Cor Dijkgraaf, who passed away on the 29th of March 2024, was director of IHS from 1977 to 1996. During his 19 years of directorship, IHS developed more and more from an institute initially focused on low-cost housing to an institute that focused on all aspects of urban development and management. IHS provided a quickly widening array of professional training programs, engaged in many long-term projects on capacity building and institutional development, and undertook research as well. In the mid-'90s, IHS started to develop its academic activities and launched its first Master’s programme. At the same time, Cor passed on the torch as a director.
Being just a Rotterdam-based director was not in line with Cor’s perception of his role. He, therefore, took an active role in all sorts of projects, initiated and contributed to dozens of conferences, and participated in endless meetings necessary to get projects going or bring projects that got stuck back on track. He built up a great network that he maintained very well. He was a great diplomat and showed a surprising amount of patience in sometimes lengthy talks where others would already have given up. Throughout his IHS time, he maintained a boyish enthusiasm in his work and was very dedicated to improving the quality of housing and cities for all their inhabitants. He had a genuine interest in people, the problems they faced, and in getting to know other cultures better. Countless are the many travels that he made for IHS to all parts of the world. Cor acted as if IHS was a centrepiece of combatting urban poverty and fostering sustainable urban development. This greatly contributed to the well-reputed and respected position of IHS internationally and provided so many participants with a place where they could develop themselves to subsequently contribute in one way or another to urban development.
Cor and his wife Anke were both very relation-oriented and hospitable. For many years, they opened their home and garden for a party for participants and staff, which was always a very memorable occasion for many.
In this tribute, we pay our last respects to Cor through the memories and small stories of former and several current IHS staff. We also show more of the history on which the IHS we know is founded and to which Cor has made such a significant contribution.
Monique Peltenburg and Paul Rabé
Cocky Adams
I worked for Cor at the secretariat in the Round Building at the end of the '80s. Working for Cor meant a great variety of tasks, all of them international. I cannot even begin to imagine how the way we worked then differs from the way we work now. Cor used an old-fashioned dictaphone with small tapes, which he gave me after his travels and included reports, assignments, etcetera.
Cor always sent postcards from all over the world to the secretariat, something I still miss up to this date. Cor came back from his travels with a lot of stories about whom he had worked with, at what ministry, and what places he had visited. At that time, his favourite destinations were Yemen and Indonesia. He once called me from Colombia, trying to inform me of something, but was interrupted by gunshots outside the hotel. He had great stories about visiting the Kingdom of Tonga, and a map of the island group hung in his office.
Cor was amazing with the students and attended most of the Friday night, once-a-month social evenings. The Round Building in the centre of Rotterdam was full of atmosphere, which made IHS an even more exceptional place to work. Everybody called Cor by his first name, except for Kees at the canteen, who kept calling him Mister Dijkgraaf until Cor retired.
It was a privilege to know this positive man who always seemed to be in a good mood. He meant so much to IHS!
Rudy Atman
Cor was a person with different facets. I happened to know him at his happiest, in a moment of joy, while being the centre of attention. It was during an excursion through the Rotterdam harbour, in 1995, in honour of the visit of Mr. Hendro Pranoto Suselo to IHS, with a group of Indonesian participants. They were all staff of Cipta Karya, Ministry of Public Works and Housing (PUPR). After Cor gave a brief welcome, the participants loudly applauded and sang an Indonesian tribute of joy. Although Cor did not understand the lyrics, he expressed his gratitude with his biggest happy smile. I noticed the joy on his face! When the song ended, he looked at me wondering what to say...or even better…sing in return!
This was the moment I learned that, in addition to being the director of IHS, he also had a highly qualified singing voice. It happened within seconds - he asked me in Dutch to participate with him in the song that every Dutch person would know. We sang loudly and clapping together, 'Lang zullen ze leven...'. To our astonishment, the driver also joined us….. and the participants as well! They sang together the Indonesian version, 'Panjang umurnya sereta muliya…'. It was an unforgettable day!
Ed Maan
Als oud medewerkers van het Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, IHS, geven wij blijk van onze enorme waardering voor wat Cor voor ons heeft betekend. Zijn inzet en enthousiasme waren tomeloos. Onder zijn leiding groeide het IHS uit tot een toonaangevend internationaal kenniscentrum, waar duizenden professionals uit de hele wereld internationale cursussen volgden en onderzoek deden, op vraagstukken als stedelijke armoede, huisvesting en lokaal bestuur. Ook als voorzitter van de Federatie voor Internationaal Onderwijs Instellingen, FION, was zijn bijdrage aan het Internationaal Onderwijs groot. In vele landen had hij zeer hechte vriendschappen; met oud-cursisten en met hooggeplaatste beleidsmakers en bewindslieden. Hij was een bijzonder creatief en doortastend mens. Wij en vele van onze collega’s in ontwikkelingslanden en oost- en midden Europa zijn hem veel dank verschuldigd.
Claudio Acioly
Cor was tireless in his work, which was grounded in his belief in development cooperation, international education and knowledge sharing as a transformative tool to address inequality and urban poverty in the world. This led to the establishment of several IHS-led training and capacity-building centres of excellence, funded by the Dutch Development Cooperation, in Tanzania, India, Egypt, Colombia, Indonesia, Peru, Sri Lanka, Ghana and so many others.
Peter Nientied
I worked with Cor for 12.5 years, and I have many memories, most of them about Cor as a friendly person, endless meetings with the Management Team, foreign jobs, and networking in The Hague within the political sector, which was necessary for IHS to maintain support for fellowships and for projects.
One of my early memories remains vivid in my mind. The then 5-month ICHPB course had a field trip abroad. I had just been appointed to IHS and could join students and staff on the trip to Tunisia. When we went back, I noticed at the check-in counter that I had forgotten my passport at the hotel and it was still in the custody of the reception. I had to report this to 'the director' and expected a reprimand. But no, Cor laughed about it and said it was a good experience and that IHS would pay the costs for a new ticket. He called it a 'company accident'. I was relieved and have never forgotten my passport again.
Rein Skinner
Cor was instrumental in starting my career in 1977. He was not the first Director of BIE (Bouwcentrum International Education), which was to become IHS, but he was the one who led it into truly international territory and established the three pillars of the Institute, that have lasted to this day: training/education, research and advisory. The work environment he oversaw gave free rein to creativity while expecting high standards. It may be better not to recount my most memorable anecdotes of Cor, but they all end up in the right place. What IHS gave me has stayed with me until today, including Julia Skinner, my wife, who is also a current IHS staff member (and course participant of the Cor era). Rest in Peace, Cor.
Forbes Davidson
I worked at IHS with Cor as director from 1984, coming directly from working in the field in Egypt. Cor had built an international and multidisciplinary team, mostly with a background of practice (only two at that time had a PhD). All staff were involved in the interview process, and once part of the team, you were given full responsibility for your work. Cor focused on the bigger picture and was a tireless lobbyist, networker, and a great believer in building and maintaining personal connections. No overseas visitor could come to Rotterdam without being taken to dinner, and many were invited to his home.
I found a poem that I wrote at his first farewell in 2004. It was rather long, and my usual groan-worthy rhymes, but I will share a couple of the verses. The name came from an occasion when travelling with Cor in Indonesia. When we arrived at our hotel, there was a prominent notice outside, “Welcome to Dick Ruff”, which Cor greatly appreciated, as he did Indonesia. The lines refer to the twice-yearly occasions when Cor invited everyone to a staff vs. participants football match in Prinsenbeek, which he refereed. It was followed by a buffet and drinks at his house. He also played a mean Sinter Klaas.
A poem for Dick Ruff
…
Cor excelled at occasions which needed some style
From boring old routine he’d run a mile.
Opening and closing of courses he did with great flair
A big smile on his face (but unruly hair)
Handing out diplomas for all to see
Doing it twice for photo opportunity.
Even better, on the football field
in black shorts and shirt, a mean whistle he did yield
For participants, always a special day-
Was the football, Cor’s house and the super buffet.
How many directors would take the chance
to welcome at home sixty participants?
Mobilising tennis club, children and his good wife Anke
Its something for which we have them all to thank
Cor later returned from Indonesia to IHS and worked for many years, building up the urban heritage area. Though he loved being director, he remained committed to the mission of IHS and was happy to play different roles.
