Welcoming Wassenaar

Let's live up to our name 'Hospitable Wassenaar' together!

As many as one in five residents of Wassenaar is considered an international, coming from distant and not-so-distant countries such as America, England, France, Germany, and Sweden. They have come to the Netherlands for work and/or love.
Previously, they were referred to as expats, but that term is less applicable now. An expat typically returns to their home country after a year or two, but nowadays, many internationals live here for a longer period. Some even choose to stay forever and become official Dutch citizens.

Many internationals work in or around Wassenaar, for example at Estec in Noordwijk, the International Criminal Court in The Hague, at Sciencepark in Leiden, or at Ikea in Delft. The fact that they choose Wassenaar as their place to live aligns well with the motives of many people who reside here long-term. Our village is characterized by its greenery, it is a safe place to stay, and it is known for its excellent education opportunities, such as the American School of The Hague (ASH) and the international department of Rijnlands Lyceum Wassenaar. I also know that internationals love the convenience of "just biking" to their school or workplace.

Wassenaarders, especially repats who have lived abroad for some time, have grown up in this international community and are accustomed to the prevalent use of English. However, as these residents stay longer and their children attend local schools, things have changed somewhat. Therefore, the Mayor and Aldermen have placed a strong emphasis on connecting with internationals and explicitly included this in the coalition agreement. Currently, research is being conducted to determine any additional needs of this large group.

We would like to make an effort to further involve internationals in our society. We hope they will engage in and contribute to our sports clubs, associations, and volunteer work, helping to create better and more beautiful neighbourhoods. This begins with getting to know one another, and the municipality is happy to assist by organizing introductory meetings, for example. It would be wonderful if people quickly feel completely at home in our beautiful village and get acquainted with our local businesses, the library, Warenar, the swimming pool, and also the Volunteer Centre, just to name a few important institutions.

To achieve this, we need every resident. We can ask our (international) neighbors if there's anything we can do for them. Engaging in conversation and having an eye for one another.

Let's live up to our name as 'Hospitable Wassenaar' together!

Leendert de Lange
Mayor of Wassenaar

The bond between Wassenaar and the American School is special 

Did you know that the American School of The Hague (ASH) has a total of 1,089 students? That 31% of them are American? And that students from 74 different nationalities attend the school? These are remarkable figures hidden within the various campuses of ASH, with the large blue, wavy building on Rijksstraatweg being the most well-known. Many of the families of the students live in Wassenaar. ASH does everything possible to provide them with a "safe haven." Connections are made in various areas, with particular attention given to the volunteer work of the students.

Connection

The connection between ASH and the Wassenaar community is evident from the explanation provided by Courtney Lowe, the director of ASH: "We bring young, energetic talent to Wassenaar. Not only employees, but also all the families with children who attend school here. We are the largest employer in the village, and it is safe to say that together we make an important and sustainable economic contribution to the community." The contributions to the local community go far beyond this: art, education, and volunteer work, just to name a few. Courtney says, "We actively engage in environmental initiatives, enjoy collaborating with local clubs and organizations such as Excelsior, and we also volunteer to assist refugees who have sought refuge in Wassenaar."

Living in Wassenaar

Max, a student in the second year of high school, talks about his life in Wassenaar: "All my friends live here. Everything is close by—the shops, supermarket, and the soccer field. It may be a small village, but it has everything I need, and it's peaceful." Jennie and Corey Andreassen, teachers, confirm this: "Our neighbours are fantastic. Friendly, helpful, and always willing to assist when we have questions. In return, we do our best to learn Dutch, and people certainly appreciate that. Additionally, we love nature, the beach, the forests, and we also enjoy going to our favourite pub, Rooie Cor. And of course, we do a lot of cycling! The road from Wassenaar to The Hague, the estate route, is truly beautiful!" Alette Bansema, an alumna (2012) of ASH who returned as a teacher in 2020, says, "Upon returning, I immediately reconnected with the Langstraat and the familiar spots I used to visit with my friends and classmates (such as Bagel Alley and Luciano). I have fond memories of my time at ASH as a student, and living in Wassenaar certainly contributed to that. It was nice to grow up here! I find it fun and special to experience life in Wassenaar as an adult while still being connected to ASH."

New to Wassenaar

When someone is "new" to Wassenaar, Ann Wiederhold is there for them. She is the so-called "Middle School Counselor": "When students enrol, I have a conversation with the family. If they don't yet know where to live, I encourage them to settle in Wassenaar because it is a great place. Children can easily visit each other outside of school, often on their own, which is good for their social development." Parents of students contribute greatly to welcoming new ASH families. There is a group of parent volunteers and employees called "MMN." They organize a meeting every Monday to provide explanations on relevant topics such as how insurance works, where to find a doctor, and what the traffic rules are in the Netherlands. Amanda Miles, co-chair of MMN, says, "We also organize a special event every year: we take the new Wassenaar residents to Langstraat and Luifelbaan to introduce them to the shop owners and all the products. It's always a success."

Volunteer Work

Bas Dankaerts, volunteer work coordinator, explains that it's not only parents and teachers who contribute to society: "A good example is our sustainable partnership with Lentevreugd. Our students visit the area as part of their classroom activities, learning about animal habitats and the species that have traditionally been present here. We also have many students who are involved as individual volunteers, for example, at the children's farm. They help with feeding the animals and keeping the stables clean on their free Saturdays. At Duinstede, the nursing home next to ASH, students help with delivering evening meals and taking care of the garden, and they assist Ukrainian refugees in Wassenaar. A very recent example is a volleyball activity they organized. Our students learn tremendously from this work, and as a school, we consider it very important. We are always looking for new organizations that can offer volunteer work or internships, providing our students with the opportunity to learn something valuable while also benefiting from our students' talents!"

If you would like more information about the American School of The Hague, please visit their website www.ash.nl.

Five Questions to…

From this January, Bibi Loeven has been involved as an intern in assisting with the preparation of a policy paper for and about international residents of Wassenaar. Her role can also be described as a junior advisor for Internationals.

The so-called "internationalization" in our village has greatly increased in the past 10 years, and it appears that the new residents of Wassenaar are staying longer as well. One in five residents of Wassenaar has an international background. That is why specific policies for this target group are urgently needed.

How can we involve internationals in our local community, what do they miss, and how can we as the local government respond to the questions and needs within this community?

Who are you?

My name is Bibi, I live in Amsterdam, and I completed my Bachelor's degree in Political Science at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) in December. Since I will be starting my master's degree in September, focusing the Middle East, I wanted to gain work experience in an international context in the meantime. I was considering a position at the municipality of The Hague, but Wassenaar, as an expat hotspot, appealed to me even more. Perhaps also because my grandparents used to live here.
 

It has proven to be a good choice! There is a lot to do in the field of Internationals. For example, I was able to continue working on the Nota Internationals, provide support in the extensive contacts between the municipality and the ambassadors living in Wassenaar, and represent the municipality of Wassenaar at meetings in the region. And also important: I have discovered that the municipality has many tasks and responsibilities that it carries out, of which the majority of residents are unaware. That's why it's so nice to speak to international residents of Wassenaar who are happy and satisfied with the village and the services they receive here, especially when you consider that it can be very different abroad.

What have you done?

I've had so many conversations! With colleagues from the municipality, employees of embassies and schools, organizations like the Volunteer Centre, and of course, the internationals themselves. This way, I gained a better understanding of the community. It's also interesting to see that there are so many different nationalities living in Wassenaar. The largest groups are Americans and Brits, which makes sense given the presence of the American embassy and the American School. I also found it very special that I was able to prepare a visit by former Foreign Affairs Minister Jack Straw to the town hall, and I actually met him. Working for international Wassenaar is very diverse.

Are there any conclusions yet?

It is desirable to conduct further research, such as studying the economic impact of Internationals on the local economy. From facts and figures, the community's impact becomes even clearer, and it may reveal which policy measures should or could be taken for the future.

What's next?

My internship period ends in June, but they are already actively looking for a successor. The intern position will also be advertised on www.wassenaar.nl/vacatures. You must have at least a bachelor's degree to apply.

And how about you?

It was great to have the opportunity to work on this important topic here. I grew up in the city, but I find this village very appealing. The door is open to everyone here, and the sense of community is tremendous. The fascinating combination of an "international village" is fantastic. Moreover, this policy is still in its early stages, which was and is a wonderful challenge. I have been given all the freedom and support, and I believe I have truly accomplished something!