"As an anthropology student I was fascinated by the relationship between nature and culture. The ways in which cultures all over the world are shaped by natural surroundings, and the ways in which humans shape their natural surroundings, influence age-old natural processes. This interest in ecological anthropology led me to a job as a strategic advisor with the Hoogheemraadschap de Stichtse Rijnlanden."

The Netherlands is famous for its water management. Water management is often identified with engineers, technical specialists, and natural sciences. However, it seems anthropologists are indispensable, now that the technical organisations and issues they face are becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. Water authorities no longer work for citizens, we seek to work with our citizens and social environment to create long-term effective policies and plans. 

My open-minded way of thinking which I developed during my years as an anthropology student has proved extremely useful in my current position. My interview skills combined with curiosity ensures that I ask different questions compared to my more technical colleagues. These questions and conversations raise new perspectives, interests and issues.

“The staff at the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development consists mainly of anthropologists. The added value of anthropologists lies in strong analytical skills in disaster situations and conflicts. To be able to offer cultural relief, I have to quickly understand how a society functions.”

Anthropologists are trained to quickly understand complex situations, without losing sight of the broader picture. In addition, they come up with innovative approaches that take relationships and patterns of human interaction into account. This makes anthropologists incredibly strong strategists.

As a Programme Coordinator, I make much use of my cultural sensitive communication skills learned during studying Anthropology. I didn’t recognise the importance of this skill when I just graduated. Much later, I noticed that knowing how to communicate with people from all parts of the world was an enormous added value. For example, during one of the largest rescue campaigns for culture when I had to negotiate with 26 library owners. 400,000 manuscripts from Timbuktu were threatened by right-wing extremists because of their content, but eventually got evacuated in a month’s long undercover operation.