operational levels, he is adept at switching gears quickly. Furthermore, he is analytically strong, skilled in advising, independent, and thinks critically. He has an investigative nature and focuses on the big picture. With his strong administrative sensitivity, Van Bruggen brings together interests in politically complex environments and bridges the gap between governmental aspirations and their implementation by the bureaucratic organization. Van Bruggen is a communicator at heart.

Louis Cornelisse (1955) is a language doctor, writing coach, and speechwriter. After retiring as the policy presentation coordinator and speechwriter at the Ministry of Justice and Security, Louis became a part-time lecturer at the 'JenV Academie', the Academy of the Ministry of Justice and Security. Additionally, through his company Louis Cornelisse Tekst en Uitleg, he provides courses on understandable and engaging writing, primarily for governments and businesses. Louis also conducts workshops on storytelling and public speaking.

During his Dutch studies, Louis developed the field of language expression. He utilized his training at the Theater Academy to enhance the expressiveness of students through drama and language, expanding their vocabulary. In 1979, Louis started his career at the Dutch newspaper Trouw, where he held various positions for over 25 years, including police and justice reporter and political editor at the Binnenhof. After Trouw, he ran his own company for four years, during which he served as an interim editor for various media outlets, conducted courses, and authored several books on law enforcement, police work, and government communication. In 2013, he transitioned to the Dutch government. After retiring in 2021, Louis remained active as a coach, advisor, course leader, storyteller, and speechwriter. Since January 1, 2023, he has been an associate at S&V.

With a background in television, multimedia, and theater, Shirley Gast (1978) has the ability to captivate audiences and engage them in stories using sensory and dynamic language. Her stories not only resonate but also linger. With over twenty years of experience as a scriptwriter for public broadcasting, copywriter for games, playwright, and educator, she has accumulated a diverse toolbox of knowledge and skills that she enjoys sharing with others.

Theater

Shirley Gast is a playwright who completed her education at the HKU in Drama Writing (Writing for Performance) in 2001. Sponsored by the TIN (Theater Institute Netherlands) and the Dutch consulate, she served as a playwright in residence at The Lark Play Development Center in New York. She has written several full-length plays for companies such as Het Zuidelijk Toneel and Theater Cosmic. Additionally, she has written plays for "inclusive theater," where individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities collaborate with (semi)professional actors to address societal issues.

Touching, convincing, motivating, and inspiring people with stories is the most beautiful thing there is, and... it can be learned.

Storytelling

In 2003, Shirley won both the Jury Prize and the Audience Prize for her play "Beest" at the Hollandse Nieuwe Theaterfestival. Since her studies, she has written scripts for television, radio, and theater. She has also worked as a copywriter for games and multimedia projects. Her ten-part youth series "Sams Kerst" has been airing annually since 2015 (Endemol). Her ten-part preschool series "Ok&Knul" (animation) was selected as one of the three nominations for the National Audience Award Underneath during the Cinekid Festival 2020.

Her television career began at the age of nineteen with the series "Doei" for the EO, and she later wrote for various other programs, including Sesamstraat and Het Klokhuis. Since 2018, she has been affiliated with the Schrijversvakschool Groningen as a screenwriting instructor. In 2019, she won the "Prinsjesrede" at the Prinsjesfestival with her speech "Heldinnen en Helden," which was published in the September edition of Elsevier Weekblad. Currently, she is working on multiple multimedia projects, conducting storytelling workshops, and teaching at the Schrijversvakschool in Groningen.

Hannah Aukes (1981) has over fifteen years of experience as a writer, interviewer, and editor, including ten years as an independent professional (www.hannahaukes.com), during which she has also worked for Saam & Verhoog. After completing her Master of Arts in history and literature, she pursued further studies in journalism and storytelling.

Her field of work is diverse, which has honed her pen to be both well-trained and adaptable: she has written for newspapers and magazines, for large corporations and startups, and has worked for years in the public sector, including from abroad. She is the writer and editor of about ten books, with one recent publication becoming a Dutch bestseller: 'Persoonlijke Herinneringen' (Personal Memories) by former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers (Balans, 2018). Other examples include the management book 'Zelfsturend Rijnlands Ondernemen' (Self-Steering Rhineland Entrepreneurship) (Management Impact, 2019) or a jubilee book about Nutricia with one hundred stories spanning one hundred years. She has also coached various professionals, such as CEOs, professors, and politicians, in the realm of language and communication.

Her texts stand out due to their to-the-point nature, fluid readability, and alignment with the target audience. With her keen sense, she always manages to uncover stories that resonate and matter. She believes that in a world oversaturated with information, stories should first and foremost entertain, as this captures the reader's attention and allows one to focus on what truly matters. Her ultimate goal is for the reader to feel energized to engage in positive endeavors after reading her work.

Jelle Baartmans (1995) graduated in East European Studies from the University of Bologna. Previously he graduated in International Relations at Leiden University.

Partly thanks to his experience with and expertise on the difficult relationship between government and business in Russia, Jelle recognises the importance of building bridges between the private and public sectors.

At S&V, among other things Jelle contributes to political monitoring and analysis, in order to inform clients about the latest developments and trends in the political arena.

Germ Kemper (1948) has been practicing law as an attorney in Amsterdam since 1975. Over the years, his practice has increasingly focused on media law and copyright. He provides advice to lawyers on ethical and disciplinary matters, as well as on entering into and terminating partnerships. Additionally, he offers legal advice and assistance in disciplinary investigations and complaints. Kemper also dedicates part of his time to providing courses on ethics and disciplinary law for experienced attorneys and trainees. Furthermore, he has held and continues to hold various administrative positions outside the legal profession.

Kemper has been involved in administrative activities of the Amsterdam Bar Association and the Dutch Bar Association in various capacities. From 2007 to 2013, he served as the Dean in Amsterdam.

Moreover, he has been associated with magazine Vrij Nederland (under the pseudonym Lex Dura) and newspaper Trouw for many years, contributing weekly articles.

Linda Tops (1973) works as a director, organizational advisor, and communication strategist on issues related to societal themes within the Dutch government, non-profits, and public organizations.

With over 20 years of experience, Linda focuses on strengthening communication that aligns with the organization and contributes to its goals. She assists in establishing better connections with internal and external stakeholders by making the concrete impact of the organization more visible in areas such as traffic and transportation, urban renewal and citizen participation, digitalization of government services, forensic investigation, asylum seeker reception and integration, emergency aid, healthcare, judiciary, integrity, innovation, entrepreneurship, energy efficiency, energy and food transition, climate, financial sector supervision, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Driven by her societal engagement, she is a partner in the SDG Charter, aiming for broader collaboration of knowledge, experience, and networking to actively contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly #SDG17.

At Saam & Verhoog, Linda also provides personal coaching to fellow professionals, helping them gain insights necessary for making informed career advancements in ongoing endeavors or new initiatives.

Jasper van Hylckama Vlieg (1977) works as an interim and project manager primarily for (semi-)governmental institutions on various projects and events.

Examples include events, business processes, fostering different forms of collaboration, and making work more efficient and effective... As long as a clear result needs to be achieved within defined parameters. He excels in bringing entrepreneurial energy into bureaucratic organizations. With a keen understanding of political and bureaucratic dynamics, he accelerates the delivery of results. Building connections between external and internal stakeholders to achieve results is always a new challenge, one that energizes him greatly.

His strengths include:

• Ability to discern main issues from details (highly distinguishing capability and focus).
• Firm, independent, and boundary-pushing (broad worldview and self-confidence).
• Leadership at strategic, tactical, and operational levels (from vision to concrete implementation).
• Problem-solving by putting himself in others' shoes (empathetic).
• Fostering creativity within structure (providing space within established frameworks).
• Clear communication (direct communication style).

Kees Verhoog (1992) is affiliated with Saam & Verhoog as a public affairs & communication staff member.

Effective communication about messages and interests is his passion. Nevertheless, Kees realizes that it is unthinkable to reach someone effectively with your message if it is not based on thorough analysis and advice and if its formulation does not resonate with the recipient. His heart also lies in this crucial groundwork. Moreover, he enjoys organizing meaningful activities that provide a platform for conveying a message. He also finds pleasure in getting people involved in participating.

Kees has gained some practical experience in this regard. For example, he completed an editorial internship at the Parliamentary Documentation Center of Leiden University, where he also assisted in organizing lectures and debates. He contributes to various activities for the Prinsjesfestival. Previously, alongside his studies, he worked as a temporary employee for Schinkelshoek & Verhoog, among other roles such as assisting with the political monitor.

Anna Verhoog (1998) is affiliated with Saam & Verhoog as a Communications, Public Affairs, and Financial Administration Assistant.

In July 2023, Anna completed her master's degree in Colonial and Global History at Leiden University. Her interests span political, military, maritime, and colonial history. Her master's thesis, "Keep the Last Bullet for Yourself," explores how Dutch-side veterans in their ego documents write about and reflect on mutilation during the Indonesian War of Independence (1945-1949), as well as how it relates to the current debate. Her bachelor's thesis, "The Promised Land Does Not Exist," focused on the reassessment of Soviet communism by Dutch (former) communists and their stance on it after the fall of the Soviet Union.

During the first semester of her master's program, Anna brought to light a new (forgotten) Frisian naval hero: Captain Adriaan de Roock from Harlingen. In her research seminar, she uncovered the forgotten naval hero. To publicize her discovery, Anna gave lectures at the "Conference of Frisian Humanities 2" and during the symposium "Frisians in the Admiralties of the Republic." Additionally, articles about her discovery were published in the Friesch Dagblad and Harlinger Courant.

Executives who demand more from their communication department, that is his natural working environment.

Smithuis, educated as a political scientist, worked for ten years as a journalist, in the corporate world, and in the labor movement. Thirty years ago, communication became part of his career: first as deputy director at the former Ministry of WVC, then as director of communication for the municipality of Amsterdam for eleven years.

Since 1997, he has been self-employed. As an interim head, he tackled communication issues in The Hague, Eindhoven, Hengelo, and Doetinchem. He also established a new communication department for the Council of State. As a manager, advisor, or coach, he has worked for six provinces, small and large municipalities, and various companies.

Smithuis served as chairman of the professional association for government communication for ten years. For the University of Amsterdam, he initiated the alumni association of political scientists. He has been involved in various boards, including three consecutive SAIL boards and Nieuwspoort.

Joan is an associate of Saam & Verhoog.

Jaap van der Ploeg is ready to assist you with complex communication issues and organizing large events; he also gladly guides you through the political and bureaucratic landscape of The Hague.

After studying political science for several years (Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam), he joined the political desk of the NOS-Journaal at the age of 21. He worked there for fifteen years, the last eight of which as editor-in-chief. During this period, he also served as chairman of the Parliamentary Press Association (PPV) and as a member of the Board of Directors of the press center Nieuwspoort. In these roles, he contributed to transparency during government formations. After 15 years at NOS, Jaap van der Ploeg transitioned to government communication. He served as director of information and communication at the ministries of Defense and Internal Affairs and was director of the Government Information Service (RVD) for 10 years. Jaap van der Ploeg briefly served as Senior Vice President of Philips. In all these roles, he gained extensive experience in organizing major events and conferences (EU summits, election debates) and in crisis management. He also became intimately familiar with the bureaucratic, administrative, and political landscape of The Hague.

Some other relevant activities include serving as chairman of the Dutch Wadden Federation, member of the Presidium of the PvdA (Labour Party), and chairman and board member of four oncology-related boards. He also serves as an advisor to the WestCord Hotels chain.

This is the knowledge and experience he brings to the Saam & Verhoog agency.

Gideon de Jong (1995) obtained his Masters’ Programme in Public Administration after obtaining a Bachelor degree in Political Science. Organisation and policy processes on both a large and small scale have always appealed to him. This partiality showed itself also in multiple board years. This also provided him with an opportunity to further develop his secretarial instincts for administration and organisation. Aside from this, he is very keen on the Classics and philosophy, to which he gives time in his studies in Greek and Latin Language and Culture, and in leisure.

At Saam &Verhoog, he assists the general functioning of the office, and keeps an eye on developments in the media and the body politic of the Hague as a part-time employee.

Lorenzo Dorigo (1962) brings parties together, fostering change and achieving results.

As an entrepreneur, Lorenzo focuses on the built environment. Throughout much of his working life, he has served institutional real estate investors, recently shifting his focus towards new technologies such as artificial intelligence, startups, and scale-ups. Lorenzo operates across various sectors including real estate, pensions, telecom, renewable energy, and technology.

Lorenzo consistently demonstrates an ability to quickly grasp new subject matter and navigate complexity with ease. He is analytical and adept at both substantive and interpersonal communication. Effective communication is a key competency for him.

As Head of Business Development at GeoPhy, he developed WOZ implementation organizations as a segment for AI-based large-scale appraisals. At TAQA Energy, he contributed to connecting with local politics and initiatives in renewable energy. For the Loodslicht Foundation on behalf of DDA, the digital sector's industry association, he provided advice on establishing effective public sales strategies.

Marc Brak (1978) is a filmmaker whose work is occasionally seen in cinemas. Online video is his specialty. Since 2010, he has been producing films and animations for a wide range of clients.

Before becoming a full-time filmmaker, Marc worked as a visual editor for the municipality of The Hague. Having been both the creative and the client, he quickly and effectively translates the client's needs into a visual concept and complex information into a clear script.

Marc owns his own production company, De Filmmannen, and collaborates with Schinkelshoek & Verhoog as an associate of the firm. When he's not working, he brews his own beer, writes stories, or takes photographs. Otherwise, you'll find him in the cinema.

Anthimis Verhoog (1996) has a keen interest in the Dutch business landscape, particularly in the food industry. A stint at the world's largest pure coffee company, Jacobs Douwe Egberts, taught him the basics of marketing. At the BIERburo, he delved into the world of craft beer. He now works for brewing conglomerate Heineken Netherlands Supply as a functional manager.

In 2021, he completed a master's degree in Business Development and Entrepreneurship at Utrecht University. Prior to that, he earned a bachelor's degree in Technical Public Administration in Delft, where he also initiated various projects within his student circle. He brought a board game to market and organized galas and parties for thousands of students. He also orchestrated a lustrum week for the student organization associated with YES!Delft.

At Saam & Verhoog, Anthimis manages contracts and provides support for financial administration.

Famke Roes (2000) is currently a Master's student in Public Administration: International and European Governance at Leiden University. Previously, she obtained her BSc in International Relations and Organizations from the same institution.

Famke's interest in international politics stemmed from her participation in Model United Nations (MUN) conferences in various European cities. Eventually, this motivated her to establish her own MUN conference with peers. Her focus now lies on the contemporary challenges facing the European Union (EU). For her bachelor's thesis, she analyzed the current growth of Euroscepticism in the EU through party programs.

At Saam & Verhoog, Famke supports the political monitor.

Robert Bruggink (1997) is currently pursuing a master's degree in Cities, Migration, and Global Interdependence at Leiden University, after completing a bachelor's degree in History. For his master's thesis, he is focusing on the impact of the garrison on the urban economy of The Hague between 1815 and 1830.

Simultaneously with his History studies, Robert pursued a bachelor's degree in Law at Erasmus University Rotterdam. In 2022, he obtained his master's degree in Business and Law from Utrecht University. Within this master's program, he specialized in commercial property law, with a focus on contract law.

During his studies, Robert worked for several years on a project basis to optimize the logistical process at a Dutch plant exporter. He also gained experience in conducting historical research at the Netherlands Institute of Military History (NIMH), the research institute of the Ministry of Defence.

At Saam & Verhoog, Robert supports the political monitor.

Tim van Spanning (1996 – 2018) studied History at the University of Amsterdam and prepared for the Master's programs in Constitutional and Administrative Law, and Public Administration. Tim was deeply interested in the relationships and interactions between government, parliament, citizens, and the business sector. In 2017, he further explored these themes during an internship at the Directorate of Democracy and Citizenship at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

As a part-time employee at Saam & Verhoog, Tim closely monitored both Dutch and international media for our political media monitor, wrote reports, and supported the office in various matters and general tasks.

In the spring of 2018, our office was deeply saddened by the sudden loss of our highly valued colleague and friend. Tim passed away on May 12, 2018.

We got to know Tim and will remember him as a sharp-minded and engaged colleague. We were expecting a meaningful future for him, both outside and within our office. Tim was remarkably witty, genuine, warm-hearted, and passionate. If only he knew the void he leaves behind with us.

In memory of Tim, this profile will remain visible on our website.

On behalf of Saam & Verhoog,
Gert Jan Verhoog and Querine Hoejenbos
The Hague, May 2018