Heeze-Leende bids farewell to outgoing council and prepares for new term
Residents of Heeze-Leende witnessed a historic transition as the 2022-2026 municipal council was honored for their service. A new council takes office on April 1, ensuring local governance continues smoothly after a legally confirmed election process.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Farewell Meeting Date | 30 March 2026 |
| New Council Installation | 1 April 2026 |
| Outgoing Councillors | 7 (Dennis Keuten, Toon Snoeijen, Herman den Dulk, Jos Vos, Peter Vertogen, Alide Hijmans, Remon Vos) |
| Royal Honour Recipient | Dennis Keuten (Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau) |
| Credentials Committee | Remon Vos, Toon Snoeijen, Jos Vos |
| New Council Members | 17 (from 6 political parties) |
| Election Date | 18 March 2026 |
| Municipality | Heeze-Leende |
The municipal council of Heeze-Leende plays a crucial role in local governance, overseeing policy implementation, budget allocation, and community initiatives. This transition marks the end of one term and the beginning of another, ensuring continuity in democratic representation for residents.
Read the full translated article below
Farewell to municipal council during special council meeting
On Monday, 30 March, a special council meeting was held to say farewell to the municipal council for the 2022-2026 term. Mayor Teun Heldens chaired the meeting. Some outgoing councillors addressed the council one last time.
Mayor Heldens took the time to thank each of them for their dedication. A notable moment was when Dennis Keuten, who has served as a councillor for no less than four terms, received a royal honour. He was appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
The meeting also addressed the confirmation of the legality of the 2026 municipal elections. The credentials committee, specially established for this purpose, consisted of three councillors who will all leave Heeze-Leende’s municipal politics after the installation of the new council on 1 April: Remon Vos, Toon Snoeijen, and Jos Vos.
Credentials committee for election legality
The committee examined the minutes of the central polling station regarding the municipal elections held on 18 March 2026. The committee concluded that the conduct of the elections and the determination of the results were carried out in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act. It also found no irregularities that would affect the validity of the election results. The committee therefore advised the council to conclude that the conduct and determination of the elections took place in a lawful manner.
Which councillors are leaving?
The seven councillors who will hand over their duties to new members on 1 April are Dennis Keuten (Dorpsbelangen), Toon Snoeijen and Herman den Dulk (LOKAAL Heeze-Leende), Jos Vos, Peter Vertogen (CDA), Alide Hijmans (GroenLinks), and Remon Vos (Lijst Vos).
Credentials committee and admission
The credentials committee also examined the credentials of the candidates declared elected by the central polling station, along with the accompanying documents. It confirmed that the elected candidates meet the requirements for membership of the municipal council as set out in the Electoral Act. Furthermore, the committee found no evidence of incompatible positions or other obstacles that would prevent their admission. The committee therefore advises the council to admit the elected candidates as members of the municipal council.
Installation and swearing-in of new council on Wednesday, 1 April
On Wednesday, 1 April, the new municipal council will be installed and sworn in during another special council meeting. Until then, the current council, which was bid farewell to this evening, will remain in office.
The 17 members of the new municipal council as of 1 April 2026
For Algemeen belang Heeze-Leende, the new members are Harrie Scheepers, Maaike van Breugel-Smolders, Yvonne van Gennip, and Joost van den Heuvel. PRO Heeze-Leende will be represented by Yolande van der Veer, Chris Jacobs, Manja Geijsel, and Mark Klerks. The VVD will be represented by Johan Cuijten, Hans Schmitz, and Alain Broft. The CDA will be represented by Martin Mordang and Max Beerkens. Lokaal Heeze-Leende will be represented by Lot Veldkamp and Jack de Turck. Frans Maas and Max Cremers will represent Partij voor Oud en Jong, bringing the total number of councillors to 17.