South Rotterdam is getting a citizen assembly on work and income security. The central question is: How do we work together to create more job opportunities that allow people to make a living? Every resident in South who wants to contribute can sign up. A lottery will be held from the registrations.

In this citizen assembly of the National Program Rotterdam-South (NPRZ). Link opens an external page, over 100 residents of South will come together: young and old, from different neighborhoods and backgrounds. They do not need to have specific knowledge about the topic. Personal knowledge, experiences, and questions are the starting point. Throughout the process, participants can exchange facts and opinions with each other and with experts, such as aid workers, employers, and benefit agencies.

Advice to NPRZ

From December 2025 to April 2026, participants will meet 6 times. They will gain knowledge and come up with solutions that provide residents of South with more and better job opportunities that allow for a decent living. Ultimately, they will formulate advice to the NPRZ. The NPRZ board will act on the advice if it is feasible and within legal bounds.

Diverse Composition Important

Every resident of South can sign up via www.nprz.nl/burgerberaadopzuid. Link opens an external page. Recruitment has already started. 15,000 randomly selected residents will receive a letter. People are also encouraged to sign up through posters, social media, and conversations. To ensure a diverse group of people participate in the citizen assembly, a lottery will be held from the registrations. Attention will be paid to a good distribution of age, gender, neighborhood, employment status, and education level.

Help from Residents Needed

The reason for this citizen assembly is that many residents of South face poverty and debt. Work is one of the most important means to escape these problems. More and more residents of South are finding work that allows them to make a living. A development that the NPRZ sees as hopeful, but not fast enough. Therefore, this citizen assembly calls for the help of residents. Internationally, it has been shown that citizen assemblies can be a good means to shape policy together with residents. Previously, Rotterdam had a climate citizen assembly.

More about NPRZ

In the National Program Rotterdam South (NPRZ). Link opens an external page, residents, the government, the municipality of Rotterdam, housing corporations, healthcare institutions, school boards, employers, police, the Public Prosecution Service, and the Dutch Reclassering work together to strengthen South Rotterdam. The goal is to improve the educational level, labor participation, and housing quality to the average of the four largest cities in the Netherlands within 20 years.