In honor of the retirement of King’s Commissioner Jetta Klijnsma, her oil portrait was unveiled this afternoon. “I think it was very well done.”
“That is a very special moment,” Klijnsma responds. “You see yourself in oil paint. I regularly see photos of myself, this is a different story.”
Unfortunately, Klijnsma is not allowed to take her portrait home with her. The painting is given a place among the portraits of her predecessors in the corridors of the provincial government building. “You are part of a group of people who have all come out for Drenthe. I find that very honorable.”
The portrait has a dark frame with a soft red frame. That is her wish. “I like that. I am Commissioner of all political parties, but originally my heart beats red,” she says about that choice. “I think it is important that we continue to stand up for each other, so that red edge is done subtly.”
The painting was made by Fleur Stebis from Assen. She was only 16 years old when she was accepted into a renowned art school in Florence, Italy. “I think it’s very clever how Fleur did this,” says Klijnsma. “It jumps off the canvas.”
On Monday, December 1, Klijnsma will finally say goodbye as King’s Commissioner in Drenthe to enjoy her retirement. Agnes Mulder succeeds her.