Women in Politics: The Voice of Fairness in Dutch Democracy. Daniëlle Helene Hirsch

 

Women in Politics: The Voice of Fairness in Dutch Democracy. Daniëlle Helene Hirsch

Daniëlle Helene Hirsch is a Dutch politician known for her lifelong commitment to fairness, sustainability and equality. Born in Amstelveen, the Netherlands, Hirsch built an impactful career long before entering politics. After studying economics, she worked across the world (in Mexico, Kenya and Paraguay), focusing on projects that merged international development with environmental protection. Her time abroad revealed the close link between inequality and environmental harm, showing her how those most affected by global decisions often have the least power to change them.

For over fifteen years, Hirsch served as director of Both ENDS, a Dutch non-governmental organisation, championing environmental justice and human rights. She worked hand-in-hand with local activists and grassroots movements around the world, advocating for climate action and social fairness. These years shaped her belief that real change comes not from confrontation, but from cooperation - a principle she carried with her into politics.

In 2023, Hirsch transitioned from activism to politics, winning a seat in the Dutch House of Representatives for the GroenLinks-PvdA alliance. Though she was not among the top-listed candidates, she earned her place through a surge of preference votes - a clear sign of public trust in her integrity and vision. Today, she channels her expertise in international trade and environmental activism into shaping fair, forward-looking policies for both the Netherlands and the global community. For Hirsch, politics is not about power or status - it is about giving a voice to those who are too often overlooked.

Defending Democracy and Diversity

To Daniëlle Hirsch, Dutch democracy still works, but it stands under growing pressure. She warns that the Netherlands has grown “too confident in its democratic stability,” calling it “naive” not to defend it more actively. Citizens, politicians and even the private sector, she says, too often take democracy for granted. Hirsch expresses deep concern about the “silence” of companies and the weakening of laws protecting climate, labor and the environment, as people turn their attention to the far right. 

Her feminist values shape her political lens. Hirsch views feminism as more than equality between men and women - it is about how decisions are made and whose voices are heard. True democracy, she says, requires that “the voices which are less well represented get enough airtime and enough power through the process to have an equal voice as those that normally dominate the conversation.”

This vision extends beyond gender to include minority and underrepresented communities. Hirsch thinks that equality is not merely numerical but structural - about influence, leadership, and decision-making power. While acknowledging progress, she criticizes the Netherlands as still “a fairly conservative country regarding women in politics,” pointing out the absence of a female prime minister and the “almost white” composition of political leadership - a reality she calls “ridiculous” and “shameful.”

Hirsch also highlights institutional biases that go beyond politics: for instance, the MijnNaamIsPeter campaign of 2022, which revealed there are more CEOs named Peter than female CEOs in the Netherlands. These ingrained biases, she notes, are not easy to dismantle. Some political parties have made strides toward gender balance, but others still exclude women entirely. For Hirsch, representation must be both quantitative and qualitative - women’s interests can be championed by both women and men, but they must be represented fairly and authentically.

To help women thrive in politics, Hirsch has created informal support networks (what she affectionately calls “witches’ circles”) where women encourage and empower each other away from the public eye. She believes these spaces are essential because being a woman in politics still demands “extra energy” to be taken seriously.

Like former Dutch politician Harry van Bommel, Hirsch believes democracy is still functioning, but only just. Both argue that democracy weakens when trust and participation decline. Hirsch adds another layer - it also fails when those with less power are not heard. For her, the protection of democracy begins with defending equal voices and fair procedures - the essence of her feminist philosophy.

Power Through Participation

For Daniëlle Hirsch, politics is not a pursuit of power - it is an act of participation. Guided by a principle she learned from her parents -“not to sit on the sidelines, but to actively try to improve the situation yourself” - she encourages active citizenship as a duty, not an option.

She recognizes the uphill climb for women in leadership, who often must “believe more in themselves than a man has to”. Yet she sees this as an opportunity, not a setback. Being underestimated, she notes, can open the door to “unexpected success”.

Hirsch insists that collective power is the key to overcoming institutional barriers: “You have to organize - and that’s on you”. Though she admits it may seem “unfair,” she believes that solidarity is the only way to create lasting change. “Against stronger forces, the only reaction is to hold on to each other,” she says, pointing to feminism as proof that unity can overcome entrenched power dynamics.

Her message goes beyond gender. Hirsch speaks directly to young people, urging them to stay engaged in shaping the world around them. She sees hope in their activism (from climate action to social justice) and reminds them that the most powerful tool for change remains participation. “Keep using your vote,” she urges.

Her optimism is practical, grounded in data and conviction: “Even on paper, it is proven that if you take care of women, young people, the planet, then your economy actually works better”.

For Hirsch, equality begins with awareness, grows through connection and flourishes with passion. She encourages people to act from joy, not duty: “Do something because you enjoy it. When you enjoy what you do, you are good at it - and that’s when you truly make a difference”.

Conclusion – Women at the Heart of Democracy

To Daniëlle Helene Hirsch, politics is not an aspiration to power but a call to action. Her career, from her fieldwork abroad to her leadership at Both ENDS and her current parliamentary role, illustrates a powerful truth: democracy thrives only when every voice is heard. She challenges the comfortable illusion that systems work simply because they exist, reminding us that democracy survives through participation, representation and shared responsibility.

Her journey shows that women’s involvement in democracy is not symbolic - it transforms how democracy itself operates. By ensuring decision-making includes those historically excluded, women strengthen both the fairness and resilience of democratic systems.

Hirsch’s feminism, rooted in collaboration rather than confrontation, reminds us that equality is not a secondary goal of democracy - it is its foundation. Her message is clear and urgent: when we speak up, organize and act collectively - not just for ourselves, but for those excluded from the conversation - real change begins.

In an era of widening divides and eroding trust, Hirsch’s hope is grounded in practice: fairness, equality and sustainability are not ideals, but everyday work. And, as she says:“If you do what you love, you get good at it. And if you get good at it, you can make a difference”.

 

The article was created within the framework of the European Union’s “Participate and Promote Democracy” project by young members of the Dutch organization Stichting Bright Future in collaboration with young members of the Armenian organization Promising Youth.