Dear members of Amsterdam International Women,
How are you doing in this new year? Have you had the chance to rest, reflect on your life, set goals, and align your priorities? To me, this year smells like a new beginning, and I hope it brings the same sense of renewal to you. As I’ve been reflecting on my own journey, I feel encouraged to share my thoughts with you, especially regarding Amsterdam International Women.
After celebrating AIW’s 8th anniversary and witnessing its flourishing over these eight wonderful years, I am choosing to step into a new phase of balance and fulfilment. Over the years, I have poured my heart into this community—leading meetings, hosting key events, and always being open to everyone who reached out. This journey has been an incredible adventure, and I am deeply grateful for it. Stepping out of my comfort zone has brought immense personal growth. Being exposed to love, diverse cultural backgrounds, and worldviews has enriched and strengthened me, helping me overcome limitations. Today, I have a greater perspective on life, humanity, and cultures, thanks to you—the amazing ladies with whom I share the privilege of meeting as international women of Amsterdam. I have learned how to lead with intention, see beyond cultural layers, and break through superficial barriers to foster deep connections. These lessons have been invaluable.
At this point, however, I am dedicating more time to my family, personal projects, and preparing to return to my law studies, which I have long postponed. I’m truly happy with the new space I’m creating for myself. Going forward, I will shift to managing the community more from the background, allowing myself space and drawing confidence from the realization that I have built something solid enough to finally enjoy the stability I’ve accomplished over these years—both personally and within this community.
Like all of you, I want to host events only if, when, and how I feel like it—not out of obligation or to gain more members, but simply to party when I feel like partying, to hold talks when I feel like talking. More spontaneity, less business strategy. These changes are about introducing greater flexibility and spontaneity, with a focus on member-led initiatives within our community.
This brings me to a few updates and changes:
•Our classic Ladies Brunch in the Vondelpark will no longer be held monthly. Instead, I will welcome new members through video calls or in-person coffee meetings whenever possible. This gives me the chance to connect more deeply with each person we’re adding to the WhatsApp community. I will space out the Ladies Brunches, but they will remain our sparkling AIW open day—a chance to get to know new members and reconnect with old ones.
•Manage your membership: If you joined AIW specifically for the regular Ladies Brunch that I personally host, you are welcome to cancel your membership via the My Subscriptions page. If applicable, you can also request a proportional refund. If, for any other reason, you feel your time with AIW has fulfilled its purpose and you’re now looking in a different direction, that’s totally fine too. You can cancel, suspend, or generally manage your membership at any time via the My Subscriptions page: https://www.amsterdaminternationalwomen.com/account/my-subscriptions.
However, we kindly remind you that our WhatsApp groups and clubs are exclusive to active members. If you're no longer a member, we kindly ask you to leave the groups so we can maintain fairness to our paying members.
•Encouragement to organize events: I warmly encourage each of you to organize and host your own non-commercial events if you feel inspired to do so. I will continue bringing new members into the community and fostering a safe, supportive space for everyone. From this foundation, I hope you will feel empowered to create events that reflect your interests and passions.
•Club exclusivity: For those in leadership positions at the clubs, please remember that our gatherings remain exclusive to members who are already connected through our WhatsApp groups and clubs.
•For non-brunch attendees: If the Ladies Brunch that I personally host wasn’t part of your regular activities, there will be little change for you, if any.
•Explore the clubs: There are so many wonderful things happening within our clubs. I encourage you to dive in, discover, and create opportunities to connect, learn, and share.
We’ll continue ensuring that our WhatsApp groups and clubs remain a private, exclusive, and cozy space where you can safely interact and cultivate relationships.
I also want to make it clear that I do not rely on this income; my involvement with AIW has always been fuelled by passion and a personal mission to help internationals feel welcome in a foreign land. More than anything, I want to flow alongside you, enjoying this community as an equal—rather than feeling like a service provider in a transactional relationship. This perspective will continue to guide me as AIW evolves.
I look forward to continuing this journey with you all—just with a slightly different approach.
With gratitude and excitement for the future,
Paula Virgínia Kelder
Founder of AIW
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