How does the city council affect my life in Amsterdam?
You might be wondering why it is important to vote in the local election in Amsterdam. What does the city council do? And why should I vote if I am not a Dutch citizen?
The city council is the highest governing body within the municipality. It decides on the most important topics in Amsterdam, such as tourist taxes and the construction of new houses. Of all political representatives, the 45 councillors are perhaps the closest to citizens, considering they constantly keep in touch with Amsterdammers to understand what is going on in the city.
Do you want to know if you’re eligible to vote? We collected all the information for you here.
So why are these elections also relevant for international people? The answer might sound simple: municipal policies directly impact the lives of everyone living in Amsterdam. Let’s look at a few examples:
Public transport
Safety in public spaces
Garbage collection
Parks and green spaces
Traffic rules such as speed limits
Support for the cultural sector
Major national and even international issues can be tackled on a local level as well. The recent geopolitical developments have shown that a strong European mindset is needed in all democratic organisations and institutions. Since 2016, Volt has been pushing for a strong, sustainable and digital Europe that is safe for everyone. Solutions that are relevant here are the independence from US-based tech companies, protecting human rights, accommodation for refugees, the improvement of international train connections, fighting climate change and in parallel getting Amsterdam ready for the negative impacts of climate change.
The municipality is also in charge of providing information and assistance to new international residents and newcomers. This is done for example by facilitating language courses, providing practical information about where to live, financial matters and the education system for your children.
At Volt, we see that living in Amsterdam is getting more and more difficult for many. The city keeps getting busier, more expensive and more uncertain. We believe that Amsterdam can once again be a city where you can build your future. We cannot wait for solutions for urgent problems like the housing crisis, the climate crisis and growing inequality of opportunity. Amsterdam deserves politics that restores the human scale and learns from what works in Vienna, Copenhagen or Barcelona. Politics where progress and connection take center stage. Find here more information about how we plan to take Amsterdam into the future.
Do you want to know if you’re eligible to vote? We collected all the information for you here.
Verena Kitowski is running for Volt in the City Council elections and in the district committee West. She is German by passport, European at heart and Amsterdam has become her home in the last seven years. She is an expert on sustainability, consumer rights and circular economy. In the city council of Amsterdam, she wants to tackle local issues that affect internationals as well as Dutch residents. This includes all topics that contribute to a more open society and fighting ‘bubbles’, such as language barriers, anonymous neighbourhoods, housing and community building.