With a crate of groceries and a listening ear, Commissioner of the King Arthur van Dijk visits the residents of North Holland. In the video series In the Kitchen with, he tries to find out what concerns the inhabitants.
What is happening in the province? What worries and wishes do the residents of North Holland have? To find answers, passionate hobby cook Van Dijk resorts to a tried-and-tested recipe: cooking together.
On a sun-drenched Friday afternoon in March, the commissioner trades his gavel for a chefs knife and an apron. Followed by a rolling camera, he walks to the home of Mostapha Nazih. “Glad youre here, Arthur. Come in,” Nazih warmly welcomes him. Van Dijk, nodding at the groceries in his hands: “I think Ive brought everything.” “Thats my impression too,” smiles Nazih, as the commissioner smoothly glides into the kitchen in his socks.
Video
Forking together
Mostapha had previously invited the commissioner via LinkedIn for an iftar (breaking of the fast), but they couldnt find a date to fork together. Today, unfortunately, that last part wont happen either. Firstly, because Mostapha can only eat after Van Dijk has left for his next appointment due to Ramadan. Secondly, because they are making harira – Moroccan soup.
“I enjoy cooking,” Van Dijk shares as he unpacks onions, tomatoes, and coriander. “But this is my first time making harira.” Nazih also enjoys cooking, although he quickly adds that this meal soup is not his specialty. According to him, the women in the family – his mother, his wife Samira, and his 4 daughters – make better harira. “For the best, we need to go to my mother in Casablanca,” Nazih says after tying his Province of North Holland apron. “That invitation stands!” the commissioner laughs.
Bunch of parsley
After Mostapha brings out cutting boards, the chefs settle at the kitchen table. But before a chefs knife disappears into a bunch of parsley, Samira feels the need to provide the kitchen princes with unsolicited advice. “You need to wash the vegetables first,” she says with a broad grin at her husband. Van Dijk chimes in with a wink: “Dont you cook that often, Mostapha?” “Haha, well, I’ll tell you: my first job was as a cook at the Leidseplein. But I wanted more.”
The determined Nazih kept his word. He carefully built a 31-year career at the fire department, where he was a district commander among other roles. In December 2024, he started his new job at the police. “This work is multifaceted and has a lot of impact. It gives me immense satisfaction to be able to make a direct difference for the citizen every day. That is my passion.”
Time for reflection
Kitchen sounds resonate. A ticking knife on a cutting board, a bubbling kettle, a whirring food processor. “What does Ramadan mean for you and your family?” Van Dijk asks. “A time of togetherness, connection, and warmth,” Nazih responds. “Fasting brings you together. For me, it is a time of reflection, gratitude, and thankfulness as a human and as a father. It is important to pause for that. Especially with everything happening in the world.”
“I worry,” Van Dijk admits. “Until recently, it was the case that each subsequent generation would almost automatically have it better than the previous one. That is no longer certain. Just look at our challenges with construction and housing. When I think of my granddaughter, I increasingly have the thought: ‘what will her future be?’ I have that same thought with one of my 3 daughters. She has a mental disability and lives in a group home. I have learned a lot from how she lives. It is a concern, but also very beautiful.”
“Respect each other”
Above the kitchen table where Van Dijk has been quietly peeling chickpeas for minutes, this question lingers: ‘how can we connect with everything happening in the world?’. “In the Islamic association of which I am president, I always convey the same message to people,” Mostapha answers. “Seize your opportunities, don’t get overwhelmed, keep going, and trust and respect each other.”
“Beautiful,” nods Van Dijk, then states that it is so easy nowadays to share everything with their phones. Yet that doesnt mean that leaders really know what residents feel. “What truly makes them happy, and how can the province play a role in that? That’s what I would like to know.” And there are more challenges, the commissioner adds. He frequently hears that the province “is there, but you don’t see us. Residents sometimes feel that things often aren’t allowed by the province.”
In life danger
This brings him to the question of what Mostapha actually notices about the province of North Holland. “Quite a bit,” he says. “From spatial planning to nature management and the public transport that my daughters use. Accessibility is the most important; both privately and professionally. Recently, we urgently needed to get to someone in life danger. Then the provinces infrastructure helps us reach the citizen as quickly as possible. The province may not be very visible, but it is certainly noticeable.”
The aromas of olive oil, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, and paprika powder enchant the house. A bubbling pot of beef and lentils provides a calm musical backdrop. The scents take the cooks back to Morocco, they tell. Van Dijk to Marrakech where he vacationed, Nazih to his hometown Casablanca. “All under control, chef?” Van Dijk inquires. “Yes, we are a team, right!”
Good listening
“How do I take your experiences back to the provincial house?” the commissioner asks as the soup is almost ready. Mostapha: “If you look at your role as a commissioner, you are visible and approachable, an accessible commissioner. It is important that you remain visible. In my eyes, that means: listening carefully to what is happening and being able to translate that into a certain policy. Then you have a policy that is embraced. Ultimately, we want a reliable government that listens well to the citizen and does something with that. And that can also mean saying no. That is just clear, and then you gain the trust and involvement that we all actually want. Thus, keeping the conversation going creates an inclusive society.”
Role models
Van Dijk is curious whether Nazih, as a socially engaged person, has found a way to talk to young people about society. “Yes, I have a lot of contact with the youth. In collaboration with municipalities, we go play football and swim with them, for example. I notice that young people need role models. Adults to whom they can look up. Important, because those who have the youth, have the future. What I also want to pass on to you is the importance of social cohesion and accessible housing. Hopefully, there will be significant lobbying for that in The Hague. We must strive for an inclusive and future-proof society.”
“Wise words that I will take with me,” says Van Dijk. “I enjoyed being here and it’s beautiful that you are also so involved in society in your free time.” Nazih: “This conversation emphasized for me the importance of connection and understanding between leaders and residents. Thank you very much for your visit. You are always welcome, Arthur. Even without a camera crew.”
Also in conversation with the commissioner while cooking? Email newsredactie@noord-holland.nl with the subject In the kitchen with.