Projects

Scan highlights of work I’ve done over the years on larger projects or for long-term clients. This is where I’ve gained some of the most valuable experience that I can bring to your translation, writing or editing project.

For information on published works, see books. For a more complete list of clients past and present, see clients.

EdenFrost

(2015-present)

I’ve provided hundreds of translations for this excellent communications agency, for dozens of clients, and especially the City of Amsterdam, amsterdam&partners, I amsterdam, SADC, Startup in Residence and the Amsterdam Economic Board.

My jobs include translating the international speeches for Mayor Femke Halsema (and previously Eberhard van der Laan) and the Amsterdam council leaders, and range from complex tender documents to information and news stories for Amsterdam’s municipal website. I love the topicality and variety of the work, and it’s great to keep my finger on the pulse of key developments in the Amsterdam Metropolitan Area.

“Michael is a wonderful translator. No matter the size of the assignment, quality of the source text or complexity of the subject matter, he swoops in and saves the day with flawless English. He is thorough, candid, precise, thoughtful and professional. Such a pleasure to work with!”
– Tamar Bosschaart, CEO, EdenFrost

International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam

(2016-present)

The IDFA programme is a favourite annually recurring project. My colleague Steve Green and I translate the descriptions of the films, doing well over a hundred each. It’s fascinating to dive briefly into the world of each documentary and capture it as vividly as possible for the audience trying to navigate the festival programme.

“Michael is a joy to work with. He has a great command of language, a sensitivity for tone, a wide scope of general knowledge and a curious mind. He’s both an excellent reader and an excellent writer, and having him on the catalogue team as a translator truly contributes to the overall quality of our publications. He’s very engaged and very dependable – and did I already say that he’s a joy to work with?”
– Sasja Koetsier, Editorial Coordinator, IDFA catalogue

Nederlands Film Festival

Nederlands Filmfestival

(2020-present)

For NFF, ‘the leading platform for the Netherlands’ national film culture’, I translate the programme for NFF Professionals, the aspect of the festival aimed at film industry insiders. I’ve also edited articles and provided translations for the Digital Culture programme, plus speeches and press releases.

“Als je op zoek bent naar de snelste maar ook de meest eloquente, degelijke en kritische editor die werkelijk elke link checkt en overal induikt: zoek niet verder maar vraag Michael.”

– Paulien Dresscher, curator of the Digital Culture programme of the Nederlands Film Festival

Maastricht University

Maastricht University

(2018-present)

For Maastricht University’s Marketing and Communications department, I translate press releases and web articles on the university’s latest scientific research.

Stichting Het Nationale Park De Hoge Veluwe - Jachthuis Sint Hubertus

De Hoge Veluwe National Park

(2018-present)

For De Hoge Veluwe National Park I translated a series of six magazines entitled 99, marking 99 years of architecture in the park. De Hoge Veluwe is home to the Kröller-Müller Museum and Jachthuis Sint-Hubertus, and the magazine series celebrated the opening of its new visitors’ centre.

In 2021, I then translated the first edition of a new magazine series on architecture, nature and history at De Hoge Veluwe, entitled 86.

Read the magazines here.

Rijksmuseum Country Series

(2015-2018)

The Rijksmuseum Country Series (Landenreeks) tells the stories of the Netherland’s shared history with eight countries, illustrated by objects in the Rijksmuseum’s collection. My longstanding translation partner Steve Green and I jointly translated five books in the series. The job called for meticulous research on history and art. I particularly enjoyed the challenge of translating 17th-century terminology, quotes and poetry.

Radiobooks

(2007-2009)

For the Radio Books series I translated audio stories by no fewer than 30 leading and emerging Dutch and Flemish writers. They include bestselling authors such as Herman Koch, Paul Mennes, and Adriaan van Dis.

Few translators are lucky enough to have such an opportunity. Over a three-year period I honed my skills working with a vast range of styles and genres. I had personal contact with nearly all the authors to discuss the nuances of their work.

Radio Books was a co-production by deBuren and Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

The authors I translated are listed below, with links to the audio. The stories by Hafid Bouazza and Wanda Reisel are read by me.

“Michael is a meticulous translator, creative and able to adapt the unique literary style of the original material into an excellent English translation. He's willing to go an extra step further than required to get the best result. Highly recommended for literary translation based on his terrific work for the Radio Books series on Radio Netherlands Worldwide.”
– David Swatling, author and Radio Books producer

“Michael Blass is an excellent British translator Dutch/English. Hear his sensitive and musical English translation of my story The art of delivering a love letter, in which an eccentric young man, orphan and child of artists, wanders aimlessly through the streets of the metropolis as a postman.”
– Wanda Reisel, author

Love Matters

Writer, web editor, translator, language consultant (2009-2018)

I was part of the little team that created the original Love Matters website at RNW Media. For young people in countries where information on sexuality and sexual health is culturally or legally restricted, Love Matters is a liberating resource. It has grown to become a series of websites and social media platforms reaching audiences of millions in India, China, the Arab World, Africa and Latin America.

I produced the content for the original English language site, working with public health specialist Michelle Chakkalackal. We were able to draw on a website about love and sex for Dutch teenagers, which is where my translation skills came in handy. A key role I played was to establish the pleasure-positive tone of the site: down-to-earth but never crude, and free of stuffy medical jargon.

As the project expanded I became senior web editor of Love Matters India, then acted as a consultant until RNW Media handed over entirely to the team in Delhi.

“Michael is able to to pick up the most interesting bits of a scientific article, the kind that's riddled with jargon, and turn it into something that's snappy and easy-to-read. He's enthusiastic, fun, and very professional.”
– Michelle Chakkalackal, Impact Business Consultant (former Content Strategist for Love Matters, RNW Media)

“I can always count on Michael to produce engaging and targeted content for the Love Matters audience. He's creative, fast and very professional. He raises the level of every article he edits. He's also really fun to work with.”
– Michele Ernsting, Director at THNK School of Creative Leadership (former Head of Themes and Projects, RNW Media)

Radio Netherlands Worldwide

News and current affairs (2006-2012)

I produced news bulletins, web articles and radio items for RNW’s English language international news and current affairs service until these activities ended in 2012. RNW’s newsroom provided great opportunities for a flexible freelancer who likes new challenges. I gained a wide range of new skills in a short space of time, from news translation and web writing to broadcasting and journalism.

I started out translating news bulletins for broadcast, and went on to write Dutch news stories and articles for the website. I worked as a radio news reader and continuity announcer, then as a producer and presenter on the daily news programme. And I regularly wrote the press review, a roundup of the highlights of the Dutch dailies.

All this helped me to hone snappy writing skills and learn to handle tight deadlines. I also gained valuable technical knowledge – web production, SEO, working with a CMS, plus audio and photo editing.

“I'd like to recommend Michael Blass as a translator, author and text editor. I've worked with him in several capacities over five years or so, and have found his work to be of the highest possible standard. Moreover he is a pleasant and very professional colleague to work with, who confidently handles a wide range of subjects.”
– Rob Kievit, Senior Editor at RNW till 2012

“It’s a great pleasure to work with a genuine professional like Michael. He’s not only an excellent translator and a gifted writer, but also a sterling colleague, who’s always prepared to run the extra mile to get the job done. Michael is a man of many talents with vast experience in the world of voice acting and journalism. Highly recommended.”
– Theo Tamis, manager of RNW’s English website until 2012:

RNW Media & RNTC

When the Netherlands’ international news service ended in 2012, the organisation became RNW Media, building digital communities for social change. I went on to work for RNW Media and it’s associated training centre RNTC. Apart from working closely on Love Matters (see above), I provided a wide variety of copywriting, translation and editing.

Kunstmuseum Den Haag

(2012)

I translated and recorded the audio tour for the exhibition Mondrian & De Stijl at Kunstmuseum Den Haag. The museum of modern art in the Hague houses the world’s largest collection of works by Mondrian. This was a satisfying project as it brought together my translation and voice skills.

“The fact that Michael combines the jobs of translator and voice actor has resulted in a product that is tailor made for its job: a translation that will be a joy to listen to for our visitors.”

– Erik van Tuijn, Digital Media Coordinator, Gemeentemuseum Den Haag (now Kunstmuseum Den Haag)

Caspar Berger – sculptor

Over the years I’ve been very pleased to translate a wide variety of text for the sculptor and conceptual artist Caspar Berger and his partner, film-maker Annick Vroom. Caspar’s fascinating oeuvre includes Skeleton, incorporating casts of his own skeleton, made using cutting edge CT scanning and 3D printing technology.

“Michael brings a translation from Dutch into English with such depth and spirit, it brings your written work to a higher level.”

– Annick Vroom, Berger Vroom VOF

Amsterdam’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage status

(2008)

Amsterdam’s 17th century canal ring area was granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2010. I was part of the team that translated the extensive management plan which was part of the city’s successful application. Cycling to my office through the World Heritage site, I’m pleased to have been able to make a little contribution!

Amsterdam’s bid for EURO 2020

(2014)

I was part of a team that translated the successful bid by the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) for Amsterdam to be a host city for the EURO 2020 football championship.