Jasper van Dorrestein is back as SME-member, with cyber security company Cryptas that will host an event for our members in February 2024. We asked Jasper about Cryptas and what we can expect from them as new member:

You were one of the founders of the Dutch Chamber, working as a trade officer for the Netherlands Embassy in Stockholm at the time. You then left Sweden for other career opportunities in Brussels and Barcelona. How did you end up in Sweden again?
Indeed, I’ve been away for a while, continuing my position as a trade officer for the Netherlands Embassy in Brussels for nearly five years, and subsequently founding the Netherlands Business Support Office (NBSO) in Barcelona for the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. My stay in Barcelona eventually lasted for twelve years, of which I spent most working as a private consultant for exporting companies from Scandinavia, the DACH region, the Benelux and Spain. 
 
I moved back for family reasons primarily. I wanted to live closer to my grown-up children. Simultaneously, CRYPTAS presented me with an attractive and challenging mission to explore the Nordic market for them, which would require me to relocate to Stockholm. So that worked out quite well with my personal agenda. 
 
What is CRYPTAS about? (Does the company have a link to the Netherlands?)
CRYPTAS is a company active in the cybersecurity industry, specializing in advanced knowledge of complex encryption issues and public key infrastructure (PKI). We help our clients by making their IT landscape more cyber resilient. We give advice, design and develop solutions with hardware and software components, we integrate these, and we can manage and support our solutions after our delivery, or as part of it. I'm working fromout the CRYPTAS Nordics AB office in the World Trade Center and we have a Dutch entity, CRYPTAS Benelux, based in Hengelo - next to our outlets in Vienna, Graz and Düsseldorf. 
 
What can other members expect from CRYPTAS?  
Chamber members can expect help, advice, and support from our company in cybersecurity-related matters. Or better, cyber resilience matters. After all, frankly spoken: if it’s cyber, it’s an illusion to call it secure. It’s common knowledge that cyber resilience is quite a hot theme these days, with cyber-attacks increasing in frequency and sophistication, particularly with the rise of Artificial Intelligence. CRYPTAS has a team of highly trained and skilled engineers that bring advanced knowledge of advising, designing, developing, implementing , maintaining and supporting cybersecurity solutions to you. Our team can give advice on IT related risk mitigation, or: how to protect your organization against cyber-attacks in a most effective manner.  We can build IT landscapes that are optimally cyber resilient, and which comply with the latest enforcing legislation and regulations. These new regulations make it imperative for many organisations to correspond to a distinct level of safety. At CRYPTAs we can help you to get there. 
 
Giving testimony to our intention to help fellow Chamber members, let’s start with the advising part. To that end, CRYPTAS and our friends of the Validata Group will organize a luncheon information session in February 2024, with the spellbinding working title A Man + Machine Approach to Risk Mitigation.
 
About this event: Logic dictates that, for optimal IT security, it’s all nice and well that you have the right technological solutions installed by a company like CRYPTAS, but still 80% of the successful cyber-attacks are caused by man-made failures. Like clicking on a link in a phishing email containing malware. 
In other words: optimal safety can only be obtained if also the right processes, protocols and people are in place.  And how to make sure you have the ‘right people in place’ , our friends at Validata will tell you a compelling story that complements and completes ours.
 
What are your expectations of becoming a SME-member?
The Chamber fulfills an important- if not critical- role to its members by providing access to relevant business information, as well as access to a valuable coherent business network of trusted, talented and likeminded business professionals, who in time become business partners, clients, hires or friends. So I expect to acquire more inspiring insights through the transfer of knowledge sessions. But mostly, I’m looking forward to acquiring new valuable business contacts and forging new long-lasting friendships. 
 
/M.N.

How can you attract and retain talent in these uncertain economic times?
And how will this affect your HR strategy in both the short and long term? These were the topics discussed on 16 November at the well attended inspiration lunch by Catrine Jack, Head of public affairs from Randstad who presented her inspirational vision on this topic,  Harm Voogt, CEO of Validata was our  moderator during the event.

/F.C.

Carolina De Klerk Nordholm recently joined the Dutch Chamber with her company Nordholm Multilingual Communication. We were curious to find out more about Carolina who offers her communication services in no fewer than five languages (English, Swedish, Dutch, German and Italian):

What is your professional background?
My background in international marketing and economics led me to an export sales and marketing job for a Swedish home storage brand. It started in Västervik, continued in France and eventually in 2001 I came to the Netherlands. In 2009, I started my own company to do what I’m passionate about: helping companies communicate clearly and consistently. Since 3,5 years I’m back in Sweden, based in Örebro, continuing my business from here. 

And what is your connection with the Netherlands?
After 6 months in the Netherlands I fell in love with the neigbour :-) and stayed 20 years longer than I had first planned. We got married, have two bilingual children and live both together and apart in Örebro and Voorburg. 

How did you get in contact with the Dutch Chamber? 
It’s great to see what the network within chambers can bring! The Swedish Chamber in the Netherlands are my customer since many years and through them I’ve always known about your chamber here. After moving back, my friend Karin Björkman Tendijck from the time in NL brought me to one of your events. We got to know each other better and it turned into a fruitful cooperation with her company Beyondo, helping them create their brand identity and marketing material, and continously supporting them in their further development of their brand. It’s lovely to see how we can work together within the chamber and how chamber networks lead to long-lasting relations!

What can our members expect from you and which services do you offer?
When I help my customers I focus on the clarity, consistency and professionality of their marketing and communication, being sure that all parts have to be of equivalent quality to be convincing: from design to typography, to language, to spelling, to visuals. 

My customers are mainly small and medium-sized companies in Sweden and the Netherlands. What I do for them ranges from designing, producing and proofreading a 7-languages cookbook and 11-languages manuals, to analysing a customer’s complete marketing activities, to designing visual identities, brochures, websites, apps, social media material.

Being based in Örebro and facing some challenging family logistics, I’ll be attending the events only occasionally. Still, I look forward to increasing my Dutch network here in Sweden. Perhaps there are more members in Örebro?

​/M.N.

On Friday the 10th of November members and friends of the Dutch Chamber met at Winterviken in Stockholm for the Annual Dinner. Winterviken, better known as a previous Dynamite factory dating back to 1865, was run by the great mind of Alfred Nobel. The Ambassador of the Netherlands and patron, Mr. Bengt van Loosdrecht presented a future outlook followed by a speech of chairman Manuel Harmsen. 

Over 100 guests enjoyed a seasonal dinner. During dinner everyone had the opportunity to meet old and new friends. The evening added another layer with a fantastic performance of the duo Adina playing classical pieces on cello and violin, playing pieces from 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2000. With a medley of Abba and Avicii integrated.

We thank all our members and friends for making this evening a success.  Not to forget the organising committee in making this an unforgettable evening. 

Keep an eye on the announcement for next year if you missed this year’s Annual Diner. We will be back with another night to remember!

/F.C.

Pictures are taken by Chris Jonkers, photographer.

On Monday October 30th, the networking event at IFK Göteborg took place. IFK Göteborg's Sustainability Manager, Elisabeth Anderton welcomed us at Trädgård’n and held an interesting presentation about the sustainability goals of IFK and the collaboration with the Cruyff Foundation. 
After the presentation we sat down for a tasty dinner. During the dinner we had the opportunity to mingle with each other. Furthermore, some IFK-personalities, such as the technical director and a former-player, were interviewed on stage.
After dinner it was time for the match! ‘Snart skiner Poseidon’ was beautiful as always and the arena was full with many Blåvitt-fans. One row of chairs was filled by the Dutch Chamber. Even though IFK Göteborg succeeded to score a goal, unfortunately they lost the game against IF Elsborg with 1-2.

A very big thank you to Elisabeth Anderton for welcoming us, we look back on a successful event.
For now, we are looking forward to our next event, after the annual dinner: visiting Winter Lights on the 5th of December in both Göteborg and Stockholm!

/W.G.

An unforgettable evening celebrating 400 years of Gothenburg and 85 years of the Swedish-Dutch Association was organised in collaboration with the Dutch Chamber Region West.
With 70 attendees, the Dutch-themed soirée unfolded into a magical night. It was a harmonious blend of captivating speakers, a talented DJ and a live band. The crown jewel of the evening was undoubtedly Skansen Kronan, a venue that exceeded all expectations.
One enthusiastic guest summed up the sentiment perfectly: 'This evening was nothing short of spectacular!'

Join for more celebrations: Leidens Ontzet on October 3rd in 't Amsterdammertje.

​/V.V.

I have recently taken on the role of Treasurer at the Dutch Chamber. This is a great opportunity for me to contribute to the network of Dutch businesses and professionals in Sweden.

I moved to Stockholm in March last year, as part of my job at Nmbrs, a cloud-based HR and payroll software company. My main goal is to build a local (commercial) team and expand our presence in the Swedish market.

I first got in touch with the Dutch Chamber when Validata invited us to the Annual Dinner in Stockholm last year. It was a great event! I was impressed by the network and the activities that the Chamber organises. That's why we decided to become a member and get more involved.

One thing that I learned from living and working in Sweden is that there are significant cultural differences between the Netherlands and Sweden. The Dutch Chamber helped me a lot by providing me with useful information, contacts and advice.

I look forward to working with the Board and the members of the Dutch Chamber to further strengthen our ties and promote our interests in Sweden. I hope to see you soon at one of our upcoming events!