Peter Zwiers from Nieuw-Buinen (41) will stop as a councilor for the Labor Party in Borger-Odoorn in March next year. After eighteen years of being a representative in the Provincial Council and the municipal council, he thinks it is time for more peace and time for his family.
“I think March is a good time to quit,” he explains his upcoming departure. “Then we are halfway through the council term and there is still plenty of time to train my successor Simone van Dijk. I also have a number of issues that I want to get over the line. There is still plenty to do politically, but that is possible The group is also fine without me.”
A highlight for Zwiers in his political career is the initiative proposal for making club buildings of sports clubs more sustainable, in order to reduce energy costs for clubs. That proposal in March 2016 ultimately led to Drenthe Sport Duurzaam, which aims to make all 225 outdoor sports facilities in the province more sustainable.
He also mentions the ‘pirate music adventure’ as a highlight. Zwiers was one of the founders of the Pirate Culture Foundation and was the driving force behind the initiative to include pirate culture in the inventory of Intangible Heritage. That happened in July 2021.
He mentions the sudden departure of former deputy Ard van der Tuuk as low points. “We as a faction were also surprised by this,” says Zwiers. “We also had to hear about it from the media at the time. And we lost a great party member.”
In addition, the windmill dossier in the Peat Colonies had a major impact on the work as a representative. “Apart from the government’s robbery technique, which we could do nothing about, these were very tough times. For example, I was the only one in the States faction with twelve men who was against. The rest were in favor. That created a lot of pressure. My loyalty to the area was greater,” explains Zwiers, who was born in 2e Exloërmond and now lives in Nieuw-Buinen. In the middle of the windmill area.
“But overall I had a wonderful time,” said the PvdA politician. “Met a lot of nice people. It is a privilege to be able to do this for eighteen years. That is not self-evident for everyone. I have seen plenty of good people leave who did not want to leave yet.”
It’s nice that I can choose my own moment. And then I can soon complain about bad roadsides on birthdays,” Zwiers laughs.