CITY LINK LEIDEN-OXFORD

A tradition with a future1946 – to the present day

History

• Oxford, a university city on the Isis (Thames)

Leiden & Oxford

• Beginning in the Second World War: Albert Milhado

• Context: sport, broad exchange UK-NL• Elements linking elements L&O: university,

historic cities, waterways• Spring 1946 inaugural meeting – Oxford town hall• Netherlands: organisation• For decades: exchange visits, competitions

Leiden-Oxford in practice I

• Period 1946 until late 60s: mainly sport• Structure: board assisted by representatives

of various sports• Combination of competitions and social

activities, day trips, dinners, receptions• Mixed-sex groups of about 60 participants• Individual quirks determine character• Firm friendships: 7th. marriage in 1976

Leiden-Oxford in practice II• 1974 - Leiden-Oxford twinning formally confirmed by

the municipal council on 3rd. October • 1979 Oxford week in Leiden• “Competition”: 1981/83 municipal council favours

projects showing solidarity with the Third World • Diminishing subsidy?• Foundation (with mayor as chair)• 1890 onwards: Mayor and other visitors from Leiden at

Remembrance Day on 11th. November and Oxonians at the Commemeration of the Dead on 4th. May

Leiden-Oxford

Leiden-Oxford in practice III• Other twinning projects established: • Juigalpa (Nicaragua), Buffalo City (East London,

South Africa)• 1986 Dutch week in Oxford, pubs serving Dutch

food, 200 people from Leiden take part, K&G performance, Dutch event in park

• Jubilee window installed in city hall; a gift from Oxford

• Mollie Bateson foundation set up

Leiden-Oxford in practice IV• Situation quieter from 1987 onwards, • Organised group exchanges under pressure,

associations left to own devices as to timing of events• 1987 - Association of Friends of Oxford • Result: increase in private exchanges, but also 110

people from Leiden travelling to Oxford by coach with Albert Milhado

• Old soldiers take part in the procession on October 3rd. in 1990 and 1995

• 1996: Breestraat = Broadstreet, mosaic

Leiden-Oxford in practice V

• Period after 1996: both groups becoming older, individual jubilees, presentation of gold badges, etc.

• After 1997 traditional exchanges no longer take place• 1999 - Stichting Internationale Uitwisselingen

(Foundation for International Exchanges) replaced by Stichting Stedenband Leiden-Oxford (Foundation City Link Leiden-Oxford)

• Activities continue: private initiatives, City Link organises visits on 4th. and 5th. May, etc.

Leiden-Oxford: Future• Period after 2007/2008• Politics: different ideas, financial economies• Changing social context• Policy: formulation of profit• Necessity of transformation to include younger

people• Different areas of interest for the Foundation and

Friends• Foundation might take part in Leiden policies, such

as Leiden City of Knowledge, Health Ties Programme, Twinning manifesto

Leiden-Oxford: contact

• See the municipality’s website• Via www.leiden-oxford-link.nl• Roelof Hol, chair, roelof.hol@planet.nl

Leiden-Oxford