foto Jan Nass
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THE FACE BEHIND IT ALL! an introduction to who I am and what I do |
SO WHAT DOES VIADICK STAND FOR?
It is simply the name of my company. My name is Dick van Loon and I am self-employed.
I was trained as a historian and specialised in Italian history. As a student I spent some years in Italy where I also
worked for 6 years as a tour director. As is often the case with historians I have worked in many different capacities.
Acting as an intermediary and working in an international environment are the key to my activities, now and in the past. For 13 years I worked as a consultant in the field of mobility (use of public transport and bicycle) for Dutch state organisations. Since 2010 I mainly work in tourism, both in Holland and in Italy.
Working in tourism offers me the possibility to combine my main talents: very good organisational and social skills, well-informed when talking to people about the places they visit. And I am in control of many languages!
Rotterdam -my city- has seen a huge growth in the number of tourists. With some other Rotterdam specialists I have founded Rotterdam Tour Mates which not only offers commercial services but with support of the city of Rotterdam provides a platform and workshops for professional guides in the city.
As a volunteer I have been active mainly as a president for the Rotterdam branch of Dante Alighieri - specialist in Italian classes and culture- and am secretary of the condominium where I live. I am also involved in many local initiatives to upgrade the area where I live, at the north side of the new Rotterdam central station.
It is simply the name of my company. My name is Dick van Loon and I am self-employed.
I was trained as a historian and specialised in Italian history. As a student I spent some years in Italy where I also
worked for 6 years as a tour director. As is often the case with historians I have worked in many different capacities.
Acting as an intermediary and working in an international environment are the key to my activities, now and in the past. For 13 years I worked as a consultant in the field of mobility (use of public transport and bicycle) for Dutch state organisations. Since 2010 I mainly work in tourism, both in Holland and in Italy.
Working in tourism offers me the possibility to combine my main talents: very good organisational and social skills, well-informed when talking to people about the places they visit. And I am in control of many languages!
Rotterdam -my city- has seen a huge growth in the number of tourists. With some other Rotterdam specialists I have founded Rotterdam Tour Mates which not only offers commercial services but with support of the city of Rotterdam provides a platform and workshops for professional guides in the city.
As a volunteer I have been active mainly as a president for the Rotterdam branch of Dante Alighieri - specialist in Italian classes and culture- and am secretary of the condominium where I live. I am also involved in many local initiatives to upgrade the area where I live, at the north side of the new Rotterdam central station.
