It is very likely that two students from Radboud University will be installed as city councillors next week: Léonie Janssen of D66 and Sander van der Goes of GroenLinks. They want the voice of young people to be heard in city hall.

Léonie Janssen (law student, #4 D66): 

‘We can only solve the climate crisis together’ 

‘In these last four years, we have been able to do a lot for the city with six seats. We are happy to have won six seats again, although we hoped for a few more. Last night we were not cheering, but we were not moping either. Rather something in between. The most euphoric moment was when it was announced that Forum for Democracy had not won a single seat. All the different political parties went wild – a nice statement.’ 

‘I do not yet know what portfolio I will get. But I certainly want to work for a more liberal, social, and greener Nijmegen. I hope to be able to make the voice of young people heard. That is badly needed: young people are still insufficiently represented in municipal politics. The housing market, for example, is a very important issue, and the climate crisis hangs like a dark cloud over my generation. We really can’t do a half-assed job with that.’ 

‘The fact that the Stadspartij has grown so much is quite an accomplishment. Nationally, you see that local parties are doing very well. I think we were wise to make a statement beforehand that we would like to be part of a broad coalition, preferably with a right-wing party. D66 wants to seek cooperation on a broad level. On an individual level, it also seems logical to me that the young councillors should work together. The climate crisis, for example, you can only solve together.’ 

‘I study law and also work as a teacher at the HAN. Now that I have been elected as a councillor, I will have to find a new balance. I want to finish my studies in any case. I don’t know yet how much time I will have left over from my council work. The most important thing is that I do a good job as a representative of the people.’ 

Sander van der Goes (social geography student, #9 GroenLinks): 

‘We can not accept the fact that 3 out of 4 students feels lonely’ 

‘We are very happy with the results. Not only in Nijmegen, but nationally as well. GroenLinks has grown almost everywhere, even though that was expected. And it wasn’t at the cost of other left-wing parties. That is great.’ 

‘GroenLinks won nine seats in Nijmegen. I am number nine. If someone below me on the list wins the preferential vote, I could still end up empty-handed. I would find that very unfortunate, but I have faith that it will turn out all right. I’ve received a lot of support, also from students.’ 

‘It would be a shame not only for me if I don’t make it, but also for the young people of the city. Many young candidates on the lists seem not to have made it. Whereas: representation in the council is very important, in terms of colour, gender, origin, but also age. I will not work as a lobbyist for the young, but I will bring my perspective to the council.’ 

‘Take the closure of the beaches along the Waal in the evenings. I know how hard young people had it during covid. The previous council could have made a bigger issue of it, from the perspective of young people. For me, welfare is a theme that has top priority the coming years. We cannot accept that three out of four young people feel lonely. That has to do with where they live, what the cultural offering is and whether there are enough meeting places.’ 

‘I am still working on my thesis on the integration of Syrian women; and I still have to do two elective courses. I will spread these out over the next eighteen months. Now, I first want to devote myself to the council work full-time. That is really extremely important.’