In Apeldoorn, we believe it is important to connect with and listen to young residents. One of the ways we do that is through our youth council. The youth council in Apeldoorn is special and unique in the Netherlands. We would like to tell you more about it.
Youth Council
What does the youth council do?
The youth council in Apeldoorn was established in March 2021. With over 50 applications, we immediately had the largest youth council in the Netherlands. And we still do. The youth council in Apeldoorn is not a ‘traditional’ youth council. There is no chairman, secretary and treasurer. Everyone is equal and free to participate in meetings whenever you have time or the subject appeals to you.
The youth council meets once or twice a month. They then talk to each other about important issues. These meetings are at the town hall. Young people interact informally with people from the municipality, such as policymakers, politicians and other professionals. They also sometimes talk to people from civil society organisations. In addition, youth councillors regularly visit other places. For instance, they have already visited Veilig Thuis, Herinneringscentrum het Apeldoornsche Bosch, Paleis Het Loo and Theater Orpheus.
The council also makes an annual trip to another tier of government in the Netherlands. In previous years, they paid visits to the Provincial House, the National Ombudsman, the House of Representatives and the Ministry of the Interior.
In 2025, the Youth Council is paying close attention to 80 years of freedom. In Amsterdam, for instance, we went to the National Holocaust Museum and the Hollandse Schouwburg. In January 2025, eight youth council members visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp together with the mayor. Fifteen youth councillors also read out the names of victims at Remembrance Centre Camp Westerbork.
The more than 80 young people are a diverse group aged between 14 and 22, coming from different secondary schools, study programmes and backgrounds. Yet they all have one thing in common: they are keen to get involved and do their bit to make Apeldoorn an even more enjoyable, vibrant, beautiful and safe place.
- Suze-Feia van Aarst
- Jasmine Ahmadi
- Arian Ahmadzai
- Adam Akopian
- Siem Beijl
- Zakharia Bentohami
- Jitse Beuker
- Waldemar Bles
- Miqai Blom
- Julian Bonhof
- Floris Bonthond
- Nora Boom
- Vera Bosch
- Floortje Boes
- Elin Bredewout
- Faith Brank
- Yzo Bronsveld
- Lieke Brouwer
- Ecrin Cakici
- Hiranur Cakici
- Jarno Ciarlantini
- Ilham Charnoubi
- Matthias Dubbelman
- Sara Dashtoyan
- Lina Denkers
- Luba Galatina
- Donna Gijtenbeek
- Isabel de Groot
- Mika Groot Wesseldijk
- Lotta Grass House
- Twan Heins
- Peter van der Hoek
- Finnian Storm Hoogsteden
- Daniel Hooiveld
- Pim Houwer
- Linora van Heydoorn
- Jesper Jonker
- Lianne Jonker
- Sven Jonkhout
- Marnix Kars
- Judith Keijzer
- Lisa Knowledge
- Liesje Kist
- Sven Klasen
- Pim ten Katen
- Daan Krijgsveld Soliman
- Aafke Lub
- Myrthe Nijenhuis
- Lieke Nijhof
- Elvin Noordegraaf
- Jorinde Loo
- Naomi Martina
- Ramesh Mehrwarz
- Lisa Muusse
- Anne-Roos Mous
- David Nikkels
- Borre Oostenenk
- Liz van Peer
- Alexander Pos
- Kris Potkamp
- Kjeld Postma
- Matthijs Rutting
- Lema Sahba
- Jinthe Scheepers
- Ilteber Selim
- Anne Schattevoet
- Ido Schotsman
- Jael Smith
- Ivena Slavova
- Yasmin Terpstra
- Jelle Timmerman
- Eva Vahl
- Hanna van Valburch
- Stella Veldkamp
- Sophie van der Veen
- Yvonne van den Berg
- Serena van Wijhe
- Nils Warburg
- Timo Warburg
- Selina Yang
- Olaf Zandsteeg
Members of the Youth Council 2026-2027
Would you like to participate in thinking about the future of Apeldoorn?
The council has an open entry and exit process. You do not have to have political ambitions to participate. Enthusiasm or feeling a commitment to get involved socially is enough. The council is fun, informative and, above all, sociable. Moreover, it is non-committal: you can join whenever you have the time and inclination. Besides substantive meetings, the council also has a lot of fun activities. Various topics are discussed and there is plenty of room to learn from each other.
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Do you have questions or want to participate in the youth council? Mail to jongerenraad@apeldoorn.nl
This is Apeldoorn's youth council.
10-point plan
Because the opinions and ideas of youth council members vary, the youth council can never speak with one voice. Therefore, once every two years, the youth council democratically draws up a ’10 point plan’. The 10-point plan is not an official advice to politicians but an overview of ideas and themes that the youth council members consider important for the future of Apeldoorn.
Want to know more?
Do you have questions or want to participate in the youth council?
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