Through her father she came into contact with the Belgian feminist movement and where she met Hélène Goblet d’Alviella and Jane Brigode.
When World War I broke out she started working as a nurse and joined the Union patriotique des femmes belges led by Jane Brigode.
Her health deteriorated during her stay in prison and in 1917 she was exchanged for Frau von Schnee, the wife of the governor of German East Africa.
As a member of the Union belge pour la Société des Nations, she had contacts with Paul Hymans, Pierre Orts [fr] and Jules Destrée.
When the Université Libre de Bruxelles had to close its doors by the Nazis, she provided space at her estate and a meeting place.