Waterland sees record voter engagement in municipal elections
Residents of Waterland showed strong engagement in the recent municipal elections, with a 66.3% turnout. The new council is already touring key projects, while young voters demand more gathering spaces and affordable housing. Coalition talks are underway, shaping the future of local policies.
| Key Data Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Voter Turnout | 66.3% (up from 65% in 2020) |
| Young Voters' Top Requests | Affordable housing, youth gathering spaces |
| Election Debates Organizer | Broadcaster PIM |
| Leading Coalition Party | GroenLinks/PvdA |
| Coalition Formation Lead | Hans Luiten |
| Key Projects Visited by Council | Gouwhaven, Jachthaven Waterland, Marken dyke reinforcement, traffic plans |
| Regio Deal Implementation | Subsidies available for initiatives under Better Learning, Living, Working |
| New Council Swearing-In | April 1, 2024 |
| Old Council Farewell | March 31, 2024 (open to public) |
The municipality of Waterland is responsible for local governance, including organizing elections, implementing regional development programs like the Regio Deal, and addressing citizen concerns such as housing and infrastructure. The mayor plays a key role in facilitating coalition formation and ensuring administrative continuity during transitions.
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external link to whydonate.comRead the full translated article below
Column by Mayor Marian van der Weele
Dear residents of Waterland,
I am proud of the turnout in the municipal elections! A total of 66.3% of eligible voters in Waterland cast their ballots. This represents a slight increase compared to the municipal elections four years ago, when turnout was 65%. It is wonderful to see how engaged you are in local politics. The political parties worked hard to share their positions with you, and broadcaster PIM organized two lively debates that you could watch live on TV. The views of young people were also heard during a Politics and Pizza evening at De Bolder, organized by youth workers. A lively discussion took place there with around ten young people and politicians. The most common requests were for a comfortable place where young people can gather and how they can be helped to find affordable housing.
On election day itself, the weather was beautiful, and there was a positive atmosphere at all polling stations. The new council has already embarked on a tour to visit projects and locations where important decisions will be made or have been made in the coming period, such as Gouwhaven, Jachthaven Waterland, the Marken dyke reinforcement, housing, road, and traffic projects. They also visited Boerderij Achtervennen to see an example of how agricultural side activities are carried out.
The coalition formation process has begun, led by the largest party, GroenLinks/PvdA. Hans Luiten is conducting initial exploratory talks with the five parties to determine their preferences for cooperation.
Until a new coalition is formed, the alderman-less council (municipal secretary and mayor) will make the necessary decisions. We meet every two weeks with the faction leaders to discuss decisions that could be sensitive. This coordination and cooperation in this exceptional situation is progressing very constructively. I expect to remain busy with a packed agenda until at least the end of May. I am happy and motivated to keep Waterland administratively strong.
The implementation of the Regio Deal has begun. Contact the content leads for Better Learning, Better Living, and Better Working to see if your initiative can contribute to the ambitions and qualify for a subsidy.
I look forward to working with the new council; the councillors will be sworn in on April 1. The farewell to the old council will take place on March 31. You are, of course, very welcome to attend both evenings at the town hall!
Kind regards,
Marian van der Weele
Mayor