Courtney van Rij
My name is Courtney Smith van Rij. I am originally from the United States and was born in Midland Texas in 1965. My father was in the oil business and I became an expat at the age of 3. I have lived in 7 countries on 3 continents but have called Wassenaar home for nearly 10 years.
As an experienced expat I believe I know what expats want and need when living in Wassenaar. When I arrived in 2000 there was a lack of information in English so I set up a volunteer initiative called the Welcome Basket. This basket helped the newcomer learn about local businesses while also being able to meet the Mayor. The Welcome Basket ran from 2005 till October 2009 when it was decided to start a ‘Welcome Drink’ that will begin in May 2010. This will be aimed at all newcomers Dutch and expat alike.
In the meantime I have also published 3 editions of ‘Living in Wassenaar’, which is a bi-lingual guide about Wassenaar and features a foreword by the mayor, a photo archive page as well as advertorials about shops, restaurants and services.
My goal as a long-term resident of Wassenaar and member of CDA is to make sure that all inhabitants, Dutch and expat, feel recognized, understood and taken care of.
One of the main ways, which I propose to ‘take care’ of Wassenaar residents, is by initiating a campaign to have clearer traffic signs (with indications in English where permitted) in order to ensure road and traffic safety. We have many people who come to Wassenaar to visit just for a few days (visitors to Duinrell for example) and many short-term expats who do not have time to learn Dutch. By having such a range of non-Dutch speaking persons as well as people from outside the European Union who may be uncertain as to our traffic symbols but who share the road with us, I firmly believe much more should and can be done.
I also believe in maintaining the green buffers, which Wassenaar has to the north and south of our town, as well as treating all residents, young and old, rich and poor, with dignity and respect.
I encourage you to vote CDA as we have your best interests at heart.
