Elke Merks-Schaapveld
H.E. Elke Merks-Schaapveld joined the Dutch Foreign Service in 2003 and has since served as a diplomat in Washington, Strasburg, Paris, Brussels and Ankara. She began her diplomatic career while serving as a policy officer on nuclear and non-proliferation affairs in The Hague between 2003-2005. She then moved to various posts relating to other UN as well as EU portfolios. Prior to arriving on the island, Merks-Schaapveld served as the Head of the Political Department and Political Counsellor in Ankara between 20016-2020. In Autumn 2020 she took over as the Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Cyprus. Merks-Schaapveld is fluent in French and English, proficient in German, Portuguese, while she also speaks basic Turkish. She studied Contemporary History at the Leiden University and followed further education in public administration and diplomacy in Strasburg and the Diplomatic Academy in The Hague.