Elections & Democracy

 

Elections & Democracy

Youth Engagement Starts at the Local Level – Marijn van Ballegooijen

In our interview with Marijn van Ballegooijen, alderman in Amstelveen and a member of the social-democratic party, we explored the strategic dynamics of Dutch local governance. With years of hands-on experience in housing, social services, and citizen participation, he brings a grounded perspective shaped by the Dutch tradition of cooperation.

The Netherlands is home to a highly diverse political landscape with many parties. This almost always leads to coalition governments at both national and municipal levels. For Van Ballegooijen, this is a strategic advantage. Coalitions demand collaboration across viewpoints, ensuring that no single party dominates decision-making and reflecting the country’s historic diversity of religious and social groups.

At the same time, he acknowledges the operational challenges that come with this system, particularly when it comes to citizen involvement. While national elections often see turnout rates approaching 75% or higher, participation in municipal elections typically falls to 50–60%. This concerns him deeply, given that municipalities manage many aspects of daily life, including housing, educational facilities, public spaces, and social services. The lower turnout is especially pronounced among younger citizens, who often hesitate to engage because they feel inexperienced or worry that their opinions may be misunderstood. As Van Ballegooijen put it, “They’re afraid to express their voices; they’re afraid of being misunderstood.”

One of the structural drivers behind this disconnect is the shift in media habits. Older residents still turn to traditional newspapers and television, while younger people stay informed through digital channels such as TikTok and YouTube. Combined with the decline of local journalism, this creates an information gap that influences voter behavior and makes local politics feel distant to young people.

To bridge this gap, Amstelveen has implemented targeted initiatives to activate youth participation. The municipality created two youth councils for primary and secondary school students, giving them first-hand exposure to how the city council operates, makes decisions, and collaborates. The secondary school council maintains direct contact with policymakers, which gives young people a clear signal that their input has real value.

Van Ballegooijen points to concrete successes that illustrate the impact of genuine engagement. Last year, the city opened a new skating project after local teenagers requested it. The initiative, he noted, “turned out to be a huge success.” For him, the takeaway is straightforward: when young people are given authentic platforms and their contributions are taken seriously, they step up with enthusiasm. Effective youth participation requires real representation, real access, and real influence.

Housing was another area where Van Ballegooijen emphasized the need for policy modernization. Amstelveen’s housing market has widened economic inequality between wealthy homeowners who benefit from rising property values, low-income families supported by social housing, and middle-class households that face shrinking purchasing power. Housing corporations cannot meet current demand, and existing policies, such as homeowner tax breaks, continue to push prices up instead of improving affordability for all residents.

Taken together, these insights strengthened our understanding of how local democracy thrives on visibility, active participation, and mutual trust. Our conversation with Van Ballegooijen highlighted how quickly young people lose their connection when information is limited or when political processes feel remote. Yet we saw just as clearly that when young residents are informed, valued, and empowered to contribute, their engagement grows rapidly.

For us, this discussion underscored a core message for the future of local democracy: empowering youth is not about symbolic outreach. It is about opening the door, pulling up a seat at the table, and ensuring their ideas translate into real outcomes. When that happens, communities become stronger, more responsive, and better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

This article was produced by Taeyun Kim, Alexandra Osina, Charahja van Broekhoven, Veronika Martemianova, Maria Barasorda, Matvii Drotsyk, Longrui Deng, and Barbara Gama, participants in the Bright Future Foundation, as part of the European Union’s “Participate & Promote Democracy” Youth Participation project, in cooperation with Diplomat Magazine and young members of the Armenian partner organization Promising Youth.