An Interview with Barbara Couwenbergh: from IWC with Love
By Ellen Brager.
The important function that the International Women’s Clubs fulfill is well known in diplomatic communities around the world. For many expat women it is an essential source of support to smooth their transition to a new post and their integration into a new culture.
While everything is unfamiliar upon arrival in a new country, the IWC is a safe haven of like-minded people who are experiencing the same challenges or have already overcome them, and are willing to share what they have learned in the process. The group is also strengthened by the many local members who are happy to share their vast resources at the various meetings and social events.
The IWC of The Hague was founded in 1978 and today counts more than 330 members from over 60 countries, including diplomats from China, Ireland, Lebanon, Taiwan, Cyprus, Ukraine, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The activities they organize range from historical and cultural excursions, arts and crafts activities, game and sports sessions to book clubs, language classes and lectures, as well as charity events and fundraisers.
On the second Monday of every month a special guest speaker is invited to speak at the Club Meeting about an important aspect of the local society, and once or twice a year the club organizes a Country Morning, during which the members of a specific country, with the participation of their Embassy, present their home country from all possible angles: history – culture – economy – tourism – cuisine – the arts. Most recently it was Mrs. Orsolya Szijjártó, Ambassador of Hungary, who presented her nation at such a Country Morning, treating the IWC members to a very interesting presentation that included a wonderful Hungarian mezzo soprano and fascinating Hungarian dances.
The guest speaker at the December Club Meeting was Roland Kieft, Artistic Director of the Residentie Orkest. After an introduction by Henriëtte van Aartsen, Honorary President of the Club, he took the audience on a virtual tour behind the scenes of this important The Hague orchestra.
These are just a few examples of the caliber of activities and events organized by the IWC for its members. It is obvious that such happenings require a lot of thought, planning, coordination and dedication. It is precisely this dedication that makes Barbara Couwenbergh stand out as the current President of the IWC of The Hague.
When she speaks about the Club it is clear that her heart and soul are in it. She became an active member in1994 and later took on the responsibilities of Program Manager, a job that she absolutely loved, so much so that when offered the Presidency she did not accept right away. Does she regret it? She admits that it was hard to hand over the Program Manager’s responsibilities to someone else with a different vision and approach, but that her position at the helm of the organization has allowed her to meet many interesting people and to learn about subjects she may not have known about otherwise. “Luckily I have a great example to follow in Hanneke van Eekelen, the original Founder and still Honorary Member”, she says. “I admire how she has been able to take the back seat despite her obvious emotional attachments. She is always available to give advice when I need it, but will never impose her opinion.”
Barbara was born in the Polish city of Łódź, often called the Manchester of the East as a result of its rapid growth in the mid 19th century due to the flourishing textile industry in which her ancestors played a major role.
As a young child Barbara moved with her parents to Straubing, a little village in Lower Bavaria, where she spent her childhood. She went on to study French Language & Literature at the Sorbonne in Paris where she met her husband, a Dutch tourist in the City of Love. He swept her off her feet and took her to Holland. They settled in Delft and once adjusted to her new life, she took up her studies again in Leiden, switching from French to German Language & Literature and adding a double major in Art History and Pedagogy.
It is evidence of her strong will and determination that she managed to finish her studies in only five years while having two young children at home. “Back then there was no consideration at the universities for married women with children”, she remembers, “they should better stay at home! And there were no computers. When we had to do research we had to spend hours in the library. It was not easy.”
With three degrees under her belt, she soon obtained a job at the Sorghvliet Gymnasium as a German teacher. “My first class was a disaster”, she recalls. “My Dutch was still not all that fluent and the teenagers I had to teach thought my accent was hilarious.” But she survived and later moved to the Lycée Français, a job she enjoyed a lot because it brought her memories from her time in Paris.
Now retired from her teaching job, she dedicates a good part of her time to the IWC. She has been a Board Member for the past three years and President since last year. It is with evident pride that she mentions that in the last month alone the Club added 26 new members. The vast majority are native English speakers, but many other countries are represented. Since the by-laws cap the Dutch membership at 25% there is a long waiting list of locals with an interest in the international community of their city. She is especially grateful to the very active Dutch members who donate so much time and resources for the benefit of the other members.
What are the conditions to become a member? Be able to communicate in English and be a woman. Anyone with a foreign nationality at birth is welcome, while Dutch membership is capped. Will the Club ever be open to men? “Who knows?”, says Barbara. “There has been some discussion about it in the past, but it is a delicate issue because of the international nature of the Club.” So, for the time being, Barbara’s mission is to serve international women only, a job she does with love.
Photography by Henry Arvidsson.
