On Friday, January 30, 2026, young people will make their voices heard at the provincial government building in Lelystad. This takes place during the provincial preliminary round of The Voice of Young Netherlands: a new national youth project aimed at amplifying the voice of young people in societal debate.
Debating
Kings Commissioner Arjen Gerritsen will open the preliminary round on behalf of the Province of Flevoland. During the various rounds of the program, teams will debate national and provincial statements. Additionally, students will record a personal speech on a self-chosen topic. In Flevoland, special attention will be given during the debates to the 40th anniversary of the province.
The Voice of Young Netherlands
The Voice of Young Netherlands stems from On the Way to the House of Commons, which has been well-known among students since 1998. Frits Bloemberg, director of The Debate Agency and organizer since 2011: “Our project is an important experience annually for thousands of young people. With The Voice of Young Netherlands, we give young people an even more prominent place in societal debate and show that young people enrich our democracy.”
About the Organization
The Voice of Young Netherlands is a project by The Debate Agency and the Youth Debate and Society Foundation. All Dutch provinces are partners in the project: each province hosts a preliminary round at the provincial government building, with an extra day in the provinces of Gelderland, North Holland, and South Holland. The project is co-financed by the European Union and Vfonds.
More information about The Voice of Young Netherlands can be found on their website.