“We have every confidence that this duo, with their combined expertise, can successfully lead a complex international event such as the ICOM General Conference. Thanks to their valuable connections within both the city of Rotterdam and the Dutch museum sector, as well as their extensive experience in organising large-scale cultural events, Anouk Estourgie and Lidwien Hupkens are well positioned to make this conference a significant moment for international exchange and collaboration.”
— Caroline Breunesse, Chair of ICOM Netherlands
Turning the Initial Plans into Action
The Conference Directors will begin by translating the bid book into a concrete implementation plan. They will work closely with ICOM Netherlands, the committee representing more than 6,000 Dutch members of the global association for museum professionals.
Other key partners include the ICOM headquarters in Paris, the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, the Municipality of Rotterdam, Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, Rotterdam Partners, PCO Congress Care, the Dutch Museum Association, and, in particular, the museums of Rotterdam.
ICOM General Conference 2028
From 27 August to 1 September 2028, Rotterdam will become the international centre of museum practice. A multi-day academic programme of lectures, discussions and professional gatherings will take place at Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre. Leading speakers from the Netherlands and abroad will share their expertise across a wide range of museum-related fields, including collection management, exhibitions, conservation and restoration, and museum operations. Key topics will include the impact of AI, geopolitical developments, youth engagement, sustainability and decolonisation. The remaining conference days will be dedicated to excursions to museums throughout the Netherlands.
About the Conference Directors
Anouk Estourgie, cultural historian and founder of Cultuur & Vliegwerk, has spent many years developing content concepts, public programmes and cultural projects from Rotterdam that connect history, heritage and contemporary social issues. She has an extensive network within Rotterdam’s museum and cultural sectors and considerable experience in creating programmes that bring together different disciplines and audiences. Her strength lies in developing substantive, accessible and inspiring programmes that connect international themes with local contexts and communities.
As founder of STROOM, Lidwien Hupkens has extensive experience in developing and delivering large-scale cultural projects, city-wide programmes and international collaborations. She has served as General Project Director for major civic programmes such as Rotterdam viert de Stad! (“Rotterdam Celebrates the City!”) and has realised numerous cultural projects that bring together public partners, cultural institutions and community organisations, including the international programme About Freedom. Her expertise lies in strategically managing complex processes, connecting diverse stakeholders and translating ambitions into solid organisational structures and effective implementation.
Together, Estourgie and Hupkens have previously collaborated on several high-profile Rotterdam projects, including De Trap, the large-scale public stair installation, and a viewing platform created to mark the 150th anniversary of the Nieuwe Waterweg.
More Information
For more information about the ICOM General Conference Rotterdam 2028, please contact ICOM Netherlands at: conference2028@icom.nl