With almost 800 members, the Dutch Association of Interpreters and Translators (NGTV) is the largest professional association of interpreters and translators in the Netherlands. It has specialists in almost all languages and fields, including certified translators and interpreters. The NGTV has stood for quality and reliability for more than 65 years!
The NGTV aims to strengthen the position and authority of interpreters and translators by uniting them and giving them a collective voice, by stimulating the development and growth of interpreters and translators through training and knowledge sharing, and by strengthening connections in the social and business network.
The NGTV aims to work together, share knowledge, guarantee quality and, where necessary, act collectively when this is impossible individually. The NGTV is committed to:
The NGTV aims to be a professional association that represents the interests of interpreters and translators in the broadest sense of the word and improves the positioning of that professional group. Its goal is to connect members through groups (language or region) and sections (field of expertise) in order to share knowledge and information. The NGTV encourages continuous growth and development of knowledge and expertise, in collaboration with recognised training institutes.
Follow the link below to find out more about how you can join the largest professional association for interpreters and translators in the Netherlands. Membership offers many benefits, for students too!
Information about membership
The association includes sections and groups, formed by translators and interpreters with the same specialisation or language combination, or interpreters/translators who live in the same region.
About our organisation
The NGTV was formed in 2000 through a merger of two organisations: the Nederlands Genootschap van Vertalers (NGV, founded on 22 February 1956) and the Nederlandse Vereniging van Tolken en Vertalers (NVTV).
Read the story of its founding below!
The very first impetus for the establishment of the NGV came from Mr Citroen's wife. In the spring of 1953, she read a short article in the newspaper about the establishment of the FIT (the International Federation of Translators). She cut it out and gave it to her husband, urging him to find out whether he could become a member of this organisation. As an organisation, you could make your voice heard. That was better than grumbling about abuses on your own.
The newspaper clipping quickly disappeared among other papers on Mr Citroen's desk. But when it resurfaced months later, he wrote a letter after all. The reply came a few months later. Another interested Dutchman had come forward and Edmond Cary of the FIT advised him to contact this man, Henri W. Methorst in Amsterdam.
When a conference was held in Scheveningen in the summer of 1955, at which both Cary and Methorst were acting as interpreters, Citroen joined them. This was the first serious step. Cary explained that membership of the FIT was not open to individual translators or interpreters, but only to associations. The translators and interpreters in the Netherlands therefore had to set up an association in order to join the FIT.
This initial meeting was followed by many more. The two gentlemen decided to distribute a circular. But where and how could they find interpreters and translators? Ms Methorst quickly developed a knack for this. The circular itself also included a call for anyone else who might be interested in providing their contact details. It soon became clear that there was considerable interest in their plan. So there was every reason to organise a meeting.
They rented a small room in the Parkhotel Amsterdam for the evening of 22 February 1956. Due to the bitter cold – it was more than 20 degrees below zero outside – the organisers did not have high expectations for attendance. However, when they entered the room fifteen minutes before the start, it turned out to be completely full. Extra chairs were brought in, but soon there was no room for them either. Fortunately, the room could be enlarged by removing a partition wall. And that room also filled up completely.
Not only was there a surprisingly large number of interested people, it also turned out that many of the more than 170 attendees had already thought about the future. It was a lively meeting, with more than 40 of those present signing up for membership.
Next, a board had to be formed. First, Mr Citroen and Mr Methorst, as initiators, were asked to take a seat on the board. Few of those present knew each other, so filling the remaining board positions was a bit of a guessing game, until someone suggested that it was always useful to have a lawyer on the board. Mr H. ten Cate was then elected chairman. The suggestion that, in addition to a lawyer, it would also be advantageous to have a doctor on the board sparked some discussion, but was ultimately accepted. Mr A. Boersma would take on the role of board member responsible for the technical-scientific section. And so, on that cold evening in February 1956, the association was founded.
Other facts about 1956
- A gruelling Elfstedentocht ice skating race was held
- The soap opera 'As the world turns' started
- Prince Reinier and Grace Kelly married
- Bill Haley & The Cornets had a hit with Rock Around the Clock
- The Netherlands had approximately 10.85 million inhabitants