President
My name is Henry Niehe and I was born in Plainfield, NJ but grew up in Bussum in North Holland. Since 2011 I live full time in the USA and my immediate family still lives in the Netherlands. I work as a senior accountant for national non-profit organization. I am the proud father of two children, Leon and Andrea.
I decided to join the board of the NAADV because I enjoyed being a member and had some ideas to make this organization more exciting. My passion is the history of Dutch settlers and immigrants in the United States. The Delaware valley has a wealth of Dutch history. For instance, have you seen the plaque on city hall commemorating the people who settled this area? I look forward to meeting you guys personally.
Henry Niehe
Vice President
Gerald van Wilgen
Gerald van Wilgen was born and raised in the Groningen in the North of Holland.
He worked in journalism back in the Netherlands and switched to theatre and sailing and many other jobs, after he moved to the US.
He is married to Monique and has two adult sons, Job and Toby.
Gerald has been involved with the NAADV since 2006.
Treasure
Herman Nieuwehuizen
Born and raised in Rotterdam’s center city, Herman’s professional career with CIGNA Insurance Company, moved him, his wife Rebecca and their 3 through various countries, incl. Belgium and Germany, to eventually in 1998 (for a second time) to arrive in the United States. Expected to remain in the United States for a few years, only, they decided to make this country their permanent home. Living in Malvern, PA, Herman in 2015 retired from Zurich Insurance Company and now enjoys doing fun stuff.
Herman and Rebecca are enthusiastic skiers, travel to interesting places around the world, play golf, bike and enjoy time with their children and grandchildren. Time and weather permitting, Herman flies a Cessna 172 through the skies of PA.
Director of Membership
Paul Leufkens
In 2007, electrical test institute KEMA in Arnhem asked Paul Leufkens “temporarily and part time” to manage its American short-circuit test laboratory in Chalfont, PA. Finding a successor was not so easy, he stayed there as president and business responsible until end of 2015. After that Paul began his own company Power Projects Leufkens in technical and business development in the power utility industry, most of the actual business is in Energy Storage.
In his early American days, he bought a simple cello and joined the Lansdowne Symphony Orchestra. He asked whether people had a drink after rehearsal and first flute, Leslie Clifton, introduced him. The rest is history, they live in Wayne and chose to marry, fortunately just before the Corona crisis. Soon he hopes to be American citizen (without losing his Dutch citizenship).
In normal years, Paul travels 3 or 4 times to Netherlands, stays in his apartment in Gouda and meets his daughters who live in Amsterdam and Utrecht.