Emily Ansenk moves from the Holland Festival to the Film Museum

The Supervisory Board of the Holland Festival hereby announces that Emily Ansenk has indicated her intention to step down as Director-Manager of the Holland Festival with effect from 1 February 2027.  

Emily Ansenk: “It is with a sense of pride and gratitude that I will be leaving the Holland Festival at the end of January 2027, after 7.5 fantastic and inspiring years. On 1 February, I will take up the post of Director-Manager at the Eye Filmmuseum.”.

I feel honoured to have been able to contribute to what we, as a team, have built up and achieved at the Holland Festival over the past few years. I still enjoy working with my wonderfully dedicated and professional colleagues every single day. The festival is in a strong position both artistically and financially, and preparations for the anniversary edition in June 2027 are currently in full swing. We will finalise the programme for that event in December.

I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been involved with the Holland Festival over the past few years, for their trust, the enjoyment and the inspiration. My special thanks go to the supervisory board, my dear colleagues, the freelancers, the HF Young Circle members and the many international and Dutch creators and performers. And without all our partners, funding bodies, foundations, Friends and visitors, there would be no Holland Festival. Their support is of vital importance to the festival, both now and in the future.”

Carolien Gehrels, Chair of the Holland Festival Supervisory Board: “The Supervisory Board regrets Emily’s departure, but is delighted that she is set to devote her energies to another wonderful cultural institution in Amsterdam. Over the past 7.5 years, our collaboration has always been excellent, and we are very grateful to Emily for what she has brought to the Holland Festival, both nationally and internationally. Among other things, she has broadened and enriched the festival with interdisciplinary arts and night-time programming, and has strengthened the ‘festival atmosphere’. That is why audiences have continued to attend in large numbers, even after the COVID-19 pandemic, and why the audience has become even younger and more diverse in recent years. The programme for the anniversary edition in June 2027 is rock-solid, which means her departure on 1 February is feasible. The succession process will be clarified and announced in the foreseeable future. We wish Emily every success at Eye and, fortunately, we will continue to see each other regularly.”