With political speed dates, Rheden is already trying to recruit councilors: ‘Otherwise go to what parties: see if it clicks’

Suppose Kai Alberts, a social work of 24 years old, « I want to become politically active. What would you advise? »

Opposite him, at a table in the town hall of the Gelderse Rheden, is a councilor Hendri Witteveen (ChristenUnie). « The question is, » he answers, « how much time you want to spend on it. If you want to become seriously active: become a member of a party, go to meetings. And if you are appealed: say yes. »

Alberts: « But I can imagine that you don’t have an idé yet, if you are just starting as a councilor. What do you influence, and on which not? How do you deal with those doubts? »

By simply doing it, says Witteveen, already a councilor since 2003. « It can start small, by thinking as a member in a party, or by preparing an election program. I started working for a shadow group. Then I got a bit, but I had no idea at all from the political process. »

It is not a tennis club that you will become a member of

Exactly eight minutes, the ‘speed dates’ in which Rhedense councilors are questioned about the ins and outs of local politics. The questioners are mainly inhabitants who are considering the municipal elections of 2026 for one of the 27 council seats in which they took a seat this evening.

« You could visit some parties to see if it clicks, » Witteveen Alberts still says. « The election program does not say everything, the atmosphere is also important. It must be people with whom you can handle. » The two have not yet finished talking, but the chairman is inexorable: as soon as the time is over, the groups continue to the next group.

Fly

On March 18 next year, the Netherlands will choose new municipal councils – and around 8,500 council seats must be filled again. The run -up has already started in silence. Political parties invest members’ meetings, compile candidates committees, set up vacancies. But they also know: the application letters do not flow in automatically.

Because enthusiasm for the local administration there is little. Candidates usually mainly come from the active upper layer of society. It is often people who are already members of a political party, have already spoken to a council meeting or have gone to the doors to fly in earlier elections.

In the four evenings of the Politiek Actiek of Stichting ProDemos, it is nevertheless not a lack of interest: there were twice as many registrations as there was room. Rheden, a municipality of seven villages under Veluwezoom National Park, hopes to inspire residents to become active in local politics.

Han Meijer (63), one of the participants, no longer needs to be persuaded. The villager was a lifelong member of D66, but switched to Volt in the European elections from 2024. The local department of the party wants to make a shot next year at a place in the council and asked Meijer if he would feel something for that.

And he does. In daily life, Meijer advises municipalities on making homes more sustainable and sees where the spoke is going. « In my experience, municipalities mean very good, but often lacking the expertise. Giving criticism is always easy, » he adds. « But doing it yourself is a different story. I want to take on that challenge. »

Collect

Rosanna Huertas, who is Beter Rheden on her own, the four audience explains at her table that she should make choices. « You can be very reactive, follow what is on the agenda and give your input on it. But certainly as a one -man group you cannot be everywhere. Then it is nice if you can rely on other parties. »

« It strikes me that it is pretty pais and vree in the city council, » says resident Grieta Treensburg (54).

« There is a bit more pleasant with each other than in some other municipalities, » Huertas agrees. « In that respect it is quiet here. »

Tenburg: « And in what way not? »

Huertas: « It is political, so it remains a bit of a snake pit. »

Does Huertas sometimes think: why am I actually doing this, Tensburg wonders.

« I will no longer participate in the next term, » Huertas replies. « I remain active in the background, because I still like politics very much. But it has to suit you. I am too sensitive to it. I can collect a lot, but at some point I think: I still want this? Now I don’t want it for a while. »

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Photo Dieuwertje Bravenboer

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Photo Dieuwertje Bravenboer

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Photo Dieuwertje Bravenboer

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Photo Dieuwertje Bravenboer

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Photos Dieuwertje Bravenboer

Border

Not all councilors feel something for a new term. Usually a significant part does not return after elections. In Rheden was after the 2022 elections more than half Of the elected councilors new, nationally, according to the Dutch Association for Council members, 44 percent were involved.

On the one hand, this new growth is ‘refreshing’, says Bernadette Jansen, who takes care of the course on behalf of ProDemos. « It is not at all bad to get new people who, so to speak, ask stupid questions. But of course it is difficult if the council always renews a very large part. You will lose something. »

Sometimes dare to say no, even though democracy shouts

Jansen: « Experienced councilors have historical awareness, can go back to what has been agreed earlier or quote policy lines. That has added value. As a council member you are not in the short term – you are also there to think about what something means for ten years or twenty -five years. »

One of the reasons that council members drop out is the increased workload. In addition to money, the tasks that municipalities have received with decentralizations are also required. Where in 2007 council members spent an average of fourteen hours a week on council work – a secondary position – that was in 2024 according to the Basic monitor political office holders twenty hours.

« Make sure you know your own boundaries well, » advises councilor Willem Heesen (PvdA) interested parties. « And that you manage your agenda well. That is how it comes down to: that you sometimes dare to say no, even though democracy shouts. That doesn’t always feel good, but my children find just a little more important. »

Columbus

The PvdA group of Heesen will start for the first time with GroenLinks in the coming elections-and needs people. If a potential candidate appears, if he can say from his own experience, then the parties come to it ‘like flying on the syrup’. « You will have to have at least ten people on your list. You feel that pressure everywhere. »

Because a local party, says the councilor, simply has no inexhaustible pond to fish. « You have a number of sitting councilors, some board members and a handful of people who help with campaigns. » Those are, says Heesen, « grab it fifteen people. That is what the local party is. »

What is the best way to motivate people to join? « I haven’t found the egg of Columbus yet. »

It is not a tennis club that you will become a member of

The ProDemos course has in any case planted seeds. What Esther Mourning (43) convinced that he wanted to apply for the proportion of women in local politics: the Rheden city council has seven women, compared to twenty men. “That felt like an extra push in the back: well Esther, hup, action. That is allowed a little more fifty-fifty. « 

As a ‘first step’ she became a member of GroenLinks last week. She has already thought of the time she is on the train to work, she could use to read council pieces. « And I am an evening person, I think that is a big advantage. If most people get into bed, I can still grab a file. »

Not that she has already calculated herself rich with a place on the list, says Rouw. « It is not a tennis club that you just become a member of. And maybe it is a bit too early, that is of course also possible. Then I first have to be known for four years within the club and to participate in the next round. You will only find out in one way. »

She will soon be going on her hand at the members’ meeting of the local GroenLinks department.

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