Summary of College Decisions

Response to draft amendment Environmental Vision and Regulation Province of Utrecht and draft Utrecht Rural Area Program  

Province of Utrecht has shared new plans for the living environment. The Environmental Vision outlines the choices the province makes until 2050. The Environmental Regulation contains the related rules. The Utrecht Rural Area Program (UPLG) describes how the province wants to protect and improve the rural area. Municipality of Amersfoort has responded with an official reaction. We appreciate that the province takes a broad view of the living environment and with the UPLG takes steps to achieve goals and provide clarity. However, we ask for clearer choices, a good connection between city and countryside, and sufficient attention to the implementation of the plans.

Redesign Lisztstraat and surroundings DO  

The public space in the Componistenbuurt needs replacement and there is a severely outdated sewer system. There is already a separated sewer system in Componistenbuurt, but there are capacity problems. Therefore, the rainwater and wastewater sewers will be replaced. Stedin, the gas and electricity provider, will replace the brittle pipes in 2025 and 2026. Once the pipes are renewed and the pavement is broken up, reapplying the old pavement is not an option. Therefore, we will replace the tiles.  

The redesign will include parking spaces and strips. Addressing the Componistenbuurt offers the opportunity for more greenery and improvement of tree growth locations. The realization of a new sewer system improves the climate resilience of public space. Residents could view the design via the website and provide comments by email. Three residents evenings were organized where comments were addressed and additional information was gathered. This information led to adjustments in the design, especially regarding greenery and parking. The municipality informs residents and stakeholders about the projects progress through various channels such as residents letters, city messages, and the project website.

Inspection of Scope and Detail Level Note Environmental Heat Program  

By 2050, Amersfoort aims to be completely CO₂-neutral. It is important to stop using natural gas. How the municipality intends to do this is described in the Environmental Heat Program. Part of this program is a study on the environmental effects of alternative ways to heat houses and buildings. These effects will be investigated. How the research is conducted is described in the Draft Scope and Detail Level Note, which is available for inspection until March 5.

Appointment City Poet 2026 - 2028  

Amersfoort has a new city poet, Floris Huetink. He succeeds Tanja ter Brake. Every two years, a new city poet is elected in Amersfoort. The city poet is an ambassador of the city who, commissioned by the Municipality of Amersfoort, writes a poem twelve times a year about a self-chosen current theme in the city. The city poet was chosen from a broad representation of people from the city.

Chairmanship Broad Advisory Group Cultural Climate

The Broad Advisory Group Cultural Climate (BACK) is an independent committee advising the Amersfoort college on subsidizing professional art and culture. BACK consists of one chair and four members. The current chair, Ms. E. Drummen, has other duties and will step down as chair on February 12 but remains active as a BACK member. Ms. M. Beltman is BACK member and vice-chair and will become chair on February 11. Ms. P. Passchier resigned her membership on December 1, 2025. Recruitment for a new member will start soon. Meanwhile, BACK is capable of making decisions well.

Flash Impulse Makers and Talent Subsidy Scheme  

With the Flash Impulse Makers and Talent Subsidy Scheme, we stimulate artists and cultural makers in Amersfoort to keep the creative making process going within various art disciplines and to retain makers and talents for the profession. For 2026, €100,000 is available for four rounds, €25,000 per round. Budget not spent in one round will roll over to the next round.

Multimodal Network Framework  

The Municipality of Amersfoort wants to manage traffic smarter and more sustainably. With the Multimodal Network Framework (MNK), there is a new guideline whereby pedestrians, cyclists, and buses more often get green lights at traffic signals. This improves flow and makes traveling in Amersfoort faster and more pleasant. MNK ensures that traffic lights and traffic management are optimally used to keep the city accessible and livable.

Extension Appointment Core Team Members Inclusive City Think Tank  

Municipality of Amersfoort finds it important to use residents experiences to improve policy and implementation. Therefore, the Inclusive City Think Tank started at the end of 2021. The first term of several core team members has ended. These members are eager to continue their commitment. We therefore extend the period by four years.

RIB Monitor and Action Points Integration Amersfoort 2026 

The Municipality of Amersfoort monitors how the integration of status holders proceeds and investigates what goes well and what can improve. The Integration Monitor shows many status holders take steps towards work, education, or volunteering. Personal guidance works well. At the same time, the municipality sees where improvement is possible, for example by making trajectories more flexible and organizing agreements more clearly. The Early Start Integration Evaluation Report shows that starting integration while living in the asylum seekers center benefits both the status holder and society. Therefore, the municipality works in 2026 and 2027 with targeted action points so integration offers people faster perspective and remains good and affordable.

RIB Assessment Intergovernmental Supervision VTH, VTH Implementation Program 2026 and VTH Strategies  

With the U&H Strategies and the Implementation Program, we establish how we promote that Amersfoort is a safe and livable environment. The college decides to continue on the current path for permitting, supervision, and enforcement. By adopting these documents, the college also follows a large part of the recommendations of the Province of Utrecht as intergovernmental supervisor included in their assessments.

Binding Advice Municipal Council Hogeweg 261  

The initiator has been in dialogue with neighbors, both residents and businesses, throughout the entire planning process. In these conversations, concerns of the surroundings were discussed. The plans elaboration, the noise solution, and the formation of a residential buffer towards the adjacent industrial area are appreciated. Additionally, neighbors indicated they experience parking pressure from surrounding businesses. Therefore, sufficient parking spaces for new residents and work units will be realized. In a final meeting for stakeholders at the end of 2023, the amended plan was presented as included in the elaboration proposal. The over 30 attendees were unanimously positive about the plan. Wishes and concerns have been incorporated where possible in the current plan. 

Written Council Questions

The college answered the following council questions.

  • Taxi meeting behind closed doors

College Messages

The college established the following college messages.

  • Report Learning Together, Living Together – Education and participation of amv’ers in the Municipality of Amersfoort
  • Appointment City Poet
  • Announcement for additional seismic research into geothermal potential in the Amersfoort region

Documents

Curious about the underlying documents and published college messages?  View them on the Political Portal website(link is external).