A Dutch entrepreneur, collector and patron of art. Born 5 February 1943 in Eindhoven. He is married and has two children. In 1969 he established Neways Electronics International N. V. Until 2000 he was the Chairman of the World Trade Centre in Eindhoven and other leading companies. In 1994 he financed the activities at the Yellow House of Vincent van Gogh in Poprad. Since 9 September 2000, the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum in Bratislava – Čunovo has become its continuation. He inspired and financed the launch of the Meulensteen Art Centre at the University of Technology in Eindhoven, which opened on 24 March 2001.
The centre offers artists from around the world the opportunity of working in its graphic, painting and sculpture studios. Until 2001 he was also the Chairman of the Emmasingel Foundation and a major sponsor of the Van Abbe Museum in Eindhoven. His art collection, acquired over the last 25 years, contains many remarkable works.
Since 2004 he has represented the Slovak Republic in the Netherlands as the Honorary Consul. Apart from the presentation of Slovak visual artists abroad, Gerard Meulensteen is also involved in the publication of a series of books entitled the Collection of Slovak Art. The activities of Gerard Meulensteen, and his promotion of art, particularly in the countries of the former Eastern Europe, will be fully appreciated by the future generations of artists and lovers of art.