Wilkommen, welcome, bienvenue ! I am Stefan de Vries [*1970], and this is my official site, which has news, articles, reports, and op-eds about France, the Netherlands, and Europe. From 1998-2020, I lived in Paris, where I was a freelance journalist and correspondent for RTL Nieuws, BNR Nieuwsradio, VRT and BBC Radio. I am based in Amsterdam and work as a freelance journalist for BNR, Les Echos, Monocle and BFMTV. From there, I travel around Europe to report on the ups and downs of the European Union and Europeans.
Who are you? Where am I? And Why?
I’m currently working as a freelance journalist in Amsterdam for international outlets such as Euronews, BBC Radio, BNR (Netherlands) and Les Echos (France). In the past, I co-hosted the podcasts So French!, a bi-weekly show about all things French and Fog in the Channel, about Brexit. I provide breaking news coverage, packages and analysis in English for CNN, Sky News, France 24, LBC, ABC Australia, Radio New Zealand and other channels across the globe. I’ve also published op-eds in many newspapers and magazines, such as The New York Times, Libération, Le Monde, NRC, et al.
In French media (France 24, Arte, France Info, France Culture, Europe 1, RTL) I regularly act as a court jester, analysing and if necessary mocking international and French current affairs.
Biography
I was born in the Dutch province of Zeeland on the day this carefree melody reached #1 on the UK charts. The song’s breezy nonchalance mirrored my childhood—a blissful ease that, I suspect, is not the most fertile ground for a writer. After grammar school, I ventured north to study law at the University of Amsterdam. After those studies, I discovered that the world of law firms was not really mine, so I began a career as a copywriter.
In 1998, during the latest fin de siècle, I abandoned my burgeoning career in the Netherlands and sought culinary asylum in Paris. There, I joined Prisma (then a division of Bertelsmann) as Design Director, overseeing the launch of websites for a dozen prominent French magazines. A few years later, my ambitions shifted. I packed my bags and flew to Hollywood to study cinema, completing the director’s course at the New York Film Academy. Returning to Paris, I dreamed of becoming the next Spielberg—or rather, Stefan Spielberg. Fate had other plans. My film career never truly materialised, leaving me with ample time to enroll at the Sorbonne. A few years later, I graduated cum laude—a distinction that sounds far more impressive than it actually is—with a degree in Art History and Archaeology.
In 2005, I found my true calling and became a journalist. After 22 years in Paris, I returned to the Netherlands in 2020, closing one chapter and beginning another.
Europe
I have always been particularly interested in European politics. I’m a founding board member of Européens sans frontières, I was a board member of Europresse and a member of the Association des journalistes européens. In 2012, my work as a journalist covering the European Union was awarded the Prix de l’initiative européenne in Paris. A year later, the European Mouvement in The Hague named me the Euro Dutchman of the Year.
Books
I have written several books. You can read more on those here. I’m currently working on a book on the history and future of Europe. If you are a publisher and would like to suggest a project for a book, please discuss this with my literary agent in Amsterdam, Lolies van Grunsven.
Lectures and presentations
My international experience, broad knowledge and unconventional approach make me a popular speaker at conferences. I give talks on Europe, etiquette, fashion, food and drink, art, beauty and journalism. Please contact me for bookings.
Questions?
Do you have specific questions, or are you being tormented by an urgent life matter? Perhaps you want my recipe for tarte tatin à la mangue? Please fill out the contact form below or check my contact page. You get a personal reply as quickly as possible. If you’re just looking for some random answers, you can also check out my FAQ section.
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