Alderman .A.N. (Rob) Reuvers

The pressure on the healthcare system is growing. We’re all feeling it—from residents to healthcare providers. As a municipality, we want to keep care accessible and efficient. That’s why we’re working to improve our healthcare service center. We’re not doing this alone, but together with concerned residents and healthcare institutions. What’s working well? What could be improved? We listen, analyze, and make improvements. Because good care starts with understanding where the needs lie.

In addition to providing care, we are also committed to prevention. A key issue is substance use among young people. Alcohol, drugs, and smoking remain a challenge. That is why we are reaching out to parents of children between the ages of 12 and 18. What do you know about the risks? How do you talk about this at home?

We have created a survey and hope to receive many responses. Parents and guardians in our community with children in this age group will receive an invitation in the mail. They can use a QR code to access the digital survey. This will help us gain a better understanding of the concerns and wishes within our community. You can also find the QR code here. The survey is open for responses through March 17.

We will then work together to address these findings. Not by pointing fingers, but by raising awareness and making this “taboo” topic open for discussion.
Together, we can achieve a great deal. By listening, informing, and above all, by keeping the dialogue going. Because a strong society starts with engagement.

Rob ReuversAlderman
Alderman

In West Maas en Waal, we take care of each other. You see that everywhere. In our villages. On sports fields. In community centers and at locations where children's holiday weeks are held. People meet there. They play sports, sing, act, or help as volunteers. That is the strength of our associations.

Clubs bring people together. They foster connections. They provide fun. They offer meaningful ways to spend your time. For young and old alike. They make our villages vibrant places to live. Not just today, but for years to come. Be sure to check out the festivals and carnival celebrations that many of our villages have to offer. 

As Alderman , I Alderman just how important this is. A great place to live is about more than just houses and roads. It’s about feeling at home. It’s about belonging. It’s about working together to build something wonderful. Community organizations are indispensable in this regard. And together with various professional organizations—including those that provide our social services—we are increasingly finding the right balance to meet our needs, including our healthcare needs. We look out for one another. 

That is why the municipality supports community organizations. We listen to ideas. We work with you to find solutions. And I hope we can strengthen this even further. Because without strong community organizations, we lose something valuable.

I want to thank everyone who pitches in. Whether you’re working the bar, coaching, rehearsing, or helping out at a party, you make a difference. You make others feel welcome.

Let’s keep doing that together. Getting involved doesn’t have to be a big deal. Every contribution counts. Drop by a local club. Lend a hand. Or encourage others. Together, we’ll keep our villages lively and welcoming.

Because in West Maas en Waal, we look out for each other.

Wishing everyone a wonderful vacation.

Rob Reuvers
Alderman Affairs

At home, I’m a father to Rosanne (14) and Milan (11). At work, I’m Alderman Social Affairs. In both roles, I learn from young people every day. Sometimes in a confrontational way. Because let’s be honest: my kids hold a mirror up to me more often than I’d like. It’s pretty awkward, but also valuable. It helps us understand each other better.

What strikes me—both at home and in conversations with young people in the congregation—is just how much potential they have. They think critically, have a keen sense of what’s going on in the world, and aren’t afraid to ask questions. I admire that.

Still, I’m also worried. Being a teenager has never been easy, but these days it’s especially challenging. Pressure to perform, social media, uncertainty about the future: young people have to find their way in a world full of expectations. That creates friction. Between rules and freedom. Between letting go and holding on.

What do they need? Trust. Understanding. Boundaries. And above all, a safe environment where they’re allowed to make mistakes. That’s where we—as parents, teachers, neighbors, and as a community—can make a difference. Not just by talking about young people, but above all by listening to them.

We are doing this more and more often in West Maas en Waal. For example, this summer, together with young people, we installed a Youth Meeting Point (JOP). A place where they can meet, play sports, laugh, and just be themselves. A great example of what can emerge when you truly involve young people.

And there’s more. On Thursday, September 18, there will be a theater performance at the MFA De Rosmolen about teenagers and temptations. This will be followed by the annual “Puberpraat” event in Druten on Thursday, October 1. Two free evenings full of relatable stories, tips, and opportunities to connect.

Let’s keep talking to our teenagers. Especially when it’s tough. Because they’re not just the future—they’re the present, too.
Because that’s how we stay connected.

Rob Reuvers
Alderman Affairs