Are you bursting with good ideas, do you enjoy sharing your opinion, and will you be in Group 8 next school year? Then the Children's Municipal Council is definitely for you! Hilversum is looking for 16 children who want to be part of the Children's Municipal Council after the summer, either independently or on behalf of their school.
Children's Municipal Council
This school year, the children's council consists of: Chris Dolmans, Sam Bakker, Alexander Meijer, Mink Arbeel, Izabela Fischer Barbosa, Rosi Essink, Matilda Goud, Levi Vijfschaft, Mohammed Fofana, and Konnor d'Anjou.
This is what the children's council does
The children's council meets approximately 6 times a year on Wednesday afternoons. Together they learn in a playful way how democracy works by working on a plan that is actually implemented. The children's council is appointed for the period of 1 school year from September to July. The children's municipal council receives its own budget of €8000,- to spend on a plan that they have devised and selected themselves.
Children's council poll
Not all children who register can be in the children's council. Because the opinion of all children is very important, there is the children's council poll. At least once (and a maximum of 1 times) per year, children from Hilversum - who have registered for this, can give their opinion on a question or statement that the children's council deals with. Schools can also register for this and deal with these issues in class.
Selection procedure children's council
The municipality of Hilversum reviews all entries. From these, the municipality selects 16 children for the children's council. The following are judged:
- Motivation
- Ideas and plans
- It is also taken into account that the children in the children's council come from the different neighborhoods of Hilversum
To become Children's Mayor, a separate selection procedure follows among these 16 children.
The Children's Mayor
Photo: Rosi Essink, children's mayor 2025-2026
The Children's Mayor is the face of all children in Hilversum. For a full school year, the Children's Mayor assists the Mayor with ceremonial duties. For example, at the arrival of Sinterklaas, the lighting of the children's fireworks, and May 4th. The Children's Mayor is also present at events that are important to children.
Selection procedure for Children's Mayor
The selection procedure for the Children's Mayor consists of 2 rounds:
- First round: a professional jury selects 5 child council members who advance to the second round.
- The children's council chooses a children's mayor from the 5 selected council members
Email the children's mayor
Children who would like to bring something to the attention of the children's mayor can email: childrenburgemeester@hilversum.nl.
Plan
Thanks to the children's council, the plans below were devised and implemented.
- 2026: Hilversum Meets! An event for young people and seniors to connect, learn from each other, and strengthen cooperation and understanding between young people and seniors.
- 2025: Outdoor play packages
- 2024: Two interactive play equipment playground (next to the Hertenkamp petting zoo)
- 2023: Guest lessons in the classroom for all Hilversum primary schools
- 2022: A barefoot path
- 2020: Your own work of art, which symbolizes 75 years of freedom
- 2018: Insect hotels built and hung in Kerkelanden
- 2017: A campaign to quickly and easily report unsafe traffic situations
