Jan Kennis was born in 1970 in The Netherlands. He studied economic geography at the university of Utrecht. His thesis focused on the regional economic transition of Hungary after 1989. He started his carreer at the scientific department for Development Cooperation which is an integral part of the ministry of Foreign affairs in The Hague. Later on he was financial advisor of the minister for Development Cooperation. His last position in The Hague was senior policy officer at the cultural department where he was specifically dealing with policy matters concerning International Cultural Policy, Culture and Development and the preservation of mutual cultural heritage especially in the former Dutch colonies. Since summer 2005 he is the cultural attaché of The Netherlands in Hungary.