Tineke Ceelen
Tineke Ceelen has been director of The Netherlands Refugee Foundation since 2003. She traveled tirelessly and with great commitment from crisis to crisis to draw attention to the more than 120 million refugees worldwide.
Tineke Ceelen has worked in humanitarian aid since 1993; she led the Netherlands Refugee Foundation from 2003 – 2025. For almost 22 years, she was the face of Stichting Vluchteling.
Tineke tirelessly moved from crisis to hotspot to draw attention to the world’s 120 million refugees.
Tineke will remain involved as an advisor, continuing to strengthen the organisation in terms of content. Until a new director is in place, Renske Boetje, head of internal operations, will lead Stichting Vluchteling.
Passport
- Born: 1963, in Maren-Kessel
- Education: Cultural Anthropology at Utrecht University
- 1993-1997: Head of Missions at Memisa
- 1997-2000: Coordinator at the Red Cross in Tibet
- 2000-2003: Regional delegate for development organisation SNV in Cameroon
- 2003: Director – The Netherlands Refugee Foundation
- 2009: Publication of her book ‘Hier en daar een crisis’
- 2012: National Woman in the Media Award
- 2020: Decorated Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- 2023: Decoration Comenius Award
- 2025: Publication of her book ‘Vlucht’
- 2025: Steps down as director Netherlands Refugee Foundation
Media appearances
The Netherlands Refugee Foundation can be heard on the radio with some regularity about current humanitarian crises and relief efforts.
We also joins TV programs, where we discuss current crises and the emergency aid that The Netherlands Refugee Foundation provides.
Presentations and lectures
We are happy to provide presentations on our emergency aid worldwide and the situation of displaced persons and refugees. In special cases, Tineke Ceelen, advisor of the Netherlands Refugee Foundation, speaks on request.
Would you like to invite us or do you need an informal conversation about the possibilities?