Barbara Kathmann

Summary

Barbara Kathmann is born in Rotterdam on 12 May 1978 and lives in Rotterdam. She is in total 1113 days active in the House of Representatives.

Social media links

Biography

"Man's environment is his fellow man"

I am a doer, an optimist, and a problem-solver at heart. That’ i why I co-founded Stichting Jarige Job with my husband. Our birthday boxes for children living in poverty contain everything they need for a great day, from a garlands to treats, and even presents. On top of that, they help create awareness about poverty and how it affects children.

Inequality

My mission is to take a stand against inequality. The House of Representatives needs people who can turn their ideals into attainable plans to make the Netherlands a better place. We live in a world where people and our planet are exploited and we have to find a different way. Tech giants should no longer be allowed to evade taxes and those responsible should pay the bill: polluters, multinationals and any other company that benefits from our society but does not contribute to it. The government has a duty to ensure that everyone has a home. That too is an issue we have to solve.

Fellow man

I live in Rotterdam and I often marvel at beautiful quotes that adorn the buildings. "Alles van waarde is weerloos" (Everything precious is vulnerable), which is on the library, is one of my favourites. My absolute favourite quote is "de omgeving van de mens is de medemens” (man’s environment is his fellow man), by Jules Deelder, suggesting that people can only be happy if the people around them are too. I love the words ‘fellow man’. At the end of the day, we are just human beings. “And we’ll all die some day”, Deelder would have added. While we are all here together, let us make something of our time here.

Education

  • History of International Relations, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 1999-2007
  • Law, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 1997-1999

Career

  • Alderman, PvdA / Rotterdam City Council, Rotterdam, 2018-2021
  • PvdA Rotterdam Party leader / group chairman, PvdA, Roterdam, 2017-2018
  • PvdA Municipal councilor, PvdA, Rotterdam, 2014-2018
  • Director, Giovanni van Bronckhorst Foundation, Rotterdam, 2012-2018
  • Program maker, CCCP Rotterdam, Rotterdam, 2011
  • City manager, Nederland Cares, Rotterdam, 2011-2012
  • Voice Over, Praatgraag, Rotterdam, 2010-2018
  • Program maker Radio 1, Omroep LLiNK, Rotterdam 2005-2010

Committees