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| The "Well Travelled" Radio Host |
| It's not just music, it's an adventure! |
The popular HEEMSKERK, NETHERLANDS based radio show "MARK FROM HOLLAND" on IJMOND 360 is broadcast every TUESDAY from 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM (CET) and is AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE on the internet. Missed broadcasts are easily retrievable at IJMOND360.NL. The main styles of the show are melodic "PROGRESSIVE ROCK," Classic Rock, Canterbury Scene, Instrumental, Jazz Rock Fusion, Alternative, World music, Popular. Mark's 30 YEARS "ON-THE-AIR" anniversary was featured on RTV HEEMSKERK. UPCOMING CONCERTS - THE RUSHIANS (RUSH TRIBUTE), Friday, September 19, Laurentz, Heemskerk, KARNATAKA, Friday, September 19, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, FOCUS, Saturday, September 27, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, FRANK GAMBALE ALL STAR BAND, Sunday, September 28, Q Factory, Amsterdam, RPWL, Friday, October 3, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, BRIT FLOYD, Sunday, October 12, Afas Live, Amsterdam, JUSTIN HAYWARD, Monday, October 13, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, BJORN RIJS, Saturday, October 18, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, THE MUSIC OF GENESIS, Friday, October 24, Het Bolwerk, Sneek, GRAHAM NASH, Saturday, October 25, Carre, Amsterdam, MYSTERY, Friday, October 31, Patronaat, Haarlem, LEVEL 42, Friday, October 31, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, TODD RUNDREN, Sunday, November 2, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS, Monday, November 3, Melkweg, Amsterdam, BOB DYLAN, Tuesday, Wed, November 4 & 5, AFAS Live, Amsterdam, ROBERT JAN STIPS (STIPS/GOULDING), Sunday, November 9, Patronaat, Haarlem, BLOF, Sunday, November 9, Victoria, Alkmaar, THE WATCH PLAYS GENESIS, Thursday, November 13, Victoria, Alkmaar, MOON SAFARI, Saturday, November 22, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, SUE THE NIGHT, Thursday, November 27, Paradiso, Amsterdam, HOWARD JONES, Thursday, November 27, Philharmonie, Haarlem, KRAFTWERK, Tuesday, December 2, Afas live, Amsterdam, MARILLION, Sat, Sun, December 6, 7, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, IQ CHRISTMAS BASH, Saturday, December 13, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, KATATONIA, Sunday, December 14, Melkweg, Amsterdam, JAN AKKERMAN, Wednesday, December 24, Laurentz, Heemskerk, MOTHERSHIP - LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE, Friday, January 23, Victoria, Alkmaar, MIDWINTER PROG FESTIVAL, Saturday, February 7, TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht, DAVID BYRNE, Sunday, February 15, Afas Live, Amsterdam, CRUISE TO THE EDGE (MIAMI, KEY WEST, NASSAU). Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, March 4-9, JADIS, Saturday, March 7, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, CHAD WACKERMAN & THE L.A. ALL-STARS, Sunday, March 8, Boerderij, Zoetermeer, WISHBONE ASH, Wednesday, May 6, Victorie, Alkmaar, INTERVIEW INVITATIONS ARE WELCOME. SPECIALS - Recent guests include "The Rushians" Rush Tribute Band guitarist (September 2, 2025) RONALD TEN BOS, Idaho, U.S.A. born singer/songwriter SHELLY PAGE (June 3, 2025), Flower Kings guitarist/singer ROINE STOLT (January 26, 2025), Caravan keyboardist DAVE SINCLAIR (November 8, 2024), guitarist ANTON ROOLAART, Renaissance keyboardist RAVE TESAR (September 3, 2024), Hatfield & the North singer/bassist RICHARD SINCLAIR (June 4, 2024), Irishman BEN REEL (April 16, 2024), and Renaissance singer ANNIE HASLAM (RENAISSANCE) (December 26, 2023). Other recent guests are mentioned on the "Mark from Holland" Facebook page. "PLACES AND FACES" - LONDON (May 7, 2025 - May 12, 2025). HOLLAND AMERICA LINE from FORT LAUDERDALE, FL to ARUBA and CURACAO. Also visited friends and relatives in the TAMPA area. (February 11, 2025 to March 7, 2025). JAPAN (November 5, 2024 to November 15, 2024). Rode the Hayabusa and Kumachi High Speed Trains to TOKYO, OSAKA, KYOTO, MORIOKA, FUKUAMA with MAAIKE BOOTS TRAVEL COUNSELLOR. Took the train to GHENT, BELGIUM. Visited the World War I battlefields of the Somme near ARRAS, FRANCE (June 22 - June 24, 2024). Accompanied a friend to ITALY via SWITZERLAND. Came back through AUSTRIA and GERMANY (May 26, 2024 - June 7, 2024). SCENIC OPAL CRUISE from VIENNA, AUSTRIA to BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (April 28 - May 2, 2024). LONDON and the historic "Roman Empire City" of BATH, ENGLAND (March 20 - 24, 2024). Tui Travel group trip to JAVA and BALI in INDONESIA (Feb. 6 to Feb 22, 2024). Spent 10 days in NEWTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA visiting family (December 17 to December 27, 2023). Rail journey to BADEN-BADEN, GERMANY, (Aug 9, 10, 11, 2023). Attended the "SUMMER FOG (PROG) FESTIVAL" in KATOWICE, POLAND, (July 14-15, 2023). Drove via CZECH REPUBLIC, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, HUNGARY, & SLOVENIA to CASTELFIDARDO, ITALY, with American author JAMES ULMER. Interviewed Mr. Ulmer for the radio show. Traveled back from Italy via INTERRAIL (July 16 - July 25, 2023). LONDON on KLM (May 2 - May 7, 2023). PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A. on the AMERICAN AIRLINES "DREAMLINER" (July 2 - July 16, 2022). GERMANY, DENMARK, SWEDEN, AND FINLAND by FLIXBUS and VIKING LINE with Finnish musician Parsey Herkola (June 22 - June 26, 2022). NIGHT OF THE PROG FESTIVAL in Loreley, Germany (July 22 & 23, 2022). LONDON (September 22 - September 25, 2022). Traveled back on a EUROSTAR high speed train. Rental car, bus and train from FARO, PORTUGAL to Amsterdam Sloterdijk (October 11 - October 20, 2022). 
Mayor Alexander Luijten awards Mark with an “honorary medal” (May 30, 2023). - Photo: Hans Janssen. BRIEF C.V. of MARK C. DEREN - grew up in a small town called HOLLAND, PENNSYLVANIA. Since March, 1993, have been residing in North Holland, Netherlands (See “biography”). First broadcast occurred on March 5, 1995. Have interviewed the pioneers, such as Thijs van Leer (FOCUS), Jon Anderson (YES), Keith Emerson (EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER), Dave Greenslade (GREENSLADE), Peter Hammill (VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR), Steve Hackett (GENESIS), Andrew Latimer (CAMEL), Richard Sinclair (CARAVAN), Kerry Minnear (GENTLE GIANT), Ian Anderson (JETHRO TULL), Paul Carrack (MIKE & THE MECHANICS), Bill Bruford (KING CRIMSON), Roger Hodgson (SUPERTRAMP), Annie Haslam (RENAISSANCE), etc. See "interviews” section.) First international trip was to AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND. Was 18 years-old. On this great adventure, hitch-hiked roughly 12,500 miles (20,000 KM) over a seven month period. Two years later, hitch-hiked across ALASKA with my girlfriend. Sailed to Kodiak Island and camped amongst bears and bald eagles. Also a highlight, were the luxury safaris in KENYA, EGYPT, INDIA, and NEPAL. Started off as a wrestler, but switched to diving in the middle of 11th grade. Learned quickly and earned an athletic scholarship to RIDER UNIVERSITY in NEW JERSEY. Received a B.A. in JOURNALISM. Became a NJ "Collegiate" State Springboard Diving Champion. Also coached diving on both the High School and NCAA DIVISION 1 collegiate levels. Shortly thereafter (1985-1990), met a variety of WORLD LEADERS and LUMINARIES as business manager to the world renowned PALM BEACH, FLORIDA portrait painter RALPH WOLFE COWAN (see "Business" section). Cowan (December 16, 1931 - September 4, 2018), originally from Portsmouth, Virginia, had the distinction of having painted more diverse "heads of state" than any other portrait painter. "R.W." and I traveled in FIRST CLASS to fine homes and palaces around the world. Beginning at age 11, also worked as a golf course caddy, lifeguard, bartender, car salesman, photographer, customer service agent, and travel agent. For the past 30 years, have done my radio show and promotion work as a gratuitous service to striving, as well as, established musicians. In my spare time, have visited bands around Europe. Passed the state exams for Dutch as a second language. Worked for 17 years at ZWEMBAD DE WATERAKKERS (swimming and recreation complex) in Heemskerk. "FOOTNOTES IN ART HISTORY"- Mr. Cowan got commissioned to paint portraits of PRESIDENT SHEIKH ZAYED BIN SULTAN AL NAHYAN of the UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. I arranged the trip. Following our arrival, we got transported to the Sheik’s private island on a French Puma military helicopter surrounded by armed guards. Photographed the president, got the contracts signed and enjoyed a sumptuous feast, seated right across from “His Highness.” What a conversation ! Met U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP (1987) in WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, several weeks after delivering a Cowan portrait to his newly purchased Mar-a-Lago estate. Cowan also painted the ROYAL FAMILY OF BRUNEI. I accompanied the maestro on his last of his five visits to the Sultan’s palace in BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN. Stayed in Brunei for a whole month. In our leisure time, went to the beach, took boat trips into the Malaysian jungle and dined at the polo club. Attended parties of PHILIPPINES FIRST LADY IMELDA MARCOS. Mrs. Marcos promoted Cowan’s palace portraits on her state visits. She once sang “Feelings” to me, accompanied by acclaimed pianist Van Cliburn. Another time, I gave HSH PRINCE ALBERT II OF MONACO a tour of the Cowan home and studio in West Palm Beach. His beloved Mother had been one of Cowan's greatest patrons. There had also been other world leaders on Cowan's waiting list. 
Interviewing Arena at the "Stairway to Heaven” in Utrecht, NL MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS- Interviewed by the NOORDHOLLANDS DAGBLAD, regarding the 30 year anniversary of the radio show (March 25, 2025). Appeared in a video clip on RTV HEEMSKERK (March 18, 2024). Was called on the eve of the 2024 U.S. election (November 4, 2024) for my opinion about the candidates. Took that call in Kyoto, Japan. On December 3, 2022, was featured in an article in the DAGBLAD KENNEMERLAND concerning the U.S.A. vs. Netherlands World Cup match. On November 4, 2020, was interviewed on the popular Dutch television program "HART VAN NEDERLAND" regarding the 2020 election in America. On March 3, 2020, was featured in the NOORDHOLLANDS DAGBLAD, regarding my 25th anniversary on Radio Heemskerk. On January 12, 2018, appeared on the front page of the DE VOLKSKRANT in an article written by famous Dutch author JOHN SCHOORL. The topic of the article was the now iconic Ralph Wolfe Cowan portrait of DONALD J. TRUMP in a tennis sweater. (This, then, brand new resident of Palm Beach was to become the 45th and 47th President of the United States of America). Had delivered that portrait to MAR-A-LAGO, PALM BEACH in 1987. A few weeks later, met Mr. Trump at a signing of his new book, “The Art of the Deal." When I asked Mr.Trump how he liked the portrait, he said, "I think it's fantastic," followed by a big smile. Was also interviewed about the portrait by the popular TV host MATTHIJS VAN NIEUWKERK on the Dutch television program DE WERELD DRAAIT DOOR. The broadcast was seen live by apx. 2 1/2 million viewers. Interviews with Radio North Holland and Heemskerk FM followed, shortly thereafter. Further back: On August 23, 2000 was featured on "page 5" of DE TELEGRAAF. 
Invited on prime time TV to tell the story about Cowan’s portrait of Donald J. Trump (January 12, 2018). THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES: Albania-Argentina-Armenia-Aruba-Austria-Australia-Bahamas-Belgium-Belize-Bosnia Hercegovina-Brunei-Bulgaria-Cambodia-Canada-Cape Verde-Chile-China-Croatia-Curacao-Czech Republic-Denmark-Egypt-England-Estonia-Finland-France-Germany-Georgia-Greece-Hungary-Iceland-India-Indonesia-Ireland-Isle of Man-Israel-Italy-Japan-Jordon-Kenya-Latvia-Lichtenstein-Lithuania-Luxembourg-Macedonia-Malaysia-Mexico-Monaco-Montenegro-Morocco-Nepal-Netherlands-New Zealand-Northern Ireland-Norway-Oman-Peru-Poland-Portugal-Qatar-Romania-Russia-Scotland-Serbia-Singapore-Slovakia-Slovenia-Spain-Sweden-Switzerland-Tanzania-Thailand-Turkey-Ukraine-United Arab Emirates-United States of America-Vatican-Wales. |
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