Lydia van der Schaaf is a Dutch European Studies graduate with a strong interest in international
relations, trade, development cooperation, and cross-cultural collaboration. Her academic
background has equipped her with a nuanced understanding of the political, economic, and
cultural dynamics shaping Europe’s engagement with the wider world — insight she has since
applied to strengthening ties between Europe and Africa.
Through her work with the Ghana–Netherlands Business & Culture Council (GNBCC), Lydia
has contributed to a range of initiatives spanning trade promotion, stakeholder engagement,
research, and sustainable economic development. Her work sits at the intersection of policy and
practice, supporting the kind of people-to-people and business-to-business connections that
underpin lasting economic partnerships between Ghana and the Netherlands.
Lydia brings a young, forward-looking European perspective to conversations on
Ghana–Netherlands trade and cooperation, and her contributions reflect a genuine commitment
to building sustainable, mutually beneficial relationships between the two countries.