Gorinchem honors young voices: Child mayor Jonathan Brouwer joins town hall portrait gallery
Gorinchem celebrates its youngest leaders by unveiling a portrait of 2026 child mayor Jonathan Brouwer. His priorities—music, traffic safety, and school well-being—highlight how children shape their city’s future, with residents encouraged to share ideas via a dedicated mailbox.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Child Mayor | Jonathan Brouwer (2026) |
| Previous Child Mayor | Lieke Holwerda (2025) |
| Portrait Gallery Start | 2022 |
| Location | Central hall, Gorinchem Town Hall |
| Jonathan’s Priorities | Music for all, traffic safety, school well-being |
| Idea Submission | Mailbox in town hall or email |
| Social Media | Instagram: #kinderburgemeestergorinchem |
The municipality of Gorinchem established the child mayor role and portrait gallery to amplify children’s voices in local governance. By involving young residents, the city aims to integrate their perspectives into policies and community initiatives.
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Portrait of child mayor Jonathan Brouwer finds place in town hall
On Thursday, March 12, the portrait of child mayor Jonathan Brouwer was unveiled in the town hall. Jonathan was installed as the child mayor of Gorinchem for 2026 during the council meeting on January 29. During the unveiling, attention was also paid to Lieke Holwerda. She was the child mayor in 2025 and has been committed to the city over the past year.
Portrait gallery in the town hall
In the central hall of the town hall hangs a portrait gallery of child mayors. The municipality started this in 2022. A photo of each child mayor is added to the wall.
With the gallery, the municipality shows that the opinions of children are important. Children think about their city and activities in Gorinchem. This way, the college and the employees of the municipality learn to look better through the eyes of children.
For the child mayor themselves, it is also a nice opportunity to see how the municipality works and to make a difference for other children.
Music, traffic safety, and a nice school
Each year, the child mayor chooses a few topics that they find important. Jonathan is committed to in 2026:
- Music for everyone: Jonathan wants to use music to connect children with each other, because music makes you happy and gives confidence.
- Traffic safety: many children walk or cycle to school every day. Jonathan finds it important that this can be done safely.
- A nice school: Jonathan wants every child to feel safe and welcome at school so that everyone goes to school with pleasure.
Ideas from children
Children with an idea for the city can share it via the child mayor's mailbox in the town hall. The mailbox is located near the portrait gallery in the central hall. The idea for the mailbox came from a previous child mayor. Children can also email their idea.
The activities of the child mayor can be followed via Instagram: #kinderburgemeestergorinchem.
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