Connie Eggink began working for the Stichting Schiedamse Gemeenschap (Foundation Schiedam Community) and the VVV Tourist Information Office, as they were combined. She was around the age of 19 and had to be knowledgeable about various cultural groups, including music, theater, literature, primarily focused on amateur arts. The Schiedam community was tasked with managing youth exchange programs, supported by the municipality. The community published a periodical that documented these activities. The first time Connie had to organize a youth exchange program, there was a group coming from the three foreign countries that needed to be provided with a cultural program. Over time, Connie attended several meetings in Esslingen, where Otto Weinmann was a driving force. He was likely the director there and was very passionate about European ideals and the European thought. His enthusiasm inspired all involved. Participants in the program were required to stay with a host family for two weeks, followed by another two weeks hosting the participant from the other country. During the day, there was a cultural program, while evenings often featured disco nights, facilitating a different form of bonding. Being together for four weeks, including meals with participants' parents, led sometimes to discussions about WWII. Connie’s parents had anti-German sentiments due to their experiences during The war. However, through the exchange program, they recognized its importance in preventing a recurrence of such events and became supportive. Despite these serious discussions, participants also formed romantic relationships during the program. In Velenje during the Tito era, Connie experienced a different culture with language barriers and dictatorial restrictions. Despite feeling a sense of freedom as foreigners, the locals perceived many restrictions as normal. The leader of the first group, a journalist, was involved in a mysterious car accident the following year, reflecting a potentially precarious environment. Connie initially admired WWII resistance as a young girl, but began questioning her own bravery when she became responsible for children. While not inclined towards large demonstrations, she advocates defending democracy to prevent history from repeating itself. Connie finds the current disregard for democratic principles unsettling and fear the consequences of such complacency. (Project Friends in a Cold Climate 2023)

Friends in a Cold Climate: After the Second World War a number of friendship ties were established between towns in Europe. Citizens, council-officials and church representatives were looking for peace and prosperity in a still fragmented Europe. After a visit of the Royal Mens Choir Schiedam to Esslingen in 1963, representatives of Esslingen asked Schiedam to take part in friendly exchanges involving citizens and officials. The connections expanded and in 1970, in Esslingen, a circle of friends was established tying the towns Esslingen, Schiedam, Udine (IT) Velenje (SL) Vienne (F) and Neath together. Each town of this so called “Verbund der Ringpartnerstädte” had to keep in touch with at least 2 towns within the wider network. Friends in a Cold Climate looks primarily through the eyes the citizen-participant. Their motivation for taking part may vary. For example, is there a certain engagement with the European project? Did parents instil in their children a a message of fraternisation stemming from their experiences in WWII? Or did the participants only see youth exchange only as an opportunity for a trip to a foreign country? This latter motivation of taking part for other than Euro-idealistic reasons should however not be regarded as tourist or consumer-led behaviour. Following Michel de Certeau, Friends in a Cold Climate regards citizen-participants as a producers rather than as a consumers. A participant may "put to use" the Town Twinning facilities of travel and activities in his or her own way, regardless of the program.e

Integration of West-Europe after the Second World War was driven by a broad movement aimed at peace, security and prosperity. Organised youth exchange between European cities formed an important part of that movement. This research focuses on young people who, from the 1960s onwards, participated in international exchanges organised by twinned towns, also called jumelage. Friends in a Cold Climate asks about the interactions between young people while taking into account the organisational structures on a municipal level, The project investigates the role of the ideology of a united West-Europe, individual desires for travel and freedom, the upcoming discourse about the Second World War and the influence of the prevalent “counterculture” of that period, thus shedding a light on the formative years of European integration.