Member of the Provincial Parliament in Focus - Marloes ten Ham

Why did you become a member of the Provincial Parliament?

“I gained my first political experiences in Amsterdam. During my studies at the VU, I took a course on local politics and thought: how wonderful it would be if you could participate in decision-making? With friends, I founded a neighborhood party. We made posters and let the neighborhood decide which themes were important. It was chaotic and I just missed enough votes, but it gave me so much energy that I knew: I want to keep doing this.

At the PvdA, I found my place. I saw how members stood in all weather at markets and thought: these are truly committed people. I became a member, gained leadership experience in Amsterdam, and discovered how valuable the province is. Here, policy is made for the long term, with less shouting and more substance than at the national level. That appealed to me.”

How do you like the work as a representative?

“The work is more diverse and intense than I thought. You learn the trade by doing it. I discovered that I suffered from stage fright, something I was never aware of. By practicing and receiving support from colleagues, it gets better and better. What strikes me is how collegial the atmosphere is: members from other parties also help you find your way.

A nice example is the cooperation with D66, Volt, and GroenLinks on a proposal to make Dutch Sign Language available in meetings. I also found it impressive to travel with the committee to Germany and Belgium to see how steel factories are greening. And special was my presence at the Pride in Budapest, where I could show solidarity on behalf of the province. Such experiences make the work not only educational but also valuable.”

What do you want to achieve as a politician in North Holland?

“My commitment revolves around accessibility, honesty, and safety. Accessibility means for me that deaf and hard-of-hearing people should always be able to use an interpreter. I am also working on ethical policies for data centers. The Netherlands is one of the largest hosts of servers circulating child abuse material. That affects me, and I want to investigate what role the province can play.

I also advocate for better working conditions for migrant workers, a group that often remains invisible. And as an avid bus traveler, I experience how important good public transport is. That is why I want the night network to remain reliable and safe, with sufficient lines outside the major cities and well-lit bike paths. That makes a difference for accessibility and safety of residents.”

About Marloes ten Ham

Marloes ten Ham was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in the Netherlands from the age of five. She has lived in Amsterdam for more than ten years. Besides her work as a member of the Provincial Parliament, she is active in the PvdA in The Hague, where she guides new members and theme networks. Previously, she worked at Too Good To Go, the app against food waste. In her free time, she is writing a book about LGBTI history and often delves into the archives of the Royal Library.