New municipal council takes office in Ridderkerk as ten members step down
Ridderkerk welcomes a new municipal council after the 2022-2026 term ends. Ten outgoing members, including four honored for long service, were celebrated for their dedication to local governance and community representation.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Ridderkerk |
| Outgoing Council Members | 10 (Trudy van Nieuwenhuizen, Richard Swarttouw, Melindy Dirks, Michel Borst, Jim Kloos, Tjalke Alkema, Jeroen Rijsdijk, Anton Rottier, Robert Kooijman, Arianne Ripmeester) |
| New Council Members | 29 (full list not provided) |
| Royal Honours Awarded | 4 (Jeroen Rijsdijk, Anton Rottier, Robert Kooijman: Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau for 12 years; Arianne Ripmeester: 20 years) |
| Token of Appreciation | Council medal with Ridderkerk coat of arms and inscription |
| Term Period | 2022-2026 |
The municipal council of Ridderkerk plays a crucial role in local governance, representing citizens' interests, approving policies, and overseeing the municipality's administration. Council members serve as a bridge between residents and the local government, ensuring democratic participation in decision-making processes.
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Municipal Council: Change of Guard
This week saw a change of guard in Ridderkerk: on Monday, the municipal council that took office in 2022 said farewell. Yesterday, the new municipal council was installed.
The municipal council of the 2022-2026 council period said goodbye on Monday. Ten members will not return to the new council: Trudy van Nieuwenhuizen, Richard Swarttouw, Melindy Dirks, Michel Borst, Jim Kloos, Tjalke Alkema, Jeroen Rijsdijk, Anton Rottier, Robert Kooijman and Arianne Ripmeester. Mayor Marco Oosterwijk had special farewell words for them.
Mayor Marco Oosterwijk expressed his appreciation for the entire council: “Being a council member is no easy task. It requires time, energy, commitment, and conviction. Many of you have performed this work alongside a job, a family, and other responsibilities. That deserves respect and appreciation.” He also acknowledged the citizen members: “Your role is sometimes less visible to the public, but certainly no less important.”
All 29 council members received the council medal, a new token of appreciation and a reminder of their dedication to Ridderkerk. On the front is the coat of arms of Ridderkerk, and on the back is the inscription ‘With gratitude and appreciation for your dedication as a council member of the municipality of Ridderkerk in the council period 2022-2026’.
Royal Honour
For Jeroen Rijsdijk, Anton Rottier, Robert Kooijman, and Arianne Ripmeester, the last council meeting was an extra festive occasion: they received a royal honour. The gentlemen were appointed Member of the Order of Orange-Nassau because they had served as council members for 12 years, while Arianne Ripmeester received the honour for 20 years of service.