Young voter from Dijk en Waard urges peers: Your vote shapes the future
Romello Christiaan, a 20-something athlete from Dijk en Waard, highlights why voting matters—even if politics feels distant. From housing struggles to sports access, he argues that every vote influences the future of communities, equality, and daily life.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Romello Christiaan |
| Age Group | Young adult (early 20s) |
| Location | Dijk en Waard, Noord-Holland |
| Occupation | Sports Science student, fitness industry worker |
| Key Concerns | Housing market, youth sports access, healthy living for future generations |
| Voting Motivation | Equality, future influence, and community impact |
| Quote | “If everyone thinks their vote doesn’t count, nothing will change.” |
This article was issued by a Dutch government-affiliated platform aiming to encourage civic participation, particularly among younger demographics. The government plays a role in promoting voter engagement through awareness campaigns and addressing societal concerns like housing and sports infrastructure.
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Read the full translated article below
Voter speaks out: “I don’t understand why you wouldn’t vote”
Romello Christiaan was born and raised in Dijk en Waard. Sport plays a major role in his life. He studies Sports Science, works in the fitness industry, and is active every day. He doesn’t follow politics closely, but he always votes. “I really don’t understand why you wouldn’t.”
‘If everyone thinks their vote doesn’t count, nothing will change’
A pleasant place to live
For Romello, Dijk en Waard is familiar territory. He grew up there, plays sports there, and still lives at home. “I don’t know anything else,” he says matter-of-factly. It’s not that he necessarily wants to spend his whole life there, but he doesn’t feel the need to leave either. He likes the size of the municipality. Big enough to have amenities, small enough to know people.
Much of his free time revolves around sports. Athletics, fitness, and the occasional trip to the cinema. For bigger films or more variety, he heads to Alkmaar. “It’s fine here, but sometimes you just miss that little extra.”
Being young and looking ahead
What concerns him most right now is the housing market. Not because he wants to move tomorrow, but because he’s already looking ahead. “You start thinking about it. What will be possible, what won’t?” Many of his peers in the area still live at home, sometimes by choice, often out of necessity. Buying a house himself seems almost impossible. “It’s already tough as a couple, let alone alone.”
That uncertainty affects other choices too. What job will you take later? What do you want to earn? Where can you even live? “You look at things differently than you might want to.”
Space to move
As an athlete, Romello also sees how important movement is, especially for young people. He worries about the generations after him. “The younger you look, the less people move.” Screens are everywhere, and healthy living isn’t always the easiest or cheapest option. He believes the government can play a role by making healthy food more accessible and continuing to promote sports.
For himself, he has a clear wish: a good indoor athletics facility in the region. “That might be specific, but it shows how important sport is to me. And to many others too.”
Not just for yourself
Romello doesn’t vote just with his own interests in mind. He values equality and looks to the future of others. “You might have just one vote, but if everyone thinks it doesn’t count, nothing will change at all.”
He sums up his reason for voting simply. Voting is about influence. About having a say. About the world you’ll live in later. “It’s your future. If you do nothing, you’re handing it over to someone else.”