Party Leader Ophir Waasdorp

My name is Ophir Waasdorp, I am 28 years old, and I live with my partner and our cat in a cosy studio in Leiden. I grew up among the greenhouses in the Westland region and moved to Leiden in 2018 to study Linguistics. From the moment I came to live in Leiden, I felt that I was in the right place. Walking to Barry Badpak on 3 October, cycling through the bustling city centre and bumping into acquaintances on the way to the supermarket: that is the Leiden where I belong.

In addition to being a linguist, I am also a musician, and I think it is important that politics continues to pay attention to the performing arts. Culture is always the first to be cut when there are budget cuts, even though everyone benefits from it: culture brings people together and exposes you to different perspectives, but it also offers much-needed relaxation in a world that is becoming increasingly busy and stressful.

I have been a member of Volt since 2021, but the 2023 general election and the disastrous cabinet that followed were decisive factors in my decision to become politically active. Issues such as climate, education and culture have been neglected recently, and I believe it is time to put them back in the spotlight. I have met so many different people from all walks of life, and I have noticed that most people are not as different as national politics would have us believe. Everyone wants a clean environment, a social safety net in their neighbourhood, and a chat on the street. As party leader, I am committed to this and want to bring people together. In addition to local issues, European cooperation has always fascinated me. When the euro was introduced in 2002, I started collecting the different coins from all the countries in the eurozone. At the time, there were twelve countries; now there are twenty, with even more candidates on the horizon. By forming a strong bloc, the European Union shows that problems must be tackled by working together and looking beyond borders. I want to apply this idea on a small scale by seeking more intensive cooperation in Leiden with municipalities in the region on issues such as housing, sustainability and innovation. Through active citizen participation and an accessible government, we can make a difference here together. Together for our city.