Nathal van Rijn replaces Rinke Zonneveld as new director of The Hague-based InnovationQuarter

The Hague-based InnovationQuarter, a regional economic development agency for the Province of Zuid-Holland, announced on Tuesday the appointment of Nathal van Rijn as its director effective March 1, 2023. 

Nathal van Rijn, who has extensive experience as a director and advisor in multiple sectors, succeeds Rinke Zonneveld, who held this position for nine years.

Since 2016, Van Rijn has held positions such as director, quartermaster, and management consultant in government, healthcare, and business.

Van Rijn was also associated with Rabobank for a long time, the last few years as Chairman of the Board of Rabobank Almere. 

Van Rijn studied Business Economics at the Amsterdam Academy for Banking and Finance and obtained a master’s degree in Sociology at the University of Amsterdam.

Nathal van Rijn says, “I am looking forward to continuing to build a beautiful future-oriented organisation with my colleagues and am grateful for what Rinke has achieved. The challenges we face in South Holland are very diverse and significant. Nice to get to work with that.”

InnovationQuarter: Regional economic development agency

Founded in 2014, InnovationQuarter is the regional economic development agency for the Province of Zuid-Holland, also known as the greater Rotterdam – The Hague area. 

InnovationQuarter invests in innovative and fast-growing companies, assists international companies with establishing in the region, and facilitates (international) collaboration between innovative entrepreneurs, knowledge institutes, and the government.

InnovationQuarter offers companies financing at various stages of growth and invests from three funds: IQCapital, UNIIQ en ENERGIIQ. 

InnovationQuarter is supported by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Province of Zuid-Holland, the Metropolitan region Rotterdam The Hague (MRDH), the Cities of Rotterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Delft, Drechtsteden, Westland and Zoetermeer, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Leiden University, the Leiden University Medical Center and Erasmus MC, Foundation HEID (Holding Fund for Economic Investment The Hague), and the European Union. 

Leo Brand, chairman of the Supervisory Board of InnovationQuarter, says, “The Supervisory Board is very pleased with this appointment. The phase that InnovationQuarter is in as an organisation requires further vision and connecting leadership. We are confident that under the leadership of Nathal InnovationQuarter, it will be able to develop further and continue to make an important contribution to the economic strength of the province of South Holland.”