New England Chapter
The NAF New England chapter organizes social, cultural, educational and business events that are of interest to the Dutch community and all others in the New England area who feel an affinity with the Netherlands.
Imagine a group of Dutch Harvard academics coming together in 1953 to help those in need. That’s exactly what happened when they founded the Netherlands American Academic Circle of New England, a club with a mission to raise funds for the Netherlands after the devastating floods. Over the years, this organization evolved, adapting to changing times. In 1981, it opened its doors to non-academics, welcoming a broader community of like-minded individuals. A significant milestone was reached in 1996–1997, when the club merged with Hollandse Nieuwe and was reborn as The Netherlands Club of New England. This new chapter paved the way for a historic partnership in 2005, when The Netherlands Club of New England joined forces with the Netherlands America Foundation (NAF), giving rise to NAF Boston. Fast forward to 2024, and NAF Boston underwent a transformation, rebranding as NAF New England. This strategic move reflected the organization’s growth and expanding influence
beyond Boston, embracing a broader New England identity.
Key Events & Activities Organized by NAF New England
Our events are aimed at strengthening the ties between the Netherlands and New England’s business, cultural, and academic communities.
Our signature event is the NAF New England Business Roundtable and Gala — the latter event is held at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Boston. The inaugural NAF New England Business Roundtable and Gala took place in September of 2024, and was held again in 2025.
Business
We regularly bring together C-suite executives and business leaders from life sciences, biotech, tech, medtech, banking, energy, other sectors, along with dignitaries from the NAF, Officials from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Washington DC, the Consulate from New York and the Netherlands Innovation Network at Business Roundtable events. In addition, we organize and moderate the NAF New England
Marketing Network, a newly established, not-for-profit platform created under the umbrella of NAF New England to foster networking opportunities, strategic discussions, exchange of innovative ideas, peer insights, and meaningful collaboration among senior business executives. The network brings together CEOs, CMOs, Heads of Marketing, Heads of Business Units from Dutch companies, as well as Dutch-speaking business leaders from across life sciences, biotech, tech, medtech, banking, energy, other industries and academia in New England.
Culture
Highlighted activities include showcasing internationally recognized writers such as Russell Shorto at Book launches, concerts at Boston Symphony Hall, the Boston Ballet, collaborations with the Handel & Haydn Society, and guided tours of the Museum of Fine Arts, which houses the Center for Netherlandish Art.
Education
We foster collaborations with the Dutch School in Boston (De Bonte Leeuw) and are part of the larger NAF organization that facilitates internships and educational exchanges through proceeds from our NAF New England Business Roundtable & Gala and various grant-supported mechanisms at institutions including Harvard, MIT, and beyond (NAF-Fulbright Fellowships, Dutch2USA Internship Grants, and the NAF Interest-Free Study Loan Program).
Partnerships & Collaborations with the Netherlands Innovation Network Boston, Massachusetts
NAF New England collaborates closely with the Netherlands Innovation Network in Boston, which works with startups, and research institutes/universities to facilitate their exploration of innovation opportunities in the Northeastern U.S.A. or for American organizations considering a footprint in the Netherlands.
A 2019 Memorandum of Understanding between Massachusetts and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy established a formal life sciences partnership, leading to a Program of Cooperation (PoC) in 2022. The goal of this PoC is to further strengthen the Transatlantic Life Sciences Partnership and enhance the exchange of business, talents, investments, and research activities between the ecosystems of Massachusetts and the Netherlands. The signatories agreed to organize activities to promote trans-atlantic collaboration between the two biotechnology ecosystems. The NAF as represented by NAF New
England will become a co-signatory in 2025 in addition to the existing signatories:
Massachusetts Office of International Trade and Investment (MOITI), The Termeer Foundation, MassBio, Vereniging Innovatieve Geneesmiddelen, Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, Health Holland and HollandBIO.
Opportunities for Members to Get Involved
Becoming a member of NAF New England opens doors to numerous benefits and engagement channels:
Membership Benefits:
Subscription to chapter emails and NAF’s monthly newsletter
– Early access to signature events and priority registration
– Discounts on events
– Networking opportunities within the U.S. and the Netherlands
– Inclusion in the NAF Annual Review
Follow the Chapter on LinkedIn for updates, event alerts, and connections:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/naf-new-england
