Garrie Van Pinxteren, a renowned journalist and sinologist, has over twenty years of experience reporting on China. She plays an influential role as a senior research associate at the Clingendael Institute, an internationally focused think tank. Despite her professional life being well documented, Van Pinxteren tends to keep personal details, including her marital status and family history, away from public scrutiny. This discretion has piqued interest about her life outside of her professional commitments.
The renowned journalist and sinologist, Garrie Van Pinxteren, keeps her private affairs under wraps. As such, she has skillfully managed to keep her personal life, particularly her romantic involvements, out of the public domain. This has resulted in a sense of intrigue surrounding her life away from her professional commitments. Although Van Pinxteren has not officially confirmed the existence of a current partner, she has occasionally shared glimpses of her family life during interviews.
In these interactions, she has discussed her role as a mother, revealing that she has a daughter who was born in China and is fluent in Mandarin. Her daughter takes an active role in supporting her mother’s professional endeavours in China. However, Van Pinxteren has deliberately withheld information about her daughter’s father, which keeps the public speculating about the status of their relationship. This balance between her professional life and personal privacy adds to the intrigue surrounding Garrie Van Pinxteren’s life beyond journalism.
Born in the Netherlands, Garrie Van Pinxteren spent her early years in a small town near Utrecht. Her fascination with China and its rich culture led her to earn a Master’s degree in Sinology from Leiden University in 1988. Van Pinxteren’s life took a significant turn in 1982 when she travelled to Shanghai as a student of ancient Chinese history. This marked the beginning of over a decade of immersion in the cultural diversity of China.
Throughout this period, Van Pinxteren held various professional roles, including that of an interpreter, advisor, director, and correspondent. While she maintains privacy about her family, she acknowledges their support and their occasional visits to China. Proudly identifying as a Dutch citizen with a “Chinese heart,” Van Pinxteren expresses a profound sense of belonging to both nations.
Currently, she is engaged in doctoral research on journalists in China, proving that her life is deeply intertwined with China. Her journey is marked by academic pursuits and diverse roles within this culturally rich nation. She currently serves as a correspondent for Dutch media outlets NRC and NOS in East Asia.
