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In the Netherlands, women’s involvement in philanthropy started around 1850.
During the period of industrialisation, the social position of middle- and upper-class women changed. Before industrialisation, women were needed and, thus allowed to have a paid job and make money for the family. The increasing wealth that came with industrialisation diminished this need, and provided women with servants, leaving them with little to do but socialise. The only social functions middle- and upper-class women could have during industrialisation were charitable ones.
Women’s philanthropy in the Netherlands was driven by norms of compassion and Christianity. Women formed associations that aided the poor, ophans, and the ill, resulting in, among others, service organisations, which still exist in present day Netherlands; an example is the Soroptimist Club, a network of businesswomen supporting women’s charities.
Twentieth century feminism brought women more of the same rights as men, although in the Netherlands some of these rights came fairly late, with Dutch women only being allowed to vote from 1919. These equal rights were also reflected in philanthropy, when women’s and men’s giving started to resemble each other more. However, it is interesting to note that, at the beginning of the 21st century, most boards of charitable organisations and foundations in the Netherlands are still occupied by a majority of men.
Women generally occupy more practical functions with charitable organisations and foundations, such as tasks related to fundraising and helping people directly.
In the Netherlands it is very uncommon to openly discuss large charitable donations. In 2007, the magazine ‘Millionair’ published a list of the 25 largest charitable donors in the Netherlands, and there were only two women represented in that list.
Pamala Wiepking is a PhD student in Philanthropy/Sociology at the VU University Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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