Nieuw-Vennep first stop of charm offensive H’meers city council: ‘We barely get outside’

“Council members spend an enormous amount of time on residents, but they do that indoors. We have a lot of documents to read and talk about and you actually don’t get around to going outside at all,” says Mayor of Haarlemmermeer Marianne Schuurmans . “That’s why we said: ‘just do an ongoing council meeting.'”

Several Vennepers are going to great lengths to put their local subject on the political agenda. Pupils of primary school De Linq show large photos of their damaged school building, which is regularly infested by loiterers. In the historic White Church, councilors can climb the narrow staircase to the attic. Once there they have a good view of the cracks in the walls. “The foundation is rotting,” says volunteer Jan-Willem Buitenhuis.

Deflation

Council members who themselves grew up in the ‘small centers’ recognize the feeling of the ‘past’ residents. “As the years went by, I noticed that Nieuw-Vennep was emptying out a bit and Hoofddorp was becoming more and more attractive. That is a great pity. Many entrepreneurs eventually chose to leave,” says councilor Jennifer Hup. Her father also closed his shop. “Perhaps that is also the reason why I joined the council. To try to make Nieuw-Vennep vibrant again.”

Vennepers present are happy with the visit of the council. “We are experts by experience and really understand what is going on here. You cannot always expect that from council members, because they live throughout the polder,” admits entrepreneur Ben Perdaan. “It is up to the councilors themselves to ensure that this day does not turn out to be a disappointment and they can of course do that by showing that they have really listened and are really doing something with it,” he added.

According to Schuurmans, that will be fine. “We’re going to see how we’re going to put all that information we’ve received on the council’s agenda,” she promises.