The board
The board is formed by the core board and the chairpersons of the other four departments. The board members are:
Esther Buquet (1967)
Chair of the Core Board
I began my working life as a physiotherapist and movement scientist, teaching this at a university in Aberdeen, Scotland. After a stint in the corporate world, I returned to my first love, the human body and health.
The combination of a holistic view of health and impressive results across a wide variety of complaints makes acupuncture a truly beautiful treatment method for me.
Within the NVA, I have been the chair of the Communication department since 2024, and since 2025, I have been the interim chair of G&W. From this involvement, I have put myself forward as a candidate for the position of chair. My goal is to contribute, as part of the board, to strengthening the recognition of acupuncture as an effective form of treatment.
Caspar van der Poel (1984)
Vice Chair of the Core 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 thereafter, I found my way to an acupuncturist. At that time, it hadn’t yet occurred to me 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)
Chairman 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 chairman of the Continuing Education Committee since 2000, and since 2017, the Continuing Education Department. Since January 1, 2019, I have been chairman 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 a cadre member in the continuing education department. Since the position of chairman became vacant, I have also become 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 Behavior & Welfare Department
My name is Kim Boelens, and I have 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 Behavior & Welfare (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, etc.
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 Core 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 and healthy association NVA.
I was a proud cadre 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 serious expertise.
As I said in the General Members' Meeting of 2026: ‘I will keep a very close eye on our finances.’
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.
