Twelve councillors bid farewell after 121 years of service in Eijsden-Margraten
Twelve councillors in Eijsden-Margraten have stepped down, taking with them 121 years of local governance experience. Their departure marks the end of decades of dedication to local democracy, with three receiving royal honours for their long-standing contributions to the community.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of departing councillors | 12 |
| Total years of service | 121 years |
| Municipality | Eijsden-Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands |
| Royal honours awarded | 3 (Franklin Boon, Ron Mourmans, René Janssen) |
| Longest-serving councillors | Jos Oostenbach (20 years), René Janssen (20 years), Maria Janssen-Rutten (19 years) |
| Mayor | Alain Krijnen |
| Special recognition | Maria Janssen-Rutten and Jos Oostenbach previously received royal honours |
| Council meeting date | 31 March 2026 |
The municipal council of Eijsden-Margraten plays a crucial role in local governance, representing citizens' interests and shaping policies that affect daily life in the municipality. Councillors serve as a bridge between the community and the local government, often balancing their roles with personal and professional commitments.
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Farewell to the municipal council 2022-2026
Farewell to 12 councillors
We said goodbye to 12 councillors. In total, 121 years of council experience left the political arena. Mayor Krijnen addressed the departing councillors during a special council meeting held for this purpose.
Mayor Alain Krijnen thanked Sander Croes (ODE) for his dedication as a councillor. Sander joined mid-term and was active for one year. We also said farewell to Ivan Dreessen as a councillor. He also joined mid-term and was a member of the CDA faction for one and a half years.
Two councillors will not return to the council after serving one term: Jean Thomassen (VVD) and Hanneke Ramakers (VVD). They represented liberal ideals as members of the VVD faction. Jean served as faction leader and, as such, was also a member of the presidium.
More than one term on the council
Wim den Os (VVD) had previously served on the municipal council in Eijsden and returned to the council of Eijsden-Margraten in 2022. He served as a councillor for seven years.
Wiel Blezer (PRO) served as a councillor for two terms. In his first term, he was the sole representative of the PvdA faction, where he also served as faction leader. From 2022, he was part of the PRO Eijsden-Margraten faction. John Nelissen (EML) also completed two terms. During those eight years, he was faction leader of EML and a member of the presidium.
Farewell after (nearly) 20 years on the council
Maria Janssen-Rutten (ODE) served as a councillor for 19 years. She sat on the council for four different factions: for the VVD in the Eijsden council and for EML, Lijst Janssen-Rutten and ODE in the Eijsden-Margraten council. In her final year, she was faction leader of the latter and thus also a member of the presidium.
Jos Oostenbach (CDA) was one of the longest-serving councillors we said farewell to. He joined the Margraten council in 2006 as a member of the CDA faction. After 20 years, he retired, still a member of the CDA faction. During his long council career, Jos held various positions and, in his final term, was chair of the Dialogue Meeting on Living Environment. Maria Janssen-Rutten and Jos Oostenbach had already received royal honours for their social contributions.
Royal honours
Three councillors received royal honours upon their departure from the municipal council. The honours were presented by Mayor Krijnen during the council meeting on 31 March 2026. The councillors are: Franklin Boon (PRO), Ron Mourmans (Lijst Mourmans) and René Janssen (EML).
Councillors are eligible for a royal honour after serving at least twelve years as a member of the municipal council, contributing to local democracy.
This honour recognises the special contribution councillors make as representatives to the community. They play an essential role in local governance, often dedicating years of their time alongside work and personal commitments to the municipality.
Mayor Krijnen: “Franklin Boon, Ron Mourmans and René Janssen have dedicated many years with great commitment and dedication to our municipality. Their contribution to local democracy is of great value. It is a pleasure to present these honours on behalf of His Majesty the King.”
Ron Mourmans served on the council for 13 years. In 2008, he joined mid-term on the Margraten council as a member of the Gemeenschapsbelangen faction. From there, he switched to the CDA. After a sabbatical term, he returned to the Eijsden-Margraten council in 2022, first as a member of PRO Eijsden-Margraten. From October 2024, he continued as an independent faction, Lijst Mourmans. Ron was chair of the Dialogue Meeting on Society, a member of the presidium and chair of the employers' committee for the clerk’s office.
René Janssen, like Jos Oostenbach, was one of the longest-serving councillors we said farewell to. He also began his council career on the Margraten council as a member of the Samenwerkingsverband Margraten faction. When SVM merged with PGE-M to form EML, René became part of this faction. He always had the interests of entrepreneurs close to his heart. After 20 years on the council, he is now retiring.
Finally, Franklin Boon has been a member of the council since the merger in 2011. Starting as a representative of D66 on the council, he ended his last term as a member of PRO Eijsden-Margraten. Throughout his council membership, Franklin championed the importance of trees, landscapes and, in particular, monuments. He worked to restore the title of municipal monuments to the municipality.
Photos: George Deswijzen