Job Seuren assumes leadership role
At a well-attended members’ meeting in Den Bosch on 2 February 2026, the Dutch Guild of Sommeliers installed a new board, marking a significant generational transition for the association.
After 15 years of service, most recently as Chair, Heleen Boom handed over the reigns to Job Seuren. The Guild paid tribute to Boom’s exceptional contribution, recognising her leadership representing the Guild on the national and international stage. She was also recognized for her work at her restaurant Bouwkunde in Deventer.
Job Seuren, previously Vice-Chair, now assumes the chairmanship and will continue the Guild’s focus on professional development and a sustainable growth model with the support of the new board.
In addition to Boom’s retirement, the meeting also marked the departure of Noël Vanwittenbergh, who stepped down after 25 years on the board. Renowned for his depth of knowledge and refined approach to food and wine pairing, Noël remains an influential presence through his role at Ciel Bleu and his contributions to Perswijn.
New board members announced at the meeting also include Sem Beks and Layla Karels. Sem, sommelier at De Librije and holder of the SVH Meestergastheer title, will focus on tastings alongside Edger Groeneveld and Job Seuren. Layla Karels, co-owner of Hotel-Restaurant Karels in Braamt, joins with a focus on travel study and other member activities.
Finally, the Guild also bid farewell to Marja Brouwer, who for more than 40 years served as the association’s central contact and organisational backbone. The board expressed deep gratitude for her decades of dedication.
Looking ahead, the new board has indicated it will continue to prioritise advanced tastings and education, with a strong emphasis on developing the next generation of sommeliers. On March, 11 Dutch candidates will sit the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale’s Diploma exam. Later that month, a contest to determine the best sommelier of the Netherlands will take place on 30 March at The Grand Hotel.
The New Board of the Dutch Guild of Sommeliers:
Job Seuren (Chair), Marco Westra (Secretary), Niels van Overmeire (Treasurer), Sem Beks (Tastings) , Edger Groeneveld (Tastings), Layla Karels (Travel)
