Merel Dercksen
During my studies at the conservatory, I noticed how little care creative students had for business, and that hasn't changed much. But creative professionals are often actually very enjoyable people to work with.
‘creative professionals are often veryenjoyable people to work with’
Since I ended up in the financial sector, after a series of detours, I've always preferred to use my financial, administrative, and tax expertise to support and help creative people.
I work partly for individual entrepreneurs, musicians, and designers, and also for organizations in the cultural sector. The objectives of The Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation really appeal to me because they align so well with what I personally enjoy contributing to. So when the opportunity arose to join the foundation in 2025, I jumped at the chance.
My favourite instrument
So far, I have only heard a small part of the extensive collection of the Netherlands Musical Instrument Foundation. At the moment, my favorite instrument is a 19th-century violin. I got to witness how special it is when an instrument does not end up gathering dust after the death of its player, but is donated to the foundation and restored. And above all: when the instrument can start blossoming fully again in the hands of the next musician. That is what happened to this violin. It is also a special moment for the surviving relatives who donated the instrument.
check out the violin