The board
The board consists of the Executive board and the chairs of the four other departments. The board members are:
Esther Buquet (1967)
Chair of the Executive Board
Since 2018, I have been working as an acupuncturist and I am a member of our association.
I have taken an unusual path to get here. I began my working life as a physiotherapist, exercise physiologist, and teacher. Later, I pursued an MBA and worked in the corporate sector for 12 years. This background has shaped my perspective on health, well-being, and care.
My primary responsibility as chairperson is to represent the voice of our members, both in support from the association and outwardly. Additionally, it is important to continue advocating for the effectiveness of acupuncture within healthcare.
In an ever-changing world, we face many challenges, but there are also countless opportunities ahead of us. Together with our renewed board, I aim to make the NVA future-proof and respond to the needs of both our members and the clients we serve.
Caspar van der Poel (1984)
Vice Chair of the Executive Board
I am Caspar van der Poel, and I have been interested in Acupuncture since I was young.
In high school, I wrote a paper on acupuncture, and shortly after, I found my way to an acupuncturist. At that time, it hadn't even crossed my mind that I would later become an acupuncturist myself.
I had one main goal in mind: to study medicine.
I would make my way there via physiotherapy. Until, at the end of my physiotherapy training, I suddenly had the opportunity to study acupuncture. A chance I seized with both hands and have never regretted.
Being an acupuncturist is a wonderful profession that I have been practicing with great joy since 2011, and I still enjoy it every day and continue to marvel at it regularly.
In 2023, I began to feel that I wanted to do more for our field and its visibility, alongside my own practice. I signed up for the Taskforce More Clients and then moved on to the working group Week of Acupuncture and the Communication department.
Starting in 2026, I will gladly dedicate myself to our association, our members, and the awareness of acupuncture in the Netherlands in my role as vice-chair.
Koos van Kooten (1965)
Chair of the Education
and Science Department
In 1993, I graduated as a doctor and in 1998 as an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. Since then, I have been working in my own practice in Utrecht and Arnhem.
In my work, which I describe as 'acupuncture with attention,' I support people, especially in processes of change and healing, without losing sight of the physical and psychological complaints and symptoms or the medical background of these complaints. I provide continuing education for acupuncturists.
Within the NVA, I have been chair of the Continuing Education Committee since 2000, and since 2017, the Continuing Education Department. Since January 1, 2019, I have been chair of the Education & Science Department (E&S), whose main tasks include the recognition and quality control of acupuncture training programs, admission policies, and membership acceptance.
Barbara Jenner (1970)
Chair of the Continuing Education Department
In 1987, I first set foot on Chinese soil and became fascinated by the country. My international background led me to graduate in 1998 with a degree in Political Science, specializing in International Relations from the University of Amsterdam.
During the many visits to China, I came into contact with Qi Gong, Tuina massage, and Chinese philosophy. After my studies, I worked for the FSC certification for sustainable forest management and then for five years with and for rejected asylum seekers in Haarlem. My fascination with Chinese medicine never let go of me, so in 2007 I changed course and started studying Chinese medicine, alongside my work and two young children. In 2011, I started my practice of Tuina and acupuncture in Bloemendaal and later Haarlem.
In December 2018, I switched from Zhong to NVA and quickly became active as an active member in the continuing education department. Since the position of chair became vacant, I have also served as a board member since 2022. Initially, it is the task of our department to ensure the quality of accredited continuing education, so that NVA members can maintain and improve their professional knowledge. We also assess requests from members for postponement of the continuing education obligation due to compelling circumstances. At the board level, my goal is to raise more awareness of Chinese medicine, which I will be happy to work on in the coming period.
Kim Boelens (1986)
Chair of the Conduct & Wellbeing Department
My name is Kim Boelens, and I have had my own acupuncture practice in Eindhoven since 2019. I do this work with great pleasure and find it remarkable to see what acupuncture can mean for people. Before I came into contact with acupuncture, I worked as a dialysis nurse in the hospital.
After a number of years in my practice, I realized that I would enjoy contributing to our profession in another way. Not just in the treatment room, but also collaborating with colleagues to think about the development and future of our profession. This led me to connect with the Conduct & Wellbeing (G&W) department in mid-2025, and I am now the chair of the G&W department.
The main tasks of the G&W department include maintaining the quality within the association, keeping the regulations and statutes up to date, conducting practice visits, and answering questions from members and health insurers among other things.
I hope that with my knowledge, commitment, and enthusiasm, I can make a valuable contribution to our association.
Ling Zhang (1980)
Treasurer and Member of the Executive Board
Continuing to study is my passion. Starting in 2023, I will be pursuing the Master's and PhD program in TCM at the Swiss TCM University.
After my bachelor's degree in Economics and International Business Studies, I worked as a marketing and sales manager at an international company.
Since 2006, I have been living on Texel. I grew up in an environment of Traditional Chinese Medicine from a young age. My grandparents were both herbal doctors in southern China.
Over the years, I have followed various courses and internships in acupuncture and herbs in the Netherlands, Europe, and China. I am a student of the renowned gynecologist and TCM doctor Prof. Dr. Yigong Fang from the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences.
Helping people with thousands of years of ancient Chinese healing methods gives me a lot of energy, and I am proud to contribute to our professional association, the NVA.
I was a proud volunteer member of the NVA within the Taskforce More Members. We visited various TCM training programs in the Netherlands and Belgium and collaborated with engaged colleagues to enhance the visibility and position of acupuncture.
Our acupuncture practice, translated into Dutch as ‘smile practice,’ has been in existence since 2018. That is also my goal as treasurer: a treasurer with a smile and solid expertise.
As I said in the General Members' Meeting of 2026: ‘I will keep a close eye on every euro.’
With the strength of water, I will do my best for our members and for Chinese medicine. See Chapter 8 of the classic Dao De Jing: Shang Shan Ruo Shui.
