Monique Knapen is an expert in the field of international cultural relations, especially in the art and culture sector between the Netherlands and China.

Knapen studied Social History at Erasmus University in Rotterdam and completed a minor in Sinology in Leiden. She studied at Beijing University for a year as an exchange student and started her carrier in Shanghai at the local radio station. She worked in China for six years in various jobs.

After her return to the Netherlands, she worked as Program Director China for nearly 10 years at DutchCulture, an independent foundation funded by the Dutch government to facilitate cultural exchange with a selected number of countries. She worked on several projects including the Shanghai Expo, bringing a diverse program of Dutch cultural organizations for six months.

Since 2017, she co-founded her own company the China Connector, a boutique consultancy with a strong emphasis on facilitating cultural projects between China and the Netherlands. The China Connector also works together in projects related to art exhibitions and art sales with the companies: Beyond Exhibitions and Curated By.

Since the start of The China Connector, Knapen is working as the China coordinator for Creative NL — the international part of the top sector ‘creative industries’.