The 15 Key Priorities

What has been done?

• In mid-2018, Beneden-Leeuwen also launched Beneden-Leeuwen village platform. As a result, many residents are now actively involved in all eight villages. They connect people, organize events, and highlight volunteer opportunities. The platforms also have their own village websites.
• With financial support from the municipality, most platforms have now developed so-called Village Development Plans (VDPs). These plans outline everything that residents consider important, such as preserving and improving the quality of life in their village.
• We have doubled the budget for funding quality-of-life initiatives from €3,000 to €6,000. Residents and volunteer organizations can apply for a grant of €750 before February 1 and before September 1.
• The Alderman meets with the village platforms every six months to discuss ongoing and new issues. Our Quality of Life Coordinator serves as the point of contact for these meetings.

What has been done?

• We are making additional investments in Special Education through our healthcare and education systems. We are also investing in collaboration with the relevant organizations. We want children with disabilities or developmental delays to be able to attend their own school or a school nearby.
• We support initiatives that help parents with low literacy skills improve their language skills.
• The Integrated Child Center (IKC) in Beneden-Leeuwen officially opened on March 21, 2019. The following organizations will be collaborating there:
  • Pax Junior with two classrooms.
  • De Leeuwenkuil and De Wijzer Elementary Schools.
  • A daycare center offering toddler care and after-school care provided by SPOM.

What has been done?

• On February 15, the cornerstone was laid for the construction of a community and service center adjacent to the gym in Appeltern. This expansion enhances the multifunctional use of the facility.
• The new multi-purpose facility (MFA) “Het Hanzehuys” Maasbommel open in May in the Hanseatic town of Maasbommel .
• When we receive requests from organizations that want to collaborate, we support and facilitate the initiatives that involve the municipality. “Not top-down, but bottom-up!”

What has been done?

We are implementing the following measures in accordance with our 2016 Housing Vision:

• We are raising awareness among our residents about the implications of living at home for longer. We are doing this in collaboration with businesses and healthcare organizations. One of the ways we do this is through the “Thuis met het Grootste Gemak” Housing Fair, which we organize every two years.
• Residents can apply for a retention loan.
• Through a gradual revision of the zoning plan for the villages, multi-generational housing will become possible.

What has been done?

• Depending on the issue, we—as the coordinating municipality—work together with other organizations both within and outside the municipality. This includes housing, the environment, health, safety, income support, and healthcare. We have established agreements regarding these matters with, among others, municipalities in the Nijmegen and Rivierenland regions, local businesses, and village platforms. We encourage collaboration with and among other parties whenever possible.

What has been done?

• Residents and businesses can submit new ideas (including construction ideas) through the community forum.
• Since September 2018, we have been awarding not six but twelve grants of €750 each year. The grants are intended for new ideas that maintain or improve quality of life or community spirit.

What has been done?

• Each of the eight village platforms has its own village website.
• On these websites, residents can find news about their village, local amenities, and a calendar of events. The local calendar is also linked to the calendars of the other villages.
  • alphen
  • altforst
  • appeltern
  • www.blikopbeneden-leeuwen.nl
  • www.onsbep.nl (Boven-Leeuwen)
  • www.dorpsplatformdreumel.nl
  • www.hanzestadmaasbommel.info
  • www.samenwamel.nl
• We send a newsletter to subscribed business owners. Through this newsletter, we keep them informed about current developments in economic affairs, recreation, and tourism.
• We are publishing a newsletter on the 2030 Quality of Life Vision. In it, we report on the progress of the 15 key priorities outlined in this vision.

What has been done?

• Residents of Alphen use the minibus operated by the SLAG Village Platform with the help of volunteers.
• Car-sharing vehicles Maasbommel available in Appeltern, Beneden-Leeuwen Maasbommel .
• Since January 2019, we have had 'AutoMobiel'. This is a project by Servicepunt Thuiswonen. Residents of West Maas en Waal can turn to this service for their transportation needs. Volunteers then provide transportation for an expense allowance.
• Residents with a Wmo transportation referral can use Versis, the regional taxi service, as a supplementary means of transportation.
• Arriva’s on-demand bus runs in the evenings and on weekends. The on-demand bus runs from Beneden-Leeuwen Dreumel passing through Altforst, Appeltern, Maasbommel Alphen. Appeltern two stops in Appeltern .

What has been done?

• Many homes in the town centers are now connected to fiber-optic internet, as are several business parks (Veesteeg and Waterstraat).

• Work has begun in rural areas to install fiber-optic internet. This high-speed internet service is provided free of charge. The municipality is collaborating on this project with six other municipalities in Rivierenland.

What has been done?

• Maasbommel a member of the International Hanseatic League. The Maasbommel Hanseatic Town Village Platform Maasbommel involved Maasbommel regarding the strategy for further promoting the town and integrating this with the village’s branding.
• The Altforst village platform has submitted a plan for village branding. Part of this plan involves installing three steel frogs along the three main access roads.
• The village platform WamelSamen Wamelis exploring whether its slogan can be displayed on billboards. The platform is also considering the possibility of placing an eye-catching sign at the village entrance via Hollenhof.
• The village platforms of Beneden-Leeuwen Dreumel the fourth and fifth villages to sign up for village branding. They launched their initiatives in November and January. We expect to see their first results by the end of 2019.

What has been done?

• In November 2018, the AppelternMooi AppelternWalking and Strolling Appelternwas opened as part of the Living Landscape initiative. DorpsPlatform Appeltern DPA), in collaboration with Uit®waarde and the municipality, developed two trails (4.6 and 5.7 km).
• DPA is continuing its “Growfunding” campaign to, among other things, Appeltern more of Appeltern village entrances. A standard-tree brigade Appeltern also Appeltern established in Appeltern .
• The DPA Youth Task Force is implementing its plan for the ’t Appelveldje recreational area. In addition to the elementary school, the area will feature a digital panna field, a treehouse, and a bocce court, among other amenities.
• The Samen Wamel Village Platform Wamel flower bulbs in De Grote Gemeente Park. They did this together with students from De Laak Elementary School and clients of the RIBW.
• Seven of the eight village platforms have submitted their Village Development Plans (VDPs) or are close to finalizing them. These plans address not only housing but also public spaces, traffic, activities, and amenities. We incorporate the VDPs into the planning of municipal activities in the villages.
• In Wamel , Pastoor Kurstjensplein Wamel built across from the Vrije Tijdscentrum.

What has been done?

• The first edition of “Open Maas en Waal” in 2018 will be followed by a second edition on June 1, 2019. On that day, many businesses and organizations will open their doors to the public—doors that are usually closed. To make this happen, Ondernemend Maas en Waal is collaborating with the municipalities of Maas en Waal.

What has been done?

• Sales of commercial properties in various locations throughout our municipality are still going very well.
• For larger recreational initiatives, we provide a project manager. The first ten hours of this support are covered by the municipality.

What has been done?

• In 2018, we implemented and planned energy-saving measures for municipal buildings. We are also installing solar panels on the roofs of the town hall, the municipal maintenance yard, and the swimming pool.
• We source our electricity and gas sustainably. We have also set additional sustainability requirements for the procurement of cleaning services and student transportation.
• We are actively working to make our street lighting more sustainable. As part of this effort, we have already replaced 400 streetlights with LED lighting.
• Residents can take out loans to fund sustainability initiatives. We also offer them affordable energy consulting services provided by an energy advisor. Residents can contact the regional energy help desk “Het Nieuwe Wonen Rivierenland” for information and advice.
• We have reached an agreement with the De Kernen Housing Association to make its rental properties more sustainable.
• To encourage sustainability, sports clubs are provided with free energy monitoring. This gives them insight into the energy flows in their buildings. Since 2018, foundations and associations have been able to obtain loans to implement sustainability measures.
• The Rivierenland Regional Environmental Agency (ODR) is increasingly encouraging businesses to conserve energy through its regulatory oversight.
• We are partnering with Groenleven BV on the construction of two solar parks: one at the N322/Van Heemstraweg roundabout and the other at the Noord-Zuid/Van Heemstraweg roundabout.
• On February 13, we held a well-attended energy forum on sustainability. Renowned meteorologist Reinier van den Berg was our special guest. The event Map many initiatives and ideas from residents, businesses, associations, and organizations in Map .

What has been done?

We are currently working hard to implement the action plan to Maasbommel the Hanseatic city Maasbommel .

• On December 13, 2018, the municipal council a briefing on the archaeological hotspot “Expedition across the Meuse.” The Gelderland Heritage Foundation has investigated the options for managing and exhibiting the at least 250,000 historical artifacts.
• In April 2019, the municipal council a directive to the mayor and aldermen regarding an option it wished to see further explored.
• The municipal council adopted the Village Quality Plan West Maas en Waal on January 24, 2019. This plan includes a 'village passport' for each of the eight villages. It outlines how we can collectively preserve or improve the quality of the environment and cultural heritage.