My name is Harry van Veen, I’m a sworn translator Dutch <> English (Wbtv: 40853).
To perfect the translation of official documents that require official certification, I have specialized in legal translations, for which I have received extensive training.
Of course, I also handle regular translations that do not require official certification. For instance, I enjoy translating technical documents and anything related to human interest. You can find more about these topics below, under the headings: ‘Sworn’, ‘Legal’, ‘Financial’, ‘Tech’, and ‘Human’.
And for those who want to keep me close at hand: You can download my app here. An app? Yes, an app. Well, having an app might be a bit unusual for translators, but then again; convenience is key. So, have a go and see if it’s useful.
A sworn translator is a person who has all necessary skills and qualifications, prescribed by law, and is sworn in by a judge. This is considered the highest proof of competence in the Netherlands and goes beyond a certified translation. A sworn translation consists of three parts that are permanently bound together—for example, with an eyelet—: the translation, a statement by the sworn translator, and the source document: the translation, a statement by the sworn translator, and the source document. You need a sworn translation to register official documents (testaments, birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, marriage certificates, death certificates, emigration documents, divorce decrees, etc.) in a country with another language. Only sworn translators are able and authorized to provide these translations.
Many translators dislike translating notarial deeds, contracts, terms and conditions, disclaimers and the like, but I love it. I find such documents highly fascinating. They capture the essence of the matter as concisely as possible, using carefully chosen wording that includes everything that needs to be included and excludes everything that needs to be excluded. There’s no getting round it. The phrases often have a long history and have been perfected over time. Try to do better than that in your own words. That’s going to be a tough job.
I almost started studying economics, but lo and behold, I became a translator. However, my interest in economics has not disappeared. It led, among other things, to obtaining a basic diploma for the Dutch financial world (WFT basic) and helpdesk work in that sector during my training as a translator. And in terms of translation, the step from legal to financial translation work is not that big. After all, both involve documenting agreements, rights, obligations, and financial terms between parties.
Technology holds a special place in my heart. When I was young and had barely learned to walk, I would wobble over to my father whenever he was doing DIY around the house to watch intently what he was up to. It was the start of a lifelong fascination with technology, which gradually inspired me to build all sorts of things; from huts made of planks and branches to a powerful sound system made from old radios. At 18, I spent my savings on driving lessons and an old car that I learned to maintain in its entirety. When internet connections became available to consumers, I got one, even though I knew only one person with whom I could email. I immediately started building websites, for which you still had to learn HTML back then. And for as long as I can remember, ‘how-do-you-make-that’ programmes have been among my favourite TV shows. It will come as no surprise to anyone that I enjoy doing technical translations.
You never stop learning reading stories about our world and its inhabitants. Human interest! Some of my translation work, including that for the Red Cross, falls into this category. And I certainly hold that kind of translation work in high regard. It’s the icing on the cake.
My client base is very diverse; from individuals who, prior to buying a house in an English-speaking country, want to study the deed thoroughly, to multinational companies such as IBM, Microsoft, Allianz, Uber and Google who need their contracts translated.
