The Mayor's New Year's Address

Dear residents of Voorschoten,

First and foremost, on behalf of the municipal council and the executive board , I would like to wish you a healthy, joyful, and hopeful 2023. It’s so nice to have you here tonight! It’s wonderful 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 as we always have. We enjoyed Christmas meals with family, friends, and neighbours and toasted the New Year at midnight.

New Year's Eve

The preparations for New Year's Eve went very well again this year. Police and fire services, along with our employees from Public Order and Safety, Outdoor Operations, and Communications, worked literally day and night to ensure that New Year's Eve in Voorschoten went smoothly and festively. Together with the residents, this was more than achieved. It was as convivial as ever. Plenty of cheer and fortunately a quiet evening for the emergency services. That night too, police, firefighters, municipal enforcement officers (BOAs), and ambulances stood ready for our safety. Thank you for that! We consider that normal. But it is not. They leave their families behind at home. We must never forget that.

What unfortunately was also as usual were the newspaper reports about the consequences of setting off fireworks. Doctors in eye hospitals called it a night of horror. The lives of young people have been permanently altered this New Year's Eve. Reports about police officers who were injured because illegal fireworks were thrown at them while they were doing their work. I wonder how long we will continue to find this acceptable as a society and place a tradition above safety. New Year's Eve has long ceased to be a celebration for everyone.

The following morning, the men of the Outdoor Operations department were out early on the streets to clean up all the litter left behind after setting off fireworks. Thanks to you as well!

Review of 2022

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

The unimaginable consequences of the childcare benefits scandal that continue to profoundly and harshly impact families every day, as they still have not received financial compensation. And that is not even mentioning the children who were wrongfully removed from their homes. They, too, are victims of the childcare 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 reception facilities.

Looking ahead to 2023

So there is work to be done! As people from Rotterdam say: "Less talk, more action!" We are facing a new year in which major decisions must be made across many areas. These are issues that affect everyone every day. This takes place against a backdrop where we must work hard to regain trust in the government. In my view, that is the foundation for moving out of the crisis atmosphere of 2022: trust.

Elections

In March 2022, a new “ municipal council ” was elected, and in July, a new “ executive board ” was formed. There are many new and young faces on the “ municipal council ,” and since the end of 2022, for the first time, there have been more women than men on the council. This is unprecedented in Voorschoten.

The declining turnout in municipal council elections is concerning. The reasons for this vary and cannot always be easily explained. One theme, however, recurs every time: residents express the feeling that the government is no longer there for them. I think we can all understand that feeling. The positive aspect is that together we can do our part in Voorschoten to restore trust. This offers opportunities in the coming year to go the extra mile to show that, as a municipal administration, we are indeed there for our residents. Listening and knowing what is happening in our society.

Participation

This does not mean that as a municipal administration we make decisions that everyone agrees with. Or that we listen most to those who shout the loudest. Listening to the silent majority is equally important. It is precisely about the municipal administration clearly outlining the requirements within which discussions can take place. And being able to explain the decision that is ultimately made. It is important that we make decisions. That we ensure Voorschoten continues to develop. After all, standing still is going backward.

Housing

Making choices and decisions means that friction will occur. That is inevitable. I mention the shortage of affordable housing for various target groups in Voorschoten. Which first-time buyer, especially when you are young, on the housing markt can buy or rent an affordable home in our municipality? For too long, they have been left on the sidelines in this regard, and born-and-raised residents of Voorschoten are forced to move to another municipality to find a place to live. Therefore, we must find locations to build.

I am well aware that construction locations cause discussions in our society. In my view, we owe it to the next generation to ensure they also have a realistic opportunity to live comfortably in Voorschoten.

Climate, energy, and purchasing power

The energy crisis we are in is felt by all of us, by residents and entrepreneurs alike. The chance that energy prices will stabilize anytime soon seems slim. This means we must work together to find ways to reduce our energy consumption on the one hand and generate our energy differently on the other. Commitment, creativity, and new ways of thinking are needed in the field of sustainability. In this way, purchasing power will also be restored and uncertainties will decrease. All social partners are needed for this, such as housing associations for making social rental homes more sustainable.

Resilience

Many issues, many changes, the necessity to make decisions. That requires flexibility and resilience. We have shown that Voorschoten possesses these qualities. Thanks to many, the reception of Ukrainians who had to flee war got off the ground very quickly. And this year too, Voorschoten is providing a temporary emergency reception location for status holders, so that we 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 have also seen resilience in our entrepreneurs. Recent years have been, to put it mildly, not the easiest. Entrepreneurs went straight from coronavirus measures into all the consequences brought by the war in Ukraine. I admire your resilience and positivity. For despite everything that has happened and is happening, entrepreneurs simply stand strong and have picked up business as it was before 2020, including all the events that could not take place in our village without them. That is an attitude we can all still learn something from.

Let us make 2023 a wonderful and warm year together. A year in which we continue to pay attention to those who need it.

Thank you for your attention.