XLVIth Board
President
Dear members,
My name is Hidde Heijerman and in the coming year I have the honour of being the president and commissioner Dies of SPIL. As president I oversee the board and represent the association towards the outside world whilst as commissioner I organize the birthday (Dies Natalis) of the association. I am 19 years old and a second year student of International Politics. Currently I live in Leiden in the beautiful ‘Berenburcht’ but originally I am from Breukelen and Utrecht. I love (art-)history, reading and playing hockey.
Before becoming president, I chaired the Yearbook-committee and wrote for DEBAT. I still have fond memories of the many bondings with Yearbook, of coming up with Mango-puns for DEBAT but also of many embassy-visits and three lovely trips. For the coming year I am especially looking forward to interacting with a lot of members, fun and memorable common room shifts, even more fun and memorable activities and of course to being able to start the SPIL-anthem many times.
Hopefully I will see all you at the many activities and ‘borrels’ to come, and in both of the common rooms in Leiden and The Hague! I am really looking forward to it.
With SPIL-Yellow regards,
Hidde Heijerman
Contact: president@spilplaats.nl
Secretary
Dear SPIL’ers,
My name is Belle van Ineveld and I am the secretary of the 46th board of SPIL. I am twenty years old and a third year international politics student. I’m from Enkhuizen, which is a small old city on the IJsselmeer, but I live in The Hague now.
My first SPIL memory is going to the Mexican Embassy in 2025, where we learned about Mexico’s foreign feminist policy. It was really interesting and made me enthousiastic to join more SPIL activities. So, in my second year I joined the excursions committee and participated in the winter trip to Paris, SPIL weekend to Leige and many more events and activities which I enjoyed immensely. With the excursions committee we organised excursions to the Vatican Embassy, to the ICC, the Dutch parlement and many more.
This year, I’m looking forward to meeting lots of new people and going on our amazing trips and interesting activities. I hope to see you there and in our common rooms as well!
Love,
Belle
Contact: secretary@spilplaats.nl
Treasurer
Dear SPIL members,
My name is Rikus and I am the treasurer of the 46th board. I’m 19 years old and a second-year student of national politics.
I first got to know the SPIL during the freshman weekend, and since then I’ve become increasingly involved in the association. I joined the podcast committee and chaired SPILweekend and could often be found at activities and borrels. I also happily joined trips to Brussels, Paris, and Bangkok.
Outside of my studies and financial responsibilities, I enjoy reading, having dinner with friends, and making music.
I’m really looking forward to working with you all this year to shape our association both at home and abroad, and I hope to see you soon at one of our events!
With Spil-yellow greetings,
Rikus
Contact: treasurer@spilplaats.nl
Commissioner Education and Politics
Dear SPIL members,
My name is Antonina Basarab and I am honored to be the Commissioner Education and Politics & Commissioner Stairs Affairs for the 46th Board of SPIL. I am also a second-year International Relations and Organisations student in the Hague, originally from Poland, however, I must admit that the Netherlands has truly grown on me this past year.
My journey with SPIL began in September last year with the Lustrum Committee, where I had the chance to organise 2 weeks full of events for our members. Through this experience I got to know a lot of SPIL’ers which frankly was one of the reasons that motivated me to become a board member. My favourite memory from then is definitely the Gala where we danced the night away on Mount Olympus.
I am immensely excited for the coming year, providing quality educational events for all SPIL members, and representing You. I hope to see you then and in the common rooms!
With SPIL-yellow regards,
Antonina Basarab
Contact: educationpolitics@spilplaats.nl
Commissioner Global Relations
Dear SPIL’ers
My name is Olivia. and I’m the Commissioner of Global Relations of the 46th Board. That means I’m organising the Brussels, Winter and Sumer Trip this year! I am half Greek, half Polish and I am in my second year of IRO. I love literature, a good series and spending time with my friends.
Last year I joined SPIL as a treasurer of the Winter Trip. I have made one of my best memories of the year during that trip, like having an amazing dinner with my committee or bonding with the participants on a boat cruise. On that trip I have also met my fellow board members, Hidde, Belle and Rikus. Afterwards I was part of the Summer Trip Committee, hence i’m very excited to take more responsibility in planning the trips this year!
I’m looking forward to creating new amazing memories filled with events and borrels, but most importantly with trips!
Love,
Olivia
Contact: spilglobalrelations@gmail.com
Commissioner Internal Relations
Dear SPIL members,
My name is Gabriel and I’m so glad to be part of the XLVIth board of SPIL! I have the privilege of being Commissioner Internal Relations & Festive (as well as Vice President as side hustle) the upcoming year.
A bit more about the person behind the function: I am a 21-year-old Dutch-American student in his fourth year of IRO. I’ve been involved in SPIL for quite some time quite intensively already, which all started when I got dragged along to the Summer Trip to India by some friends in 2024. This amazing journey led to way more: involvement in the Dies committee hosting Frans Timmermans, the Weekend committee which led us to the unforgettable Leuven, and most recently the Yearbook committee that brought you ‘Above & Beyond’.
Besides tirelessly working for the association throughout the year, you can find me on the football pitch somewhere in the neighbourhood of Leiden with an infamous football team on Saturdays. Moreover, I enjoy singing in a choir and orchestra association on Monday evenings – if I’m not too busy that is.
I am extremely excited for everything that this year will bring, especially meeting all of you in the common rooms, at activities or some random place in-between.
See you soon!
Gabriel
Contact: internalrelations@spilplaats.nl
Commissioner External Relations
Dear SPIL’ers,
My name is Jagoda Pluskwa-Dąbrowska, and I am part of the 46th board! I’m Polish, specifically from Warsaw, which is my beloved city. During my board year I will also be completing my second year of International Relations and Organizations.
I joined SPIL during the Freshmen Weekend and shortly after became active by becoming the Secretary of the Summer Trip Committee, which was a great experience. One of the highlights of my SPIL journey so far was the Summer Trip to Thailand last year, where I met incredible people and created unforgettable memories.
This year, I’m really looking forward to working with my committees: creating the SPIL Instagram, building new partnerships, and taking a lot of photos. Most of all, I’m excited to experience it all with my fellow SPILers, get to know more of you, and help capture all the memories by creating recap videos or photo collages.
Love,
Jagoda
Contact: externalrelations@spilplaats.nl