About Us

History

The Limburg Social Services came into being in large part as a response to the competition and overlap occurring between the various charities and agencies in many parts of Limburg in the Netherlands. The general lack of cooperation between organizations not only led to duplication, it also involved what was seen at the time as indiscriminate giving. Not enough detailed attention was given to examining the claims and needs of potential clients.

It was the human weakness of the social workers that was often to blame. Without training, and often without adequate preparation regarding the aims and purposes of the society they served, these good-hearted, somewhat sentimental workers all to often were taken in by apparent distress that they tended to give relief as a matter of course. This was put to put the best view on lack of discrimination, but less worthy motives were sometimes ascribed to them.

The Limburg Social Services developed links with high societies and helped to establish similar agencies in different parts of Netherland. Its emphasis on organization and upon investigation, when linked to notions such as the deserving and undeserving poor, and the significance of individual responsibility.

“You cannot push anyone up the ladder unless they are willing to climb.”