It Came From BLE… with Van Gogh Museum’s Eva Derksen

Eva, thanks for making time! Can you talk us through a product – or partnership – that originated from a chat at BLE?
At BLE, we connected with Grupo Erik, a leading European stationery company, and this initial conversation evolved into a meaningful collaboration. Together, we developed a wide range of stationery, calendars, and lifestyle products inspired by the artworks of Vincent van Gogh. The collaboration has brought Van Gogh’s art into people’s everyday lives through high-quality products.

What makes BLE such an effective place to unearth or facilitate these sparks?
BLE provides a unique platform where the entire industry – from licensors to licensees, retailers and creatives – can meet in person to share ideas and explore opportunities. The event is not only about business discussions, but also about building relationships and discovering creativity. The mix of global reach and industry expertise makes BLE an ideal place for sparking collaborations. It’s the perfect space to present our brand and to display what Van Gogh Museum contribute to your brand.

If you can wave a magic wand, what product or partnership do you hope is kickstarted at BLE this year?
If we could choose, we would love to see new collaborations that bring Van Gogh’s art into innovative lifestyle categories – from home décor to fashion accessories –allowing people to engage with his work in creative ways.

We are also especially interested in exploring collaborations that echo themes close to Van Gogh and the Van Gogh Museum today, such as the Van Gogh’s works connected to nature, the spirit of travel and discovery and the importance of mental well-being. We always want to inspire a diverse audience with the life and work of Vincent van Gogh and his time, so we look forward to seeing what new ideas BLE helps to unlock this year.

Thanks Eva – and we should mention that Van Gogh Museum is based at B250 at the show. See you there!