Director Els Hertogen
Els Hertogen (1979) is general manager of 11.11.11, the Dome of International Solidarity.
In 2019, Els became general manager of 11.11.11. At that time, she already had 12 years of experience in the organization, 7 of which in management positions. Connecting people around inspiring ideas and having an impact on policy are the common thread in her work at 11.11.11She met countless volunteers, helped set up well-known campaigns and lobbied politicians for more international solidarity.
In 2021 she wrote her first book 'From Charitable to Just' and in 2024 she helped found the iconic '505 - Concerts for Humanity', which united more than 70.000 people before the elections - offline and online.
Would you like to stay informed about Els' opinions and positions?
Follow her on Bluesky via @elshertogen
From childhood, Els has been active in the area of injustice and inequality and an advocate of international solidarity. Els was brought up with social commitment: her parents were very socially involved, including in the 11.11.11-department in her birthplace Kiewit. As a child, Els went door to door. Or they went to Brussels to demonstrate against nuclear weapons. Her grandfather taught her that it is everyone's duty to see injustice and to act on it. She did so when she was eleven years old and saw the Gulf War break out on television.
Els studied Political Science at KU Leuven, where she specialized in International Relations. After her studies, she started as a researcher at the HIVA Research Institute for Labor and Society at KU Leuven. Later, she did academic research at UAntwerp on the importance of a strong local civil society, both in Flanders and worldwide.
In 2019, Els became general manager of 11.11.11. At that time, she already had 12 years of experience in the organization, 7 of which in management positions. Connecting people around inspiring ideas and having an impact on policy are the common thread in her work at 11.11.11She met countless volunteers, helped set up well-known campaigns and lobbied politicians for more international solidarity.
In 2021 she wrote her first book 'From Charitable to Just' and in 2024 she helped found the iconic '505 - Concerts for Humanity', which united more than 70.000 people before the elections - offline and online.
11.11.11 explicitly speaks out against the genocide in Gaza.
Els Hertogen was invited to the Afspraak on May 19. Rewatch her passage on Youtube.
On May 29, she was a guest on 'Gert's Table'. Rewatch this episode on Go Play.
Els was widely covered in the media following the mass demonstration in Brussels on 15 June. No fewer than 110.000 people drew a 'red line' and called on the Belgian government to take concrete action against the genocide in Gaza.
What does 11.11.11?
11.11.11 is the umbrella organization for International solidarity. With our expertise on international themes such as climate, migration and human rights, we campaign and engage in political debate. We stand up for long-term solutions and strive for real change. And we do not do this alone. Together with our international partners and a large movement of volunteers, donors, members and activists, we fight for a just world for everyone.
