Trainee, Public Matters
In politics, it’s fifty percent about the content and fifty percent about strategy
Femke Halsema
2024
2023
MSc Dutch Politics, Leiden University
2023
Staff member, Studenten voor Leiden
2022
Project leader and Chair, Thinktank StudentenStad
2019
BSc Political Science, Leiden University
Trainee
From a young age, I’ve been fascinated by politics. When I turned eighteen, I was already on the list for the municipal party Progressief Landerd in my small municipality in the province of Brabant. I campaigned for the progressive voice in the community. Particularly, the power dynamics, the political game, and the role of the media in all of this intrigue me. That’s why I quickly knew I wanted to study political science, and the choice to do so in Leiden was an easy one: I wanted to be as close as possible to The Hague. Dutch politics is what attracts me the most, which is why I’ve now started the master’s program in Dutch Politics, also in Leiden. Besides my studies, I work as a staff member for the student party in the municipality of Leiden, called Studenten voor Leiden. There I experience (local) politics from very close quarters. I also did consultancy work for a while in the role of project leader and chairman at the ThinkThank StudentenStad in Leiden. I felt it was time for the next step, and that was gaining practical experience. The choice fell on public affairs consultancy and lobbying because I find the intersection between the political, social and commercial aspects very interesting.
Personal
In my free time, I enjoy meeting up with friends, and I’m often found in the city. Additionally, I love travelling, exploring new cultures and seeking for adventure.
Public matters