Salwa van der Gaag

About Salwa van der Gaag

Salwa van der Gaag is a journalist, presenter, moderator, and chairperson. With her journalistic background and keen curiosity, she is able to lead conversations with strong content while keeping them accessible to a broad audience.

In recent years, Salwa worked as an explainer at NOS op 3, where she learned to translate complex topics into clear and understandable stories. She brings this experience to the stage: she asks sharp questions, listens attentively, and knows how to keep discussions clear and lively.

Salwa feels at home with themes such as journalism and media, social issues, diversity and inclusion, women’s emancipation, and the impact of world news on our daily lives. With her Palestinian background, she also has extensive knowledge of Palestine and the surrounding region. She can clearly explain geopolitical developments there and translate what they mean for people in the Netherlands. Later this year, her book on this subject will be published by Meulenhoff.

In her work, the human story is central. Due to her experience in current affairs, Salwa can quickly adapt and make complex topics understandable without losing nuance. She combines substantive depth with an open, engaged, and energetic conversational style.

For both NOS op 3 and Algemeen Dagblad, she interviewed a wide range of guests: from ministers and policymakers to concerned citizens and experts. With her team, she won De Loep twice, the most prestigious award for investigative journalism in the Netherlands, for research on social inequality.

Salwa also has extensive experience on stage. For two consecutive years, she presented a program about Palestine at Lowlands and led a series of public interviews at the town hall in Wageningen, including with former minister Jan Pronk. As a chairperson, she ensures focus, depth, and a conversation that actively involves both speakers and the audience.