[citation needed] While sitting in the House of Representatives between 1994 and 2002, she was a member of the parliament's delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

[citation needed] During her time in office, van Ardenne focused on fragile states and countries in conflict, including Sudan.

[3] Van Ardenne was one of the first foreign dignitaries to visit Pakistan after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, to witness the emergency aid operation still being conducted at full capacity.

[6] In what was the single largest earmarked donation UNICEF had received in its then 60-year history, van Ardenne later pledged $201 million over four years to expand the agency's ongoing efforts to ensure that children in conflict, natural disasters and emerging from crisis can go to school.

[citation needed] On 30 March 2012, van Ardenne and several other prominent CDA members, including former Prime Ministers Ruud Lubbers and Piet de Jong, signed a petition of disapproval on the proposed cuts to the budget of international development by the first cabinet of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.