Mayor Maarten Poorter of Dijk en Waard welcomed the Commissioner of the King (CvdK) at Bed en Business. Bed en Business is a practical location for the Hospitality training of the Talland College. The students provided the lunch. Van Dijk spoke there with residents about how they experience the growth of the municipality (scale jump). The municipality has grown to a municipality with more than 90,000 inhabitants and is still fully developing. This topic was central throughout the day.

Staying Connected with Residents

After lunch, the group moved to the Stationsplein where Van Dijk met with the college of mayor and aldermen (B&W). The development of the Stationsplein and the municipality was central here. Van Dijk said: “The municipality has already grown enormously and has the ambition to reach more than 100,000 inhabitants. This requires some effort. They are looking at adjustments to the infrastructure for this. And they are trying to maintain short lines between the municipality, residents, and social organizations.” The college of B&W also mentioned that because it has become a larger municipality, they are working more specifically per area. Each area now has its own team, consisting of civil servants, local partners, and (area) aldermen.

Municipal Council

Finally, a discussion took place between Van Dijk and members of the municipal council. The municipal councils of Langedijk and Heerhugowaard now together form the municipal council of Dijk en Waard. The discussion included this development. But also about the housing construction challenges, the contact with residents, and strengthening (inter)regional cooperation. “At this moment, Dijk en Waard and surrounding municipalities know how to find each other well.”