Column by Vincent van Neerbos

Over the past few days, many of you have enjoyed Carnival with friends and family. It was a time of fun, celebration, and escape from the daily routine. We look forward to it all year long, and the countdown to next year has already begun. How a village celebrates carnival says a lot about our culture. That is why I would like to express my appreciation for the carnival associations and volunteers who work hard for our community throughout the year.

The political parties are also looking ahead, because next year there will be municipal elections. They are already busy finding good candidates for the electoral list and drawing up their election program. This program outlines how they think our municipality should develop in the future. You can help by contributing your ideas, asking questions, and staying involved. So don't hesitate to approach the parties if you have good ideas for your village and our municipality.

The 'Politically Active' course will also start soon in our municipality, and I am pleased that many residents have signed up for it. Together with them, we will discover how the municipality works and what it means to be politically active.
Council work is not easy. It requires a lot of time and commitment from council members. The work is extensive, and in recent years, more and more tasks have been added by the national government. Our municipal council is increasingly seeking dialogue with you, the residents. Resident participation is slowly taking shape. We still have steps to take, but we are moving in the right direction.

Together, we will ensure that West Maas en Waal remains a municipality we can be proud of. Let's stay involved and work together towards a bright future.

Kind regards,
Vincent van Neerbos
Mayor