Stichting De Volkskrantis the foundation of Dutch news organisation de Volkskrant. We safeguard the identity of Dutch national newspaper de Volkskrant and we stand for informing readers as independently, thoroughly and as multifaceted as possible. We strongly believe in the freedom of speech. Based on the emancipatory spirit of the Catholic labour movement we aim to be progressive and engaged with society.
The main goals of Stichting de Volkskrant are:
1) safeguarding the identity of de Volkskrant, 2) being a critical shareholder of Volkskrant B.V., and 3) further improving the quality of de Volkskrant.
The renewed identity of de Volkskrant is described in the editorial statute of 2016:
De Volkskrant is a Dutch news organisation which aims to inform its readers as independently, thoroughly and as multifaceted as possible. This is how it aims to give shape to the fundamental right of freedom of speech and to acquiring and sharing information as defined in the Dutch constitution and international treaties. In the emancipatory spirit of its founder, the Catholic labour movement, it aims to be progressive and engaged with society.
What we do
What does Stichting De Volkskrant do?
Today Stichting De Volkskrant still carries out the work it was founded to do: safeguarding the identity of de Volkskrant, being a critical shareholder and further improving the quality of de Volkskrant.
As a foundation, we safeguard the identity of de Volkskrant. In practice, this means that we meet with the editorial board at least four times a year and with the editorial council once a year to discuss the direction of the newspaper.
As a foundation, we are also always directly involved in the recruitment and selection of a new editor-in-chief. In consultation with the editorial board, we must approve the terms of appointment and the appointment of the new editor-in-chief.
Of course, we also decide on any changes to the newspaper's identity and raise the alarm as soon as we believe that identity is under threat.
As a priority shareholder of Volkskrant B.V. and shareholder of DPG Nederland B.V., we are part of the shareholder structure of DPG Media. As a critical shareholder, we participate in the general meeting of shareholders of DPG, as do the other title foundations and Stichting Democratie en Media.
In addition to our share in Volkskrant B.V., we have our capital, which still derives from the sale of the newspaper. We invest this capital in accordance with our investment principles. The proceeds are used to fund our expenditure on the Stimuleringsfonds.
Stichting De Volkskrant has a Fund (Stimuleringsfonds) which is used to contribute to journalistic productions by the editorial staff of de Volkskrant. Editors can submit applications throughout the year via the editor-in-chief. We spend approximately €450,000 on this each year.
Applications from the editorial team are assessed by the advisory committee of the Fund. The advisory committee advises the board on whether or not to approve the applications. The board makes the final decision.
The assessment of applications focuses on the substantive quality of the journalistic proposal and its added value for the newspaper's identity. We also prefer applications to be substantial in scope and preferably long-term. In this way, the Stimuleringsfonds aims to counterbalance the issues of the day.
'Stichting De Volkskrant is an important pillar for the editors because it offers financial support for the most ambitious journalism and because it helps to protect the identity and independence of de Volkskrant.'
Pieter Klok, editor-in-chief at de Volkskrant
Background
When was Stichting De Volkskrant founded?
Although de Volkskrant was first published in 1919, the foundation was not set up until 1968 when de Volkskrant joined forces with Het Parool to become de Perscombinatie. Right from the start, the aim of the foundation has always been to safeguard the identity of the newspaper as shareholder of a growing media company. News organisations Het Parool and Trouw (joining in 1975) also each have their own foundation within de Perscombinatie. When de Perscombinatie continued to grow and became PCM – which was later taken over by the Belgian company De Persgroep – the media foundations of each news organisation kept their role as independent shareholder protecting the identity of each Dutch national newspaper.
The board of the foundation Stichting De Volkskrant usually consists of seven members. Four of these board members are appointed as proposed by the editorial council of de Volkskrant and three of these board members are proposed by the board itself. All board members need to be independent, professional and have affinity with the identity of de Volkskrant.
The current board members are:
Nienke Meijer
2019 — present
Functie:
Chair
Over:
Nienke Meijer has a great deal of experience as a member of supervisory boards. For example at PostNL, de Volkskrant and Achmea. In the past she worked at Deloitte, in health care (LUMC), the cultural sector (Muziekgebouw Eindhoven) and for non-profit organisations (Nederlandse Hart Stichting). She is co-founder of the social startupStichting De Buitenboordmotorfocusing on system changes in the labour market, education, business and institutions. She has experience as a director (for Wegener Uitgeverij and on the Executive Board of Fontys Hogescholen Universities of Applied Science).
She won the award for Topvrouw van Nederland (Best Female Executive of the Year) in 2014 and in 2021 she was appointed as ‘Minister of Solutions’ by NPO1 radio programme Spraakmakers. From July 2024 onwards, she has been working as Chair of the National Citizens Assembly on Climate (Burgerberaad Klimaat). Nienke gives lectures at Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Erasmus Governance Institute (Boardroom dynamics) and Governance University.
Kees Kraaijeveld
2021 — present
Functie:
Vice-chair
Over:
Kees Kraaijeveld is the vice-chair of the board of Stichting de Volkskrant and chair of the advisory committee of the Stimuleringsfonds. Kees is co-founder and director of De Argumentenfabriek. He studied medicine, philosophy, psychology and journalism. At the turn of the century, he wrote for Dutch national newspapers NRC and de Volkskrant about economics. He also wrote the economics columns for Vrij Nederland for about 10 years. Kees has written several books, about health care, about mental progress and about the future of the Netherlands. He co-published a book with Suzanne Weusten called ‘Nooit meer de weg kwijt in je brein’. Kees was appointed as proposed by the editorial council and became board member of Stichting de Volkskrantin 2021. He is currently serving his second term as board member.
Deen Sonneveldt
2020 — present
Functie:
Treasurer
Over:
Deen Sonneveldt is the treasurer of the board of Stichting de Volkskrant. He studied Business Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam graduating in 1992. While working at Deloitte he graduated as Dutch registered accountant in 1997 (Erasmus University Rotterdam). In June 2003, Deen became partner of the accountancy practice of Deloitte in Rotterdam. Deen is also a board member of Stichting Museum de Pontand member of the supervisory board at Cliniclowns. Deen became a board member of Stichting de Volkskrant in 2020 and is currently serving his second term on the board.
Inge Brakman
2021 — present
Functie:
Penningmeester
Expertise:
Recht & Diversiteit
Over:
Inge Brakman has worked in many board rooms. She began her career in the media at the Dutch Association for Journalists. She set up her own company in 2009, working on Supervisory Boards, and as a consultant and chair. She is currently on the supervisory boards of Accenture NL and WNF (the Dutch branch of the World Wildlife Fund). She is working as a director and as a consultant at Haskoning, ASN Bank and de Volkskrant. At the Bestuurskamer, she is executive coach guiding (self)evaluations of executive boards and supervisory boards and other processes in and near the board room. Inge has been a member of the board of StichtingDe Volkskrant since 2021 and is currently serving her second term as board member.
Barbara van Hussen
2017 — present
Over:
Barbara van Hussen is a lawyer, arbitrator and mediator who is frequently appointed by the Enterprise Division (Ondernemingskamer) of the District Court of Amsterdam as a director or as supervisory director in situations of conflict. She is on the supervisory boards of Beter Bed, Elho, Kramer Food Family and Centric. She is also a board member of Stichting Continuïteit Ahold Delhaize and Stichting Erasmus Trustfonds. She studied law at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Barbara was appointed as proposed by the editorial council of de Volkskrant as board member of Stichtingde Volkskrant in 2017 and is currently serving her second term as board member.
Perre van den Brink
2025 — present
Over:
Perre van den Brink is an entrepreneur, podcast maker and strategic brand specialist who is driven by innovation. As the founder of agency Nice+Important he works in the areas where culture and business meet. He helps brands, media and civic society organisations to define their long-term strategies and finetune their stories. He also records podcasts (VSR and Grof Geld) and writes books including De Forecast, investigating how culture and business influence each other. In the past he worked as global executive at VICE Media Group, and he was a marketeer for international fashion brands including DIESEL and Levi’s. He is co-founder of the coffee brand Screaming Beans. He became a board member of Stichting De Volkskrant in 2025.
