Six long-serving Ede councillors awarded royal honours for decades of public service
Six departing councillors in Ede received royal honours for their dedication to local governance, with service ranging from 12 to 25 years. Their contributions span key areas like housing, social justice, and sustainability, impacting residents' daily lives and community development.
| Name | Party | Years of Service | Honour Received |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evert Jansen | SGP | 25+ | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Nico van der Poel | SGP | 24 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Raşit Görgülü | Democratische Partij Ede | 14 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Cora Otter | ChristenUnie | 12 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Ellen Out | GroenLinks | 12 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Daan Weststrate | ChristenUnie | 12 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
Key Contributions:
- Evert Jansen: Spatial planning, rural areas
- Nico van der Poel: Audit committee leadership
- Raşit Görgülü: Housing, cultural district, integration
- Cora Otter: Social care, poverty reduction
- Ellen Out: Sustainability, social justice
- Daan Weststrate: Youth policies, education
The municipal council of Ede is responsible for local governance, including policy-making, oversight of municipal affairs, and representing residents' interests. Royal honours are awarded by the Dutch monarchy to individuals who have made significant contributions to society, often through long-term public service.
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Royal honours awarded to six councillors
The current municipal council met for the final time on Tuesday, 31 March 2026 to ratify the election results and bid farewell. During this meeting, Mayor René Verhulst presented six councillors with royal honours.
In this final meeting in its outgoing composition, the municipal council reviewed the minutes of the central polling station regarding the election results and confirmed whether the elected councillors met the requirements to serve, a process known as the examination of credentials. Following this formal duty, it was time to say goodbye. The mayor particularly reflected on the councillors who were leaving office for good. The council’s longest-serving member, Evert Jansen, and city poet Melvin Vlot also addressed the council and the departing members.
Eighteen people are ending their membership of the municipal council. These include Evert Jansen and Nico van der Poel of the SGP, Cora Otter and Daan Weststrate of the ChristenUnie, Ardin van Emmerik of GemeenteBelangen, Louke Koopmans and Freek Jan Koekoek of D66, Anne-Jan Telgen of the CDA, Natasja Peters and Henk Splint of BurgerBelangen, Ellen Out and Judith Klostermann of GroenLinks, Thimo Harmsen of the VVD, Tijani Zallali and Boyce de Jong of the PvdA, Erik Wesselius of Mens en Milieu Ede, Raşit Görgülü of the Democratische Partij Ede, and Wesley Glasmacher of the FVD.
Royal honours
Individuals who have served as municipal councillors for at least 12 years are eligible for a royal honour.
The departing councillors who have been appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau are:
Evert Jansen (SGP, councillor since 2000)
Evert Jansen served as a councillor for more than 25 years and was the longest-serving member of the Ede municipal council. “You have seen generations of councillors come and go.” He was known for his wisdom, kindness and deep commitment to Ederveen. He worked on key files such as spatial planning, landscape and rural areas. His approach was characterised by service and reliability.
Nico van der Poel (SGP, councillor since 2002)
Nico van der Poel bid farewell after 24 years on the council. He served for many years as the leader of the SGP faction and was a steady, reliable voice in Ede politics. “You were known as someone who was thorough, who wanted to understand before forming an opinion.” He closely followed long-term files and led the audit committee with great responsibility. Outside the council, he was also active as an SME advisor and registrar.
Raşit Görgülü (Democratische Partij Ede, councillor since 2010)
Raşit Görgülü served as a councillor for fourteen years and brought a distinctive, recognisable voice to Ede politics. His work was driven by solidarity: “That awareness meant you didn’t just want to advance your career, but also give something back.” He was a determined advocate for files such as the Kerkwegtunnel, the cultural district and municipal housing construction. Outside the council, he also worked on reducing inequality of opportunity and integration.
Cora Otter (ChristenUnie, councillor since 2014)
Cora Otter served as a councillor for twelve years and previously as a faction secretary. She was praised for her dedication to the social domain: “You were a councillor who not only read files, but saw people.” She championed care, poverty reduction and a society where everyone can participate. She is also active nationally for the ChristenUnie, including as an advisor on governance.
Ellen Out (GroenLinks, councillor since 2014)
Ellen Out served on the municipal council for twelve years, much of that time as faction leader. She was a recognisable voice for sustainability and social justice: “You represented a perspective that is indispensable in local government.” She was known for her sharp oversight of procedures, perseverance and open style of collaboration. Outside the council, she was also actively involved with residents and organisations.
Daan Weststrate (ChristenUnie, councillor since 2014)
Daan Weststrate was known for his calm, careful approach and his focus on the human dimension: “You wanted to know what a decision meant for families, for young people, for entrepreneurs.” He served for many years as chair of deliberative meetings and was one of the founders of the Ede Children’s College. Outside the council, he worked as a teacher, board member and advisor.
New municipal council
On Wednesday, 1 April from 19:00, all elected candidates will be sworn in as councillors by the mayor. They will take an oath or make a solemn promise to uphold the Constitution. After this, they will officially assume their duties as municipal councillors.