Introduction
Since childhood I have been interested in politics. As a teenager he already attended political meetings and occasionally sat in the public gallery of the House of Representatives to follow debates. As a student I became active in university politics and discovered the importance of being able to speak well. No matter how strong a (political) message can be, if you are unable to convey it properly, it is unfortunately usually lost. After graduating, I started a company and a foundation called the Netherlands Debate Institute. Together with colleagues, I have been training professionals in presenting, arguing and holding meetings for almost 25 years now. I also act as moderator/debate leader on a weekly basis. Very often this is within the public sector. We also organize major debate events and training courses within all levels of education with the aim of ensuring that young people learn to think about social issues and are able to formulate their arguments well and to listen to others.
Since 2007 I live with my wife, son and daughter in Hilversum with great pleasure. Running is my hobby and there is no better place in the Netherlands to do that than on the Hilversum heath!
Motivation
My main motivation for being a committee member/council member is that I find a healthy political culture invaluable. Politics matters, but politics and politicians are increasingly portrayed in a negative light. Not least because of their own actions. Through my work I have seen the inside of many council chambers and led hundreds of debates on social issues and I have seen that a good political debate stands or falls with a genuine interest in the views of those you disagree with. With the intention of all participants in the debate to move forward together. Unfortunately, politics is becoming more and more about claiming one's own right and damaging the other. And with that we all lose. In the coming years I hope to be able to contribute to a healthy political culture with sharp but honest debates in which there is always the awareness that all parties have the best interests of Hilversum at heart.
My personal conviction is that Hilversum must dare to look to the future with ambition. There must be perspective for all those people who would like to (continue to) live in Hilversum, but are unable to find a place at the moment. Also because we will desperately need them in the coming years in, for example, healthcare, education and the hospitality industry. In doing so, we must also ensure that those who need an extra push to get an equal chance to achieve their dreams get that push. And we must dare to lead the way in the field of sustainability. If we still want to be a vibrant city in 20 years' time, we must want to be in the leading group of the energy transition instead of waiting for the peloton. Or, as they put it so beautifully in English: 'You snooze, you lose'. In short: it starts with ambition!
(Ancillary) functions
- Netherlands Debate Institute BV - Founder and director
- Netherlands Debate Institute Foundation - Chairman
