Advisory Council on Social Affairs

The Advisory Board is certainly not standing still – quite the opposite, in fact. A number of members of the Advisory Board are stepping down or have stepped down from their roles on the Board, as their second term of service on the Advisory Board has come to an end.
Partly for this reason, a vacancy was advertised at the end of 2024, to which many people responded. Following interviews with the candidates, a group of enthusiastic prospective members has been observing and listening in on the plenary meetings and the discussions of the various working groups since early 2025. They will decide, in close consultation with one another, whether or not to proceed.

The working groups are also actively gathering feedback from residents and monitoring the council’s social services policy. We have issued a recommendation on homeless shelters and are closely monitoring the youth services sector, in light of the budget cuts.

On Saturday 5 October, members of the advisory board conducted a survey amongst passers-by on Raadhuisplein and Hoofdstraat. This survey was part of Accessibility Week, and participants were asked questions about how they perceive the accessibility of Apeldoorn and its facilities, such as the Town Hall, public transport and public toilets.

The advisory board spoke to a large number of people and, in the end, 88 questionnaires were completed. That’s a great result.

The results of the survey show that:

• Many people find Apeldoorn difficult to access for those with physical disabilities, namely 83%.
• 89 % of the participants find the town hall easily accessible.
• Public toilet facilities are generally not rated highly; people are dissatisfied not only in the market and the town centre, but also inside the town hall. It is generally noted that there are too few public toilets in the town centre and the market.
• Unfortunately, public transport is not a viable option for many people. 23% of the participants say they are unable to use it at all, or find it difficult to do so.
• Regarding the council’s website, 20% of the participants said they were unable to find what they were looking for on the site. In addition, 10% of the participants found the text difficult to understand.
• The Advisory Council believes that these findings and areas for improvement should be highlighted. The results have been incorporated into a report, which has been sent to the Municipal Executive.

• Information letter regarding the Action Plan on Homelessness 2025–2027
• Information letter on language use in letters from the local authority
• Information Letter: An Integrated Approach to Youth Services – Everyone’s Responsibility

Who we are and what we do

The Apeldoorn Social Domain Advisory Council (ASD) is an independent advisory body that advises the local authority on matters within the social domain. These include the Youth Act, the Social Support Act (Wmo), the Participation Act and related topics such as debt counselling, domestic help and care.

We highlight residents’ everyday lives and experiences for councillors and policymakers. By gathering real-world experiences and insights, we help shape policies that better meet residents’ needs.

Our mission

“We bring the wider residents” perspective to the local council.”

Our vision

“A society in balance.”

In this regard, we see an important role for:

The resident: taking responsibility and looking out for one another.
The volunteer: contribute to a strong social foundation in the neighbourhood.
The local authority: a process facilitator and a strong safety net where necessary.

For you as a resident

Do you have any experiences with care or support in Apeldoorn? If so, we’d love to hear about them. We bring residents’ real-life stories to the attention of the council and advise on policy within the social sector. We don’t resolve individual problems, but we use residents’ experiences to improve policy for everyone in Apeldoorn. Together, we’re making Apeldoorn a liveable and inclusive place.

Would you like to share something with us, or do you have a question?

Send an email to adviesraadsociaaldomein@apeldoorn.nl

Key priorities for 2026

The Social Domain Advisory Council has identified five key themes for 2026:

• Poverty
• Prevention
• Social cohesion and participation
• Housing
• Youth

How we would like to be involved

Early involvement

We want to contribute our ideas on new policies at an early stage. By being involved from the outset, we can ensure that residents’ perspectives are taken into account in good time.

Find out what’s going on in the city

By keeping abreast of social developments and maintaining active contact with residents, we know what is going on in Apeldoorn’s districts and neighbourhoods.

Strong connection

We attach great importance to maintaining good and regular contact with policy officers and councillors. Together, we are working to build a strong social sector for all residents of Apeldoorn.

The environment in which we live plays a part in determining our day-to-day wellbeing. The vitality of that environment, as well as the opportunity to participate in (local) society, can have a significant impact on that well-being. What is the municipality of Apeldoorn doing to enable and promote the self-reliance, engagement and mobility of its residents?

Does the housing supply in Apeldoorn meet the current and future needs of residents? Are there affordable rental and/or owner-occupied homes for young people, families and older people? The council must play its part in accommodating asylum seekers and those granted refugee status, and is also responsible for housing people who are unable to live independently. All of this places demands on the neighbourhood’s capacity. How does the municipality of Apeldoorn organise the local housing market?

Through the SAMEN055 centres, Apeldoorn City Council has set up a one-stop shop for its social services. How accessible is Apeldoorn City Council to its residents? Are there sufficient physical and digital options available, and are residents aware of them?

Having a job or being able to participate in society in some other way plays a major role in boosting people’s self-esteem and self-reliance within society. What is the local authority doing in the areas of employment and participation to support residents, even if a resident is distanced from the labour market? The Participation & Livelihood Security working group aims to gain an understanding of the barriers people face when trying to participate in society.

The Work & Participation working group focuses on key issues relating to work and participation, such as: sheltered and supported employment, day centres, mental health care, accessibility and inclusion.

Furthermore, poverty is a persistent problem in society. As well as absolute poverty – living below the income threshold – there is also social poverty: to what extent are people unable to participate in social life because they cannot afford school activities or a sports club? And what role can the local authority play in this regard?

The working group also focuses on key issues relating to social support and the social safety net, such as: poverty (and the fight against it), early detection, income support and debt counselling.

It is not without reason that the family is often referred to as the cornerstone of society. Ensuring that children and young people can grow up and be brought up in a safe and supportive environment is a key aspect of the social sector and of (future) society.

The Youth & Family working group focuses on key issues relating to the upbringing and education of children and young people, such as: prevention, youth support, inclusive education, early school leaving, the transition from 18 to 18+, and domestic violence.

• Ivena Slavova, Youth & Family Working Group
• Hans Vos, coordinator of the Youth & Family working group
• Buse Avsar, Youth & Family Working Group
• Ewoud Remmelts, independent chair of the Apeldoorn Social Services Advisory Board
• Wim van der Meer, coordinator of the Housing & Living Environment working group
• Jack de Reus, Housing & Living Environment Working Group
• Dineke Kremer, Housing & Living Environment Working Group
• Larissa Zeeman, Housing & Living Environment Working Group
• Bart Hein Jansen, Housing & Living Environment Working Group
• Wim Foppen, coordinator of the Participation & Livelihood Security working group
• Frenk Lip, Participation & Livelihood Security Working Group
• Rudy Suijkerbuijk, Participation & Livelihood Security Working Group
• Hilda Wetemans, Participation & Livelihood Security Working Group
• Annet Bredeweg, Participation & Livelihood Security Working Group