AMSTERDAM.- Bonhams, the international fine art auction house, announced this week that it was appointing Koen Samson as the company’s new representative in the Netherlands. based at Bonhams office in Amsterdam. He will also assist with business getting in northern Germany.

Koen Samson (Utrecht 1972) studied history at Groningen University. After graduating he worked as a specialist for two established and well-known Dutch auction houses in Groningen and Hilversum.

Koen, a trained auctioneer, became a Certified Valuer Arts & Antiques in 2004. In 2005 he joined the Furniture department of an international auction house in Amsterdam. As a specialist he had a focus on clocks, scientific, globes and applied art. In 2009 Koen was appointed associate director and in 2010 he took on a new role as General Valuer in the company’s European Estates, Appraisals and Valuations team.

Although still based in Amsterdam, Koen travelled widely in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany , Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and Portugal advising clients and organizing the sales of their properties both in Amsterdam and London. Koen is fluent in Dutch, English and German.

He is a member of the board of the Dutch association of Valuers and Auctioneers (Federatie TMV).

Commenting on his appointment, Matthew Girling, Bonhams CEO Europe, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Koen as our representative in the Netherlands. His experience across a number of specialist departments and his auction house management experience will make him an enormous asset to us in the Netherlands where he has been building a network of contacts over the years. His ability will be of great assistance to our clients, both buyers and sellers.”

Koen adds: “I’m looking forward to my new challenge for Bonhams. The Netherlands is a country with an immense cultural and artistic heritage so its potential for us is enormous. I very much look forward to building up our business here.”