Staphorst bids farewell to long-serving councillors with royal honours
Eight councillors of Staphorst’s municipal council stepped down after years of service, with three receiving royal honours for their dedication. The new council takes office on 1 April, marking a transition in local governance for residents.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Departing councillors | 8 out of 17, including 3 with over 12 years of service |
| Royal honours | Liesbert Lubberink (PvdA), Hendrik Troost (SGP), Luuk Hoeve (ChristenUnie) |
| New council installation | 1 April 2026, 19:30, live stream available |
| Mayor | Jan ten Kate |
| Focus of outgoing council | ‘Connection’ and collaboration with residents |
The municipal council of Staphorst is responsible for local governance, including policy-making, budget allocation, and representing residents' interests. This farewell marks the end of a term focused on community engagement and sets the stage for the new council’s priorities.
Read the full translated article below
Farewell to Staphorst Municipal Council
On Tuesday, 31 March, the outgoing municipal council of the municipality of Staphorst bid farewell at the town hall. Eight of the seventeen councillors will not return to the new municipal council. Three of them had served as councillors for more than 12 years. They were therefore presented with a royal honour by Mayor Jan ten Kate.
The departing councillors Liesbert Lubberink (16 years as a councillor for the PvdA), Hendrik Troost (15 years as a councillor for the SGP) and Luuk Hoeve (12 years as a councillor for the ChristenUnie) were appointed Members of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The other departing councillors are Arjan Hokse (CDA), Suzan Hokse (CDA), Klaas Piel (ChristenUnie), Henri Bisschop (SGP) and Bé Veen (Gemeentebelangen). The mayor addressed each of them personally and thanked them for their commitment. Bé Veen was unable to attend due to health reasons; his daughter was present on his behalf.
Council focused on ‘connection’
With this meeting, the municipality of Staphorst concluded the 2022-2026 council term. Mayor Ten Kate expressed his appreciation in a speech. In his view, ‘connection’ was central to this council. He cited the Social Agenda as an example, through which the council set itself the task of addressing important issues together with residents. He also praised the constructive way in which the council worked together.
Installation of new council
During this meeting, the municipal council also ruled that the elections had been conducted lawfully. A committee consisting of Liesbert Lubberink, Hendrik Troost and Klaas Piel verified the credentials of the new councillors. They concluded that the newly elected councillors meet the legal requirements for council membership. The council then voted to admit the new councillors.
On Wednesday, 1 April, the installation of the new municipal council will take place. All councillors will then take the oath or promise. The meeting begins at 19:30 and can be followed live via www.staphorst.nl/raadsvergadering. Interested parties are also welcome to attend at the town hall.