Dr. Cees J. Hamelink
“The Red Light Jazz Festival stands for more jazz in the city, as only a swinging city is resilient enough to cope with the risks of urban life in the 21st century.”
Dr. Cees J. Hamelink is emeritus professor of International Communication at the University of Amsterdam. He is also an Athena Professor for Human Rights and Health Care at the VU in Amsterdam and Professor of Knowledge Management at the University of Aruba. Cees, who studied the psychology of religion and clinical psychology, has given guest lectures and received lifetime achievement awards in more than 40 countries. In addition, he has advised national governments and international organizations, including the United Nations.
Professor Hamelink has written 18 books about communication, technology and culture. He is also a jazz musician. Cees was the bass player of the Louis van Dijk trio, which went on to win the Loosdrecht Jazz Competition in 1961. In recent years he made three CDs with pianist Louis van Dijk, singer Tamara Hoekwater and pianist Jean Louis van Dam. Together with Jeroen de Rijk, also a Red Light Jazz festival ambassador, Cees initiated Amsterdam World Jazz City 2014, to profile Amsterdam as an international center of jazz.
