The Mayor's New Year's Address

Dear Residents of Voorschoten,

First and foremost, on behalf of the City Council and the City Executive, I would like to wish you a healthy, joyful, and hopeful 2023. It’s so nice to have you here tonight! It’s great that we’re gathered here again in the council chamber in Voorschoten to wish each other a Happy New Year—just as we always have. Once again, we were able to celebrate the holidays just as we always have. We enjoyed Christmas dinners with family, friends, and neighbors, and toasted the New Year together at midnight.

New Year's Eve

Preparations for New Year’s Eve went very well again this year. The police and fire department worked literally day and night alongside our staff from Public Order and Safety, Field Services, and Communications to ensure that New Year’s Eve in Voorschoten went smoothly and festively. Together with the residents, we more than succeeded. It was just like always: plenty of fun and, fortunately, a quiet evening for the emergency services. That night, too, the police, fire department, special enforcement officers, and ambulance crews were on standby to ensure our safety. Thank you for that! We take it for granted. But it isn’t. They leave their families at home. We must never forget that.

Unfortunately, another familiar sight was the newspaper reports on the consequences of setting off fireworks. Doctors at eye hospitals called it a night of horror. The lives of young people were permanently changed this New Year’s Eve. There were reports of police officers who were injured when illegal fireworks were thrown at them while they were on duty. I wonder how much longer we, as a society, will continue to find this acceptable and prioritize tradition over safety. New Year’s Eve has long since ceased to be a celebration for everyone.

The next morning, the Street Maintenance crew was out on the streets early again to clean up all the trash left behind after the fireworks. Thanks to you, too!

A Look Back at 2022

Climate crisis, nitrogen crisis, housing crisis, purchasing power crisis, asylum crisis, crisis of confidence. I’ve never before experienced a year in which the word “crisis” was used so often. The year 2022 was full of them. It was also the year that brought our vulnerabilities to the surface and made us realize that things that had seemed self-evident for years were no longer so. Peace in Europe came under pressure overnight. Paying the energy bill, healthcare costs, and the question of whether there will be any money left at the end of the month for groceries—which have become much more expensive—are concerns for an increasing number of households.

The unimaginable consequences of the benefits scandal, which continues to hit families with unprecedented severity every day because they still haven’t received financial compensation. And that’s not even mentioning the children who were wrongfully removed from their homes. They, too, are victims of the benefits scandal. For the first time in its history, Doctors Without Borders has taken action in our own country due to the conditions in asylum shelters.

Outlook for 2023

So there’s work to be done! As the people of Rotterdam say: “Don’t …, just get to work!” We’re facing a new year in which major decisions must be made in many areas. These are issues that affect everyone every day. And we’re doing this at a time when we need to work hard to regain trust in the government. In my view, that’s the foundation for emerging from the crisis of 2022: trust.

Elections

A new city council was elected in March 2022, and a new city administration was formed in July. There are many new and young faces on the city council, and since the end of 2022, for the first time, there have been more women than men on the council. This is a first for Voorschoten.

The declining voter turnout in municipal elections is a cause for concern. The reasons for this are varied and not always easy to pinpoint. One theme does come up time and again, however: residents say they feel that the government is no longer there for them. I think we can all understand that feeling. The positive aspect is that, together, we in Voorschoten can do our part to restore trust. This presents opportunities to go the extra mile in the coming year to show that we, as the municipal government, are indeed there for our residents—by listening and staying informed about what’s happening in our community.

Participation

This does not mean that, as the municipal government, we make decisions that everyone agrees with. Nor does it mean that we listen most closely to those who shout the loudest. Listening to the silent majority is just as important. The point is that, as the municipal government, we need to more clearly define the parameters within which people can have a say. And that we can explain the decision that is ultimately made. What’s important is that we make decisions. That we ensure Voorschoten continues to develop. After all, standing still means falling behind.

Housing

Making choices and decisions means that there will be friction. It can’t be any other way. Take, for example, the shortage of affordable housing for various groups in Voorschoten. What first-time homebuyer—especially if you’re young—can actually buy or rent an affordable home in our municipality? For far too long, they’ve been sidelined in this regard, and people born and raised in Voorschoten have been forced to move to another municipality just to find a place to live. That’s why we need to find sites to build on.

I am well aware that construction sites spark debate in our community. In my view, we owe it to the next generation to ensure that they, too, have a real opportunity to enjoy living in Voorschoten.

Climate, Energy, and Purchasing Power

The energy crisis we are currently facing is being felt by all of us—residents and business owners alike. The likelihood that energy prices will stabilize again in the foreseeable future seems slim. This means that we must work together to find ways to reduce our energy consumption on the one hand and generate energy in different ways on the other. Commitment, creativity, and new ways of thinking are needed in the area of sustainability. This will also help restore purchasing power and reduce uncertainty. To achieve this, we need all societal partners, such as housing authorities, to make social housing more sustainable.

Resilience

Many challenges, many changes, and the need to make decisions. That calls for flexibility and resilience. We’ve shown that Voorschoten has what it takes. Thanks to the efforts of many, the reception of Ukrainians who had to flee the war got off the ground very quickly. And this year as well, Voorschoten is providing a temporary emergency shelter for asylum seekers who have been granted refugee status, so that we can do our part to resolve the asylum crisis created by the national government. I am proud that we, too, are committed to helping people.

I’ve also seen resilience among our business owners. The past few years—and I’m putting this mildly—have not been the easiest. Business owners went from dealing with COVID-19 restrictions to facing all the consequences of the war in Ukraine. I admire your resilience and positivity. Because despite everything that has happened and is still happening, entrepreneurs are still standing strong and have resumed the activities they had before 2020—including all the events that wouldn’t be possible in our village without them. That’s a mindset we can all learn from.

Let’s work together to make 2023 a wonderful and heartwarming year—a year in which we continue to care for those who need it.

Thank you for your attention.