Danique Hoeve (23) has quit her medical studies to become a councilor and Luc van den Tillaart (29) is a director who deals with budgets worth millions. Several young councilors are walking around in Brabant. Do they feel like they have to prove themselves? Four twenty-somethings speak.
What do you like so much about being an alderman?
Hoeve (23): “What I like best is that you can make a difference for many people in the place where you grew up. Everything you do at the town hall has an effect in the village. I recently had a housing plan, that’s what I’m talking about now.”
Kanters (24): “I really enjoy meeting people in my community, having conversations and being able to make a concrete contribution. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of my job is the vigorous discussions you sometimes have in a council meeting.”
Gruijters (29): “You have such a wide range of topics that you are involved in as a councilor. It ranges from a house division and how to deal with a disaster in the municipality, to finances and sports and exercise.”
Van den Tillaart (29): “That you can do something for the community. For the municipality where you live, work, recreate and grew up. In this position you come into contact with many residents, companies, associations and organizations from Meierijstad and the region.”
Do you feel like you have to prove yourself more as a young councilor?
Hoeve (23): “Years ago I had that feeling as a councilor. I showed that I had read my pieces and then it’s fine that you are less experienced. Now I still sometimes get comments about the fact that I am a woman or young, but these are actually always comments from people who don’t know me well.”
Kanters (24): “Yes, actually. Not so much out of insecurity, not at all. I have always immediately adopted the attitude of ‘I am now a councilor and I am just going to do my best. I am going to learn a lot and contribute where I can’. But of course I have not been overlooked either: I know that there is the prejudice of ‘oh there is a guy coming, we will get him under our thumb’. There is nothing wrong with that, but I have always taken it as a challenge to to turn prejudice the other way.”
Gruijters (29): “Wanting to prove myself is also ingrained in my character. I am someone who says ‘what I do, I want to do it well’. That is also a responsibility you have.”
Van den Tillaart (29): “No, it doesn’t really feel that way to me at all. Perhaps that is also because I know most of the people from the municipal council. And from there I have had positive reactions and I really feel support.”
What are the advantages of being a councilor at this age?
Hoeve (23): “I have a lot of energy. I don’t mind staying late. And as a young person you are a little more aware that decisions will still have an impact on your life and that of your children.”
Kanters (24): “Having a fresh perspective and being open to new things. It is an enrichment to be able to include perspectives from young people.”
Gruijters (29): “A large part of your residents are also young. And I think it could help if you also have some young municipal administrators and council members. Then you might be more approachable to young people.”
Van den Tillaart (29): “When you are young you can often think quickly and act quickly. I am very energetic in that sense, I bring enthusiasm and a fresh perspective to the organization. Ultimately, I think it is about taking responsibility, listening carefully and trying to explain your decisions as best as possible.”
The Aldermen’s Association thinks it is a nice development
She does not have hard figures, but director Hatte van der Woude of the Aldermen’s Association has the idea that more and more young aldermen are coming. “Especially compared to the past, where the councilor was an older man,” she says.
The director says he thinks it is a nice development. Young people bring a different perspective. Still, she thinks it is good if different age groups are in a municipal council.
According to Van der Woude, the criticism is often that young people lack experience. But at the same time she sees that this also occurs among older candidates. “The advantage of a younger councilor: he realizes that.”
