About me
Henk Nijmeijer serves as the Rainbow Ambassador for the Province of Drenthe in the Netherlands, a rural and culturally rich region known for its strong community ties. As the only provincial-level Rainbow Ambassador in the country, he holds a unique position in advancing LGBTI+ inclusion across local and regional levels within the Dutch governmental structure.
Drenthe made history as the first Dutch province to declare itself a Rainbow Province, and Nijmeijer's role involves connecting diverse stakeholders including governments, sports associations, schools, and civil society organizations to strengthen LGBTI+ inclusion initiatives. His comprehensive approach recognizes that sustainable change requires engagement across multiple community sectors and institutional levels.
Prior to his current role, Nijmeijer served as a member of the Provincial Parliament from 2015 to 2023, providing him with extensive experience in policy development and governmental processes. This background has informed his current focus on building sustainable structures that promote social safety and belonging, with particular emphasis on amateur sports environments where inclusion efforts can have significant community impact.
As an international speaker, Nijmeijer has presented at several prestigious human rights events, including Baltic Pride in 2019, 2022, and 2023, sharing the Netherlands' approaches to LGBTI+ inclusion with international audiences. His passion lies in translating inclusion policies from theoretical frameworks into practical, everyday implementation that creates tangible improvements in LGBTI+ individuals' lived experiences.
Through his pioneering work as a provincial-level advocate, Nijmeijer demonstrates how regional leadership can drive meaningful change in creating more inclusive communities, particularly in rural areas where LGBTI+ visibility and support may be less established than in urban centers.
