News item | 18-06-2025 | 12:47
The government will structurally invest € 1 million more in training and support for political office holders such as aldermen and councilors. Measures are also being considered to make this political profession more attractive, for example by reducing the workload. In addition, the government is investing up to € 9 million structurally to strengthen citizenship. For example, by increasing the influence and control of citizens and supporting initiatives that come from residents themselves.
Minister Uitermark of the Interior presented the plans during the hundredth congress of the Association for Dutch Municipalities (VNG). There she emphasized the importance of local involvement for the social cohesion, democracy and the broad resilience of the Netherlands.
Uitermark: “We make society together. It is important that you can recognize yourself in your own environment, that you can come along, participate and to decide and that you feel represented. And that the threshold is low to take a role in it if you want. That is why we invest in the local governance and local initiatives.
Support local initiatives and citizenship
Many Dutch people are willing to contribute to society and do that too. The Netherlands has thousands of initiatives such as local cooperatives, youth initiatives, community centers or social companies that help keep the Netherlands running. It is important to pay attention to these initiatives and to strengthen and support them. The Ministry of the Interior works together with the national association for small cores and the national partnership active residents. For example, we offer support to social initiatives throughout the Netherlands and we make room for local communities. We also work together with the VFonds at Loket D. Loket D is especially for small, local initiatives. It is about ideas that come from the neighborhood and where people can participate, join in the discussion and participate in decisions.
Increase involvement in local administration and reduce work pressure
Good local administrators and representatives are also one of the important foundations of our society and democratic constitutional state. They contribute to connection and involvement with their own living environment. It is therefore important that we have enough people who want to be active as a director or representative and that they can do their work well.
About 15% of the Dutch say they are willing to apply for the city council if they were asked. Yet the local office is under pressure. Local drivers indicate that their role is at odds with the private balance (23%) and there is too high pressure in combination with (other) work (21%). They also often have to deal with aggression, threat or intimidation (45 %).
The government is therefore focusing on measures to lower work pressure and to increase the attractiveness for political office. Research shows that an imbalance has arisen in particular in large cities between the number of inhabitants and the number of representatives. That is why it is investigated whether we can revise the now 128 -year -old scale that determines the size of the council. This way the largest municipal councils can grow, so that the work can be better distributed. An additional effect is that if possible, a better reflection will also occur.
It is also examined how the number of aldermen could be expanded in combination with the position of part -time aldermen. This way the workload can be better spread, because aldermen have to tackle many social tasks.
There will also be an additional investment of € 1 million in the training and support of office holders. This is done through the professional associations. The ministry also starts a campaign to inspire people for the local administration. This is important because almost half of all local parties now have difficulty finding suitable candidates for the city council. Moreover, this number has risen by 10% compared to 2018. The campaign specifically looks at how under -represented groups can be addressed, such as people with disabilities, a practical education, a migration background and women.
Read the letter about a valuable political office That minister Uitermark sent to the Lower House.