Eight councillors honored as Oost Gelre bids farewell to long-serving local leaders
Eight councillors in Oost Gelre received recognition for their years of service during their final meeting. Six were awarded municipal honours, while two were granted Royal distinctions for their dedication to local governance and community representation.
| Name | Role/Party | Service Period | Honour Received |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wallerbos | Councillor (OLW) | 2018–2026 | Municipal honour |
| Berti Bosker | Councillor (OGV) | 2022–2026 | Municipal honour |
| Sharon Bürer | Councillor (VVD) | 2022–2026 | Municipal honour |
| Ben Hummelink | Councillor (OOG) | 2022–2026 | Municipal honour |
| Walter Leemreize | CDA Faction Leader | 2014–2026 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Richard Klein Tank | Longest-serving councillor (PvdA) | 2002–2026 | Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau |
| Fiona Algera | Councillor (VVD) | 2018–2026 | Municipal honour (earlier) |
| Ruud Krabbenborg | Councillor (CDA) | 2018–2026 | Municipal honour (earlier) |
The municipality of Oost Gelre is responsible for recognizing the contributions of local councillors who serve in advisory and decision-making roles. These honours, both municipal and Royal, highlight the importance of civic engagement and long-term dedication to public service.
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Presentation of municipal and Royal honours at farewell of councillors
During the final council meeting in the old composition, Mayor Gea Hofstede presented a total of 6 municipal honours and 2 Royal honours to departing councillors on Tuesday 31 March. In total, 8 councillors took their leave.
Municipal honours
The municipal honours were presented to:
- Paul Wallerbos: he served as a councillor for OLW between 2018 and 2026.
- Berti Bosker: he served as a councillor for OGV between 2022 and 2026.
- Sharon Bürer: she served as a councillor for the VVD between 2022 and 2026.
- Ben Hummelink: he served as a councillor for OOG between 2022 and 2026.
Royal honours
The Royal honours were presented to:
- Walter Leemreize: he served as spokesperson and CDA faction leader between 2014 and 2026.
- Richard Klein Tank: he began as a councillor for the former municipality of Groenlo under the PvdA banner and, after the municipal reorganisation, became the longest-serving member of the council. As faction leader, he served a total of 6 terms between 2002 and 2026.
Both have been appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
Farewell
Farewells were also said to:
- Fiona Algera: she served as a councillor for the VVD between 2018 and 2026.
- Ruud Krabbenborg: he served as a councillor for the CDA between 2018 and 2026.
Both had already received their municipal honours earlier.
Our thanks to all the councillors for their many years of dedication to our municipality.