It’s that time of year for some reflection. In principle, when doing this, you look back on the whole year. I notice that we already have plenty to look back on in just these last few weeks. On 15 December, we had the screening of The Librarians (post only in Dutch) at KB, the national library of the Netherlands. And there have been various calls to the parties forming the new government in the Netherlands to do what is right for our country.

In my blog post from April 2025, I referred to Reijer Passchier’s book (‘The Curse of Big Tech’), which was recommended during the SURF Course on Digital Sovereignty (for Executives in the field of education & research) organised earlier this year.

As a good habit, I write a blog before starting my summer holidays. Last year was all about working as Director General of the KB | National Library of The Netherlands, so it would make sense for me to reflect on that. And I do so in part. Partly, because a short piece on the concept of identity does not sum up everything I have experienced this year, let me be clear about that.

While threats to national and international heritage as a result of geopolitical tensions and cybersabotage have increased significantly, Dutch heritage institutions are insufficiently prepared for disasters, digital or physical attacks.

Puzzles to solve, but how? It keeps occupying my mind. This has to do with finding the right mix of the public values that are connected to justice, humanity and autonomy, and the “neutral” position of the library (or not?). I have now attended three of the six afternoons that form part of the SURF Course on Digital Sovereignty (for Executives in the field of education & research). And would like to make up my mind as a mid-term activity.

Last year I had a brief keynote (here is the blog that I wrote about it) at TU Delft Library during Open Education Week. In the meantime I started as Director General of KB | The National Library. There is much that I learned about us as National Library. It is a wonderful place to be and to work for. And how do I stand in the things I put forward one year ago?

I started as the KB’s new Director General last September and, since then, I’ve met many colleagues and reported on our exchanges in this column. These visits were invaluable to me and I hope you also enjoyed the glimpses behind the scenes at the KB. How hard everyone works to meet our missions! I cannot help but think about all the customers we delight when we find an item that they had long been searching for.

We recently finished my seven “discover columns” as I mentioned some weeks ago. Here are the remaining five columns.

I have been working as a Director General at the KB for almost two months now. Just too early for an overall reflection, but also already that long that I can say that it feels very good to walk around the building, talk to the colleagues in the KB, and slowly (that is far from finished!) get to know the networks and organizations. The KB is the national library of the Netherlands and is there for everyone.

I start (tomorrow, Monday, really) on September 1, 2024 at the KB, the national library. I am incredibly excited about this. During the summer vacation I read a few books in preparation (mind you, I also just listened to books by Mathijs Deen😉). One was “The Consolation of Philosophy,” an older book by Alain de Botton, which I like to read or listen back to from time to time.

For one year (up till 1 September 2024) I was Captain of Transformation for Npuls, within the transformation hub Digital Educational Resources. We aim at getting all digital educational resources available and accessible for everyone, as per 2032. I wrote a few blogs in this year: The less I search, the more I discover Linking up with transformation hub initiatives Make your voice heard - join the European Education Area Consultation!