On the recommendation of the Supervisory Board, the Minister of Education, Culture and Science, Rianne Letschert, has appointed Michael Huijser as Director of the Mondriaan Fund. With effect from 17 August 2026, Huijser will succeed Eelco van der Lingen, who was appointed Director of the Fries Museum, the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics and the Frisian Resistance Museum in February.
Michael Huijser (1967) has been active in the visual arts and heritage sector for more than thirty years. He is one of the founders of Art Rotterdam, former owner of Galerie Hof & Huijser and has served as director of various museums in the Netherlands and abroad, most recently leading the National Maritime Museum over the past ten years. He has also held various management, advisory and supervisory positions in the cultural sector.
Geneviève Lieuw, Chair of the Mondriaan Fund Supervisory Board: ‘We are very pleased with Michael Huijser’s appointment to this position. With his background in both the visual arts and heritage fields, he proved to be the ideal candidate. He brings both great passion for and extensive knowledge of the Mondriaan Fund’s two core fields. This, combined with his many years of managerial experience within the cultural field, gives us every confidence that he can guide the Mondriaan Fund successfully through the next policy period and into the future. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of former Director Eelco van der Lingen and the expert stewardship of interim Director Eva Postema in recent months, Michael inherits a professional and well-established organization that is ready for its next phase.’
Michael Huijser: ‘I look back on many wonderful years at the National Maritime Museum and am excited about the next step. Working for the Mondriaan Fund means making an important contribution to the vibrant visual arts and heritage sector throughout the Kingdom. The wide diversity of art and heritage deserves every opportunity to flourish. I am very much looking forward to playing my part.’
Michael Huijser succeeds Eelco van der Lingen, who served as Director of the Mondriaan Fund until the end of January 2026. Under his leadership, the sector received vital support during the Covid-19 pandemic. He also worked to strengthen regions outside the Randstad and to improve representation within the art and heritage sector. Van der Lingen also focused on enhancing artists’ financial position and independence, as well as advancing accessibility across the visual arts and heritage sectors. In recent months, Eva Postema, Head of the Fund Office, served as interim Director.
The Mondriaan Fund
The Mondriaan Fund is the national cultural fund for the visual arts and heritage in the Netherlands and the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Fund supports the realization of projects and activities by art institutions, museums and other heritage organizations in the Netherlands and abroad, as well as the development of artists’ and curators’ practices. The Mondriaan Fund is also responsible for the Dutch presentation at the Venice Biennale, and for organizing Prospects and the Prix de Rome Visual Arts.