Many know Eefke (45) Boelhouwers as the radio presenter of Omroep Brabant, even though she has been away for four years. She now wants to enter municipal politics and is in second place of the new party Eindhoven Voor Elkaar (EVE). “Eindhoven is in my heart and I can never leave it. The city is tattooed on my back.”
The love for Eindhoven has not always been there. “At first I thought this city was ugly,” she confesses. That has now changed and she has a tattoo on her back with the horizontal waves – vibes – of Eindhoven that are supposed to radiate energy.
She comes from Rucphen and has lived in Eindhoven since 2000. Eefke studied journalism in Tilburg and her boyfriend – now her husband – studied at Eindhoven University of Technology. They were able to get an apartment in Eindhoven. She had to get used to it quite a bit during the first few years. “What is this? Boring and ugly.”
The intention was to leave after studying, but the love for the city grew through Strijp-S. The Philips factories closed there. “Here were these creative breeding grounds with frayed edges. I made friends here. Some were making a film and others were designing clothes.”
She stayed in Eindhoven and now she lives in the center with her husband. “From my balcony I see the Catherine Church, the White Lady. These are of course quite iconic buildings. When I walk around the city, I hear all kinds of languages. I think that’s cool too.”
Eefke wants to mean a lot to the creative people in the city. She worked at Omroep Brabant from 2001 and got her own radio program there. She is now a freelancer and calls herself a ‘creative manager’. She is a program maker, manager for artists and presents music festivals.
She also taught journalism students, just when the cabinet fell in June 2025. “Then you are right on top of it and then you think about a number of things, this could be better.”
She has no experience in politics, but she was asked by Tjeerd Ritmeester, number one on EVE’s list. Eefke liked it. “I love sitting fairly close to the dashboard where you can still turn some buttons. Maybe after four years I’ll think: ‘Wow, I’ve had enough meetings for the rest of my life.’ Don’t know.”
“I go for tight meetings.”
“If I were to sit on the council in the future, I would like to ensure that there are places for creative people and makers. There are places now, but they are under pressure and they are disappearing due to all kinds of new construction plans. Of course, construction has to happen, but you also have to keep those fringes somewhere. Then those creative makers can stay in the city. That is something I want to work hard for.”
If Eefke joins the council, she will make a striking appearance with her tattoos. “It’s certainly a different sight, right?” She also wants to bring a ‘little bit of Elvis’ to the council. The song ‘A little less conversation’ is tailor-made for her: talk less and do more. “I go for tight meetings.”
New batch of EVE
Eindhoven Voor Elkaar (EVE) was founded by party leader Tjeerd Ritmeester. He has been active as a councilor for the past four years. First for the PvdA, but he had to leave that party in August 2025. The difference of opinion about the direction of the party was too great.
Ritmeester founded his own party and asked Eefke Boelhouwers. Singer Lenny Kuhr is also on the list to attract votes. The party wants to ‘build a social, fair and human Eindhoven’. According to EVE, every resident should benefit from the developments in Eindhoven.
Eefke Boelhouwers is very modest about the number of seats they hope to obtain. “It would be great if three worked out, but I just hope for one. I would think that would be really cool. If Tjeerd is elected in his own name.”
