CURRICULUM VITAE

Name                : André HASPELS
Born                  : Uithoorn, 23 January 1962
Civil status    : Married to Ms Bernie Grootenboer; four children: Lora (1995), Sabine (1996),
Quinten (1999) and Alec (2002)
Education      : 1982  Completed pre-university education

1986  Graduated from VU University Amsterdam with a degree in Political Science, specialising in International Relations
Dissertation on Dutch development cooperation policy between 1973 and 1986.

Joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987 and followed its diplomatic service training programme.

Held the following posts:

1988 - 1990      Policy officer, Political and Economic Affairs Section at the embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Writing political reports, maintaining contacts, focus on economy and trade.

1990 - 1992      Press secretary to Minister for European Affairs Piet Dankert, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague.

1992 - 1994      Seconded National Expert (SNE) at the European Commission in Brussels, DG 23 (business policy/SMEs). Preparing and implementing partnership programmes for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focused on cooperation within the EU and with SMEs in non-member states (e.g. EuroMed partnership).

1994 - 1996      Secondment to the office of the Committee on International Policy/European Affairs at the House of Representatives. Responsible for setting up a monitoring system for new Committee proposals and promoting knowledge and understanding within the Permanent Committee on EU Affairs.

1997 - 2000      Head of the Political Affairs Section at the embassy in Pretoria, South Africa. Responsible for drawing up political reports, maintaining networks and coordinating political partnership programmes (e.g. democratisation projects, Truth and Reconciliation Commission).      
     
2000 - 2005      Head of the External Affairs Division of the European Integration Department (DIE), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. EU external relations (enlargement, association agreements, European development cooperation). Also involved in 2004 Dutch EU Presidency in an implementing role (preparing events, including a ministerial meeting).

2005 - 2008      Ambassador in Hanoi, Vietnam. Bilateral ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands, and embassy management.

2008 - 2009      Director of the Sub‑Saharan Africa Department. Bilateral Africa policy (on politics, security, development cooperation and economic affairs), setting the department’s course.

2009 - 2011      Deputy Director-General for International Cooperation (Plv-DGIS). Setting the Directorate-General’s course, policy adviser to the Minister for Development Cooperation, deputy member of the Ministry’s Senior Management Board. Jointly responsible for staff-related and financial matters within the Directorate-General.

2011 - 2014      Ambassador in Pretoria, South Africa. Bilateral ties between South Africa and the Netherlands (also accredited to Namibia, Swaziland, Lesotho and Botswana).

2014 - 2016      Deputy Director-General for Political Affairs (Plv-DGPZ), helping set the Directorate-General’s course, policy adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, deputy member of the Ministry’s Senior Management Board.

2016 - 2019      Director-General for Political Affairs (DGPZ), setting the Directorate-General’s course, policy adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, member of the Ministry’s Senior Management Board.

2019 - 2023      Ambassador in Washington, United States of America. Bilateral ties between the United States of America and the Netherlands (also accredited to The Commonwealth of The Bahamas).

2023 -              Ambassador in Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Hobbies         Long-distance running, reading, travelling