Berg en Dal council honors late leader, boosts climate awareness and housing support ahead of elections
The Berg en Dal municipal council held its final meeting before the March 18 elections, honoring a late council member, introducing a Future Chair for climate awareness, and approving funds for starter loans and local infrastructure. These decisions impact residents' housing opportunities and environmental priorities.
| Key Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Minute of Silence | Honored Sjef Reichelt, former council member and social activist. |
| Future Chair Initiative | Presented by Grandparents for the Climate; symbolizes future generations. |
| Starter Loan Budget | Increased to support first-time homebuyers. |
| Bomb Regulation 2025 | Compensation for safe disposal of unguarded explosives. |
| Sewer Reconstruction | Additional funds for Vissersstraat in Kekerdom. |
| Next Council Meeting | March 26, 2026, at 16:00; farewell to outgoing council. |
The municipal council of Berg en Dal is responsible for local governance, including budget allocations, infrastructure projects, and policy decisions that directly affect residents. It also plays a ceremonial role in honoring community leaders and engaging with social initiatives.
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From the Council of Berg en Dal: March 12, 2026
The municipal council of Berg en Dal met on March 12, 2026. It was the last council meeting before the elections which will be held on March 18. Below we tell you more about the topics discussed in the meeting.
A minute of silence
The meeting began with a minute of silence in memory of Sjef Reichelt. Mr. Reichelt was politically active as a council member and faction leader of V.O.L.G. in the former municipality of Groesbeek from 2004 to 2014. He was a man with great social commitment. He was the driving force behind many new initiatives such as the Natuurmuseum in Nijmegen, Tennisvereniging Groesbeek, and the Werkgroep Milieubeheer Groesbeek (WMG). He also held an important position at Kleindiervereniging Edelras for over 40 years. Alderman Erik Weijers addressed the attendees, including family members.
Future Chair
Grandparents for the Climate offered a Future Chair to the municipal council during the meeting. Wherever important decisions are made, the consequences for future generations must be clear. Grandparents for the Climate therefore wants to bring this Future Chair to as many meeting rooms as possible. In Berg en Dal, the chair will find its place in the council chamber. The chair was presented to mayor Mark Slinkman (chairman of the municipal council) by initiator Carla van Wely. She did not do this alone and received help from three child mayors: Stan (De Horst), Youri (Leuth), and Jeslynn (Groesbeek). They briefly addressed the council. More information about this initiative can be found on the website of Grandparents for the Climate.
Other decisions made
- Increase the budget for the Starter Loan;
- Bomb Regulation 2025 (allowing costs for making areas with Unguarded Explosives safe to be eligible for compensation from the national government);
- Additional funds made available for sewer reconstruction at Vissersstraat in Kekerdom.
Want to see and read more?
Do you want to watch the council meeting again? You can do so via our website http://raad.bergendal.nl. Click on the meeting in the calendar. There you will also find the council proposals, motions, and amendments. The meeting documents can also be found via the iBabs app in the App Store and Play Store. Choose "bergendal" as the site name to log in. The username and password are both "burger".
Social media
Do you want to stay up to date with the latest information about the municipal council? Then you can follow us on Instagram. The council also has its own newsletter. For questions or ideas, you can contact griffie@bergendal.nl.
The next council meeting is on March 26, 2026. It starts at 16:00 and during this meeting, farewell will be said to the old municipal council.