The Mayor's Year-End Address

On Thursday evening, December 14, the municipality held an end-of-year gathering in the Marotzaal at Duivenvoorde Castle. On this page, you can read the written speech by Mayor Nadine Stemerdink, which served as the basis for her remarks.

Dear residents, business owners, organizations, associations, fellow board members, and so on. A warm welcome to this end-of-year gathering. It’s wonderful to welcome so many of you here at the beautiful Duivenvoorde Castle, surrounded by the lovely Christmas atmosphere with all the lights and candles. For Voorschoten, this may also mark the start of a new tradition: an end-of-year gathering instead of a New Year’s reception.

We still have two weeks to go until New Year's Eve. But enough has happened for us to look back together on what we've done and experienced.

Train Accident

For Voorschoten, 2023 was the year of the train accident. On April 4, around 3:30 in the morning, residents living near the Voorschoten station were awakened by a loud crash, followed two minutes later by an even louder one. I don’t need to tell you what had happened. You all remember the chaos of that day, the week and weeks that followed, and for some, even the months that followed. After all, there was a great deal to repair and arrange. On a day like today, our thoughts are also with crane operator Martin, his family, and those injured in the accident.

I could tell you so many stories about everything I went through during that time—how I experienced it all, including survival tips for a train conductor. These are intimate moments, hilarious experiences, and events that I still look back on today with a sense of wonder and, at times, bewilderment. I learned a lot, such as that I, too, am just a human being and that I, too, had to process everything. I was able to do that thanks to the kind men at ProRail, who took the time to show me the train cars again and talk to me about them. That’s all part of being mayor.

What I definitely want to share today is how proud I am of the local residents, the emergency services—the police, fire department, ambulances, emergency dispatch center, and so on—who, working together, provided a level of assistance that defies description. Our Voorschoten Fire Department was the first on the scene of the accident. Close behind them was the first police car from Leiden-Zuid. Together with the emergency dispatch center, they laid out the initial response plan, which ensured that everything went so smoothly and put Voorschoten in a positive light in the news. When it comes down to it, we’re there for each other. That was clearly evident. Everywhere in the media, you read and heard about farmer Freek and the family doctor. Who, by the way—though we only found out later—isn’t actually a family doctor, but a geriatric specialist.

Elections

There’s so much more I’m proud of this year. For example, last month’s House of Representatives elections are still fresh in our minds. The voter turnout of over 85 percent was truly wonderful. But that high turnout also meant crowded polling places and enormous stacks of ballots to count. For the first time, residents were also able to vote at our own town hall. It’s great that we managed to organize that.

To be honest, I would have been fine with those elections being held two years later. After all, we already had the Provincial Council and Water Board elections in February. And organizing an event like that requires a tremendous amount of effort from volunteers and our staff. Thank you so much! Especially since there’s so much other work to be done.

Housing Construction

Take housing development, for example. Projects are underway all over our village, from the new construction at Intratuin to the wonderful plans at Huize Bijdorp. This year, we also discussed potential locations for flexible housing and our housing vision. Those were substantive and meaningful debates in the municipal council, during which difficult trade-offs had to be made.

In my monthly columns in the Voorschotense Krant, I often write about my group of friends. We’re a reflection of society in every way. Recently, we had a conversation about the major concerns people have regarding whether their sons and daughters will even have a chance, in the next 5 to 10 years, to find an affordable starter home within a reasonable timeframe. They can’t provide their children with a dowry to help finance a mortgage, just as so many other people can’t either. For that very large group of young people—the current and future first-time homebuyers—there is only one solution: build, build, and build some more.

It was great that this year, for the first time, we had a citizens’ initiative to build courtyard homes, also known as Knarrenhof. These are future-proof homes where older adults can enjoy living together. This citizens’ initiative was unanimously approved by the council.

Climate

It’s a short step from housing to climate, energy, sustainability, and green initiatives. We installed the final solar panel on the Boschbloem. Residents received free energy advice.

And next year, we’ll begin major maintenance work in Adegeest. We’ll be focusing heavily on green spaces, as well as on safety and stormwater drainage (sewer system). In the run-up to this, residents have actively contributed their ideas; a successful example of participation in which residents and the municipality have worked together to develop a better plan and gain new insights. It’s not about who’s right. It’s about working together to make decisions that prioritize the common good.

Work will also be done on the sewer system on Raadhuislaan. And yes, it’s really going to happen—the roundabout near City Hall is finally being made safer for traffic.

It’s nice to mention the new trees we’ve planted: a linden tree on Voorstraat and 28 other special trees in Burgemeester Berkhout Park. That brings me back to NLdoet. This year, our municipal council had the opportunity to help the students at Nutsbasisschool prune branches—in the rain, snow, and wind. It was so much fun talking with those kids about what they think and what they want to be when they grow up.

Volunteers

And I haven’t even mentioned our volunteers yet. Because where would we be without them? I think I know the answer, and that is: absolutely nowhere. Many have been dedicated to helping others for years. I’m thinking of the informal caregivers who are ready day and night to step in where professional care falls short due to a shortage of staff. Or all the volunteers at sports and cultural organizations and Scouting clubs, who are always ready to roll up their sleeves. No request is too much.

Don’t forget the social welfare and senior citizen organizations that are indispensable in a municipality where life is apparently so pleasant and good that we’re one of the municipalities with the highest proportion of retirees in the country. Then there are the volunteers who, year after year, organize wonderful festivals and events in our village—from King’s Day, the Voorschoten Weekend, and the arrival of Sinterklaas, to the Horse Days and Open Monument Day. And finally, let’s not forget the volunteers at our fire department! Volunteers are indispensable.

Entrepreneurs

I’m also proud of our entrepreneurs. They are the beating heart of our community. They create jobs, including for those in our community who need a little extra help. For example, in partnership with the Meraki Foundation, these entrepreneurs provide opportunities for people receiving benefits or who have a refugee background—people who want to start their own businesses, become accountants, or work for a local business owner.

Entrepreneurship—that’s what Voorschoten is all about! We can see that in the high level of involvement entrepreneurs show in our events. The first entrepreneurs’ breakfast on Entrepreneurs’ Day, which we held this year, was a success and definitely worth repeating. Of course, I hope to see even more entrepreneurs next year! Among them, as we always see at every event in our village, will be members of the press.

Remembrance Day

This year, for the first time, the Scouts played an important role in the Remembrance Day ceremony. The two Scout troops lined up to present the wreaths. I got goosebumps when I saw how committed these young people were. Together, we must ensure that these stories continue to be passed down to future generations. Thank you, Scouts, for doing this!

At the Remembrance Day ceremony, our veterans always form a guard of honor. Voorschoten is home to just over 100 veterans who served in various missions abroad, often under difficult conditions. This has left its mark on many veterans. I’m glad that this year, for the first time, so many veterans attended the local Veterans’ Day event. That took place right here in this hall. What a special day that was—sharing memories together.

Civil Service Organization

A huge compliment to our civil service, which has essentially been working nonstop for three years now. The COVID-19 pandemic, complex issues surrounding housing, energy, quality of life, safety, the reception of displaced persons from Ukraine and status holders, and the handling of the train accident have demanded—and continue to demand—the utmost from our small but highly agile and loyal organization. I am proud of what we in Voorschoten have accomplished.

But Voorschoten cannot do this alone. Collaboration within the Leiden Region is essential to improve, bring closer to residents, and ensure the continuity of services—such as healthcare. In the coming years, this collaboration with the municipalities in the Leiden Region will be further intensified.

Peace

From Voorschoten, a step toward the world. Sadly, world peace is still a long way off—and perhaps even further away than it was at the start of the year. The war in Ukraine is still raging. Here in Voorschoten, we are now hosting more than 100 displaced people from Ukraine. They are truly part of our community; they are working, playing sports, going to school, and the kids are singing and dancing wherever they can. We continue to hope for a swift end to the war, so that families can be reunited in their homeland.

Peace is also further away than ever in the Gaza Strip. Everyone has watched with horror the images of Hamas’s terrorist attack. A conflict so deeply rooted among Israelis and Palestinians, with so many layers, and one in which so many innocent civilian casualties have been claimed over the years—even during those times when the media paid it no attention. The fear among our Jewish residents is beyond description. I cannot take away their fear. All I can do is listen to them—to their stories and feelings.

There is no peace in other countries either. People are still forced to flee because of their beliefs, sexual orientation, and so on. In Voorschoten, we have been taking in status holders for a year and a half now, as they wait for housing in the municipality to which they have been assigned. It’s a drop in the bucket, because the conditions at the registration center are no longer tenable for those who check in there. Moreover, the fact that the registration center is overcrowded has implications for the residents living near the center in Ter Apel. The situation has become unsustainable.

No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, everyone agrees that the asylum system has been gridlocked for quite some time and that continuing this way is not an option. Whatever government is formed—and please, no more elections—clear answers are needed. The time for vague and unworkable compromises is over. As a decent country, we have an obligation to provide humane shelter to those fleeing war.

Peace—it would be so wonderful to live in a world where there is peace. I always wonder what we’re doing to ourselves in this world. War leads nowhere. We must continue to engage in dialogue with one another, and making peace sooner rather than later is the only solution. Based on that conviction, and to pause together in remembrance of the innocent victims of all that violence, the city council has raised the peace flag at City Hall.

Closing

I’m going to wrap things up now, because you’ve had to listen to me long enough. We’re here at the beautiful Duivenvoorde Castle, surrounded by countless candles and lights—a symbol of hope and remembrance. Along with the joy we share with one another, the holidays also bring with them the loss of loved ones. Many of you have already lit a candle during the Evening of Lights for those who will forever remain in our hearts. I will certainly do the same during the Christmas holidays.

We also wonder what the new year will bring. No one knows. Last year’s New Year’s Eve comedy special was hosted by Claudia de Breij: “Things aren’t going well, but we’re going to make it right,” were the words with which she concluded her powerful performance.

Words that turned out to be prophetic. Our ability to cope with uncertainty has been put to the test, and we cannot rule out that this will continue to be the case in the coming year. But when I see how we in Voorschoten look out for one another in difficult circumstances, I am fully confident that we will continue to care for one another, even in 2024. We’ll make next year a good one together, too.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year’s Eve—and, for the emergency services, a peaceful one.

For now, thank you and cheers!