Bridging Worlds

The start up and scale up scene on the East coast is growing more Dutch. Two price winning CEO's - Josefien Groot from Qlayers and Remcro Treuren from Webinargeek - tell their story. Barry Nieuwenhuijs, deputy consul general at the Dutch consulate in NYC explains why start ups and scale ups are a Dutch priority. Chair of the Netherland-America Foundation Andy Bender pitches in on the NAF's efforts to support this scene on the East Coast.

Pella, Iowa: a town of 10.000 founded by Dutch Dominee Scholte in 1847. If you are crossing the US and are craving Gouda cheese, stroopwafels, mills and tulips - this is the place to go. But what is below the surface of these classic cultural icons? Why did Pella succeed in guarding Dutch heritage and why do people care so much?

Jacques Detiger (now 87) jumped on a coal ship in the early 1950's to the US and became one of the most successful entrepreneurs The Netherlands has ever known. Floridian Jonathan Cordoba (24) just arrived in The Netherlands for an internship. Both were sponsored by the Netherland American Foundation (NAF). Two stories about kickstarts and why they matter.

10 years after hurricane Sandy the first flood wall is operating in NYC. Engineer and VP of Arcadis Edgar Westerhof explains how the city deals with the challenges of being surrounded by water. In Miami artist Xavier Cortada uses his art to create awareness about the rising sea level and climate change in his beloved city.

A royal visit and a business mission to the Texas and California early September 2022. Counselor for Economy & Climate at Netherlands Embassy in Washington DC Bart van Bolhuis explains what's at stake. And Games For Health, a Dutch e health company launches in the US with an ambitious mission: 1 billion healthy and happy people.

Chargé d'affaires Marja Verloop leaves the Netherlands after three years. A parting interview about her time in The Netherlands, her view on diplomacy and the war in Ukraine.

8 World War II veterans, one Rosie the Riveter and 100 Dutch families that maintain the graves of fallen American soldiers came together to pay their gratitude. You'll meet a couple of them in this episode. And Ambassador to the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Washington DC André Haspels talks about the importance of paying gratitude in diplomacy.

What makes a good song for Eurovision and the American Song Contest? Eurovision winner Lenny Kuhr explains. And renowned conductor Paul Agnew and students from Juilliard School of Music and The Hague Royal Conservatory talk about their performances in The Netherlands.

A conversation with Edith Velmans (96 years old) and her daughter Hester Velmans about living thru World War II as a teenager, remembering and forgetting, the past ,the present and Edith's beautiful book Ediths story. And American- Dutch comedian Greg Shapiro shines his light on Dutch American Friendship Day.

In this first episode, historian Susan Suer and host Laila Frank follow into the footsteps of the Pilgrims time in Leiden. Laila also speaks with Amsterdam born and raised drummer Phillipe Lemm about his journey to the US and his music. And Edgar Westerhof, National Director for Flood Risk and Resiliency for North America at Arcadis talks about World Water Day and America's water resiliency.