Introduction
I grew up on the Eikbosserweg. Both my parents have been Hilversums for generations. I danced with Van Bommel, sat at the ATC, and delivered the Gooi- en Eembode as a side job. I have lived in many beautiful places in Hilversum and now live with my wife and two children aged 11 and 8 and dogs Dudok and Duiker in the Raadhuiskwartier, close to the center. I am an IT entrepreneur (software). I am active in society 'De Unie' and am a former member and national president of De Nederlandsche Tafelronde, an organization that does a lot for charity. In the weekend I like to go sailing on Loosdrecht or walk with the children and the dogs in one of the beautiful nature reserves around Hilversum.
Motivation
I once lived on the Bilderdijklaan when all the trees in the street were unexpectedly cut down. Because I didn't agree with that and many other residents didn't either, I went to the Town Hall to protest. The newspaper articles can still be found. I didn't even know what a committee meeting was then, so my first taste of local politics was quite exciting. I was already a member of the VVD at that time. After we had successfully stopped the felling of many other trees with the neighborhood, I told the Hilversum VVD that I wanted to help more actively. Many campaigns later I was asked for the list and now I have been on the City Council for 6 years.
I'm talking about Hilversum; we must continue to work on a lively, safe and future-proof Hilversum. I'm more liberal than the right, but they won't easily call me left. I am in politics as a resident of Hilversum; No more and no less. I don't want to make a career out of it; it is a side job for me (as it is meant to be) even though some weeks it takes more time than I spend on my work.
Hilversum was already described in 1988 in the program “Weg van de Snelweg” as “the largest village in the Netherlands”. That's a nice description in my opinion. Hilversum is a village with urban allure but also with urban problems. We want to preserve the beautiful nature around us. We don't want skyscrapers to preserve the village character. But we have to move on. We can't just stop all developments because we like Hilversum so much now. We also have to make sure that Hilversum is a nice place to live for our children. This results in complex issues and great challenges, to which I am happy to dedicate my heart and soul.
(Ancillary) functions
- Atomos Applications - founder/owner
- Nederlandsche Tafelronde - former national president/former member of the Tafelronde 80 Hilversum
- Sociëteit De Unie - member/member event committee Sociëteit De Unie
- Bowling club DDT - chairman
- Friends of the Wolfsdreuvik Foundation - secretary
