Hennie Bogaards returns as alderman in Noordoostpolder

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Hennie Bogaards has returned as an alderman in the municipality of Noordoostpolder, eight years after ending her first term, which ran from 2010 to 2018. She said that politics continued to appeal to her and that she had wanted to bring experience from her time in the Flevoland Provincial Council and as a supervisor at an elderly care institution back to local politics. She resumed the role this summer after leaving it to make way for someone with a fresh perspective.

Bogaards said that local politics had become more dualistic, with a clearer separation between the municipal executive and the council. She described this as positive because it made the debate more open and transparent. She also said she had become more patient with age and felt less need to put her mark on everything.

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Politics

Wim van Wegen criticized regional policy and support for the Lelyline

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Noordoostpolder council member Wim van Wegen of Brede Horizon said the Dutch government paid too little attention to regions outside the Randstad. He linked political discontent in places such as Noordoostpolder to the decline of basic facilities, including public transport, schools and shops, and said Flevoland was missing from the government’s list of eleven designated “vital regions.” Van Wegen also criticized the VVD over the long-running discussion about the Lelyline, a proposed railway connection from Lelystad through Emmeloord to Groningen. The project is estimated to require €15 billion, and the cabinet has asked former central bank governor Klaas Knot to reconsider how it could be financed. Van Wegen said he retained confidence in State Secretary Annet Bertram’s efforts to advance the project with external funding, although he said the VVD had shown no interest in it.

Politics

Internal dispute over Strong Local Flevoland leader ended in party changes

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Strong Local Flevoland list leader Wout Jansen said an internal dispute over his selection had ultimately strengthened the party and increased solidarity. The dispute arose after Jansen was chosen to lead the party in the provincial elections in March, despite previously saying he would leave provincial politics. US Noordoostpolder challenged the party board, saying procedures had not been properly followed and members had been excluded. The party’s only provincial representative, Lex Ruyssenaars, subsequently switched to 50Plus and had also objected to Jansen’s return as leader. Jansen said Strong Local Flevoland had ended its cooperation with US Noordoostpolder after a members’ meeting and that the other affiliated parties had closed ranks. Two parties have since joined the alliance: Dronten Social, led by former alderman Peter Duvekot, and Together for Almere, led by former council member Hassan Buyatui. Jansen said Together for Almere would no longer participate independently in the provincial elections.