News & Events...
Looking for Iberian Peninsula volunteers and event hosts!
European Alumnae Symposium
Munich, Germany | November 1-3, 2024
Since 1987 Mount Holyoke alumnae have been gathering in cities around Europe to exchange ideas and reconnect with one another and the College.
The Mount Holyoke European Council European and the Alumnae Association invite alumnae to Save the Date for the next symposium in Munich, Germany. More details available here!
Lastly, the European Council offers travel grants and assistance to alumnae across Europe, so please don't let finances or registration fees put you off!
To view all Mount Holyoke events in Europe, please visit the Council of Europe calendar and, to keep up to date, subscribe to the quarterly Mount Holyoke newsletter for alumnae connected to Europe.
We are always looking for enthusiastic volunteers who want to get involved with the Mount Holyoke alumnae group of the Iberian Peninsula! Whether this is to host events, meet prospective students, host visiting alumnae or simply to offer advice to other alumnae in our community, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch via the form below!
About the club...
Who are we?
A friendly bunch of Mount Holyoke alumnae based throughout the Iberian Peninsula. Organised by Elizabeth Ta'eed '09 with the help and support of the 60+ MHC alums who live on the Peninsula.
What do we do?
The group organises a wide variety of events year-round for those wishing to stay in touch, form new friendships and generally share our love of Iberia's stunning scenery and vibrant culture.
How do you get involved?
All current students and MHC alumnae based in Spain, Portugal, Andorra and Gibraltar are already members! If you are interested in getting more involved, please do get in touch by filling out the contact form below, or joining our Facebook group. We also have a WhatsApp group of Portuguese alums.
Lastly, the Alumnae Association website offers a wealth of resources on upcoming events, and the MHC European Facebook page is a great way to stay in touch with alums across Europe.
Also remember to visit us on the Club of Iberia Facebook to stay up to date!
Gallery of past events...
Winery Tour & Tasting
23 March 2024, Estremoz, Portugal
We had a delicious wine tasting in Estremoz, nosing, swilling and sampling like pros. We toured the Tiago Cabaço Adega, a stunning winery just outside of town that bottles over 1 million bottles a year - well-worth a visit. We followed it up with dinner at Pateo de Solares, a local hotel and restaurant which was serving up borrego assado (roast lamb) to get in the mood for Easter!
Alumnae Lebanese Lunch in Lisbon
4 September 2023, Lisbon, Portugal
We had a lovely Lebanese lunch in Lisbon, attended by ten alums from all over, plus two honorary alums (spouses!), coming from Portugal, Japan, the UK, and the US! There were so many wonderful, surprising connections too, learning of paths crossing or almost crossing over the past decades across multiple countries, and finding new links that will absolutely inspire future gatherings. Elisabeth Ta'eed's '09 MHC tiger joined as well (small, but front and center on the table in the first photo).
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European Alumnae Symposia
October 14-15-16, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands
The 16th European Alumnae Symposium was held on 14-66 October 2022 in the Hague, with 149 alumnae and guests. Read all the details about it HERE or view the Alumnae Association’s GALLERY to see photos of the event!
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Virtual European Alumnae Symposia - Turkey: Perception & Reality
6 November 2021, Online
The first Mount Holyoke European Alumnae Virtual Symposium took place on November 6, 2021, offering participants an exciting opportunity for social and intellectual interaction with Mount Holyoke alums from all over the world, discussing women in Turkey, climate change and cultural motifs to the Journey of Anatolian Alcohol.
European Alumnae Symposia
4-6 October 2019, Athens & Fougaro, Greece
The 15th European Alumnae Symposium was held on 4-6 October 2019 in Greece and it was a great success, attracting 150 alumnae and guests. Read all the details about it HERE or view the Alumnae Association’s GALLERY to see photos of the event!
Alumnae of the Iberian Peninsula Drinks & Dinner
10th November 2018, Madrid
We met for pre-dinner drinks at a cervecería, and then enjoyed a decadent traditional Spanish dinner in the cosy dining room. We had a great time and all of us ate far too much... :-) The setting in the heart of Las Letras and the museum district, so this was a great excuse for a cultural excursion to Madrid!
Photos of the meeting and dinner are below, thank you to everyone who came!
Wonderful to catch-up!
Classic recipes cooked perfectly
With rich truffles and chupitos to finish
Pre-dinner drinks with a small but happy group :-)
Luncheon in a 17th Century Monastary
16th June 2018, Jesús Pobre, Alicante
Maaike Onkenhout Class of ’78 generously offered up her mother’s 17th century monastery and gardens for a Saturday lunch. El Monasterio de Jesús Pobre is 2000 m2 and filled with fascinating antiques from its 400-year-long history (it was constructed in 1649 for Franciscan monks). A beautiful backdrop for a lovely gathering!
Photos of the meeting and dinner are below, thank you to everyone who came!
MHC European Council Meeting & Dinner
23rd - 25th September 2016, MADRID
The MHC European Country Heads met in Madrid in September 2016 to discuss many things, including the next European Alumnae Symposium, which will be held in Riga, Latvia in 2017.
All alums and their families were invited to a pre-dinner drinks reception and dinner on the evening of Saturday 24 September. Several local alums and their partners joined us, wining and dining away the evening while chatting with the country heads of the other clubs from across Europe.
The pre-dinner drinks reception was graciously provided by the Council - thank you!
Photos of the meeting and dinner are below, including the moment when Barbara Schmidt (Irish Country Head) finished her tenure as Chair of the European Council and the election of Silvia Maulini (Netherlands Country Head) to take up the reins. Congratulations to Siliva!
Welcome Dinner Friday Night
European Council Country Heads
New and Old Chairs!
Country Heads & Local Alums
Eating well...
Pre-dinner drinks
After dinner :-)
Post-dinner drinks
Planning Riga!
Launch of the Mount Holyoke Club of the Iberian Peninsula
31st October 2015, MADRID
