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Maastricht: the

Beating Heart

of Europe

The aim of the Volt Maastricht group is to make Maastricht politics more European, more accessible and more concrete. Discover on this website what is going on in the city council, what Volt is doing and get involved.

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A Maastricht for all Maastrichtians in the heart of Europe.

A Maastricht for all Maastrichtians in the heart of Europe.

A Maastricht for all Maastrichtians in the heart of Europe.

A Maastricht for all Maastrichtians in the heart of Europe.

Meet the Council group of Volt Maastricht!

Party leader

Jules Ortjens

General Affairs

Social domain

Jules is our group chairman, he is a Volter of the first hour. A true leader, he sets a dot on the horizon for Volt's future. He was born and raised in Maastricht and knows like no other what is going on in the city. Moreover, during his studies he gained a lot of international experience which allows him to find his way in the European landscape. In addition to being a council member, Jules is a lecturer at Maastricht University.

Council Member

Mart Den Heijer

Physical

Economy & Culture

Mart has been involved with Volt Maastricht since its inception. As secretary of the board and campaign leader, he made sure Volt Maastricht could grow to where it is today. Mart is strong in connecting people, creating order and putting people in the right place. Besides being a council member he also works for the university of applied sciences Zuyd in Heerlen.

Political assistant

Romy Frijters

Economy & Culture

Romy knows all of Volt's secrets. Romy has also been involved with Volt Maastricht from its inception. Strong on content and a sociable person with a heart for culture. Without Romy the meetings would be a lot less fun. Besides being an active citizen member, Romy works as a project leader for team and leadership development at MUMC+.

Political assistant

Ryan Wilmes

Social domain

Ryan is the creative brain of the team. No problem is too complicated for Ryan. Besides that, visual communication is something he loves to do. Ryan was born and raised in Maastricht and is eager to contribute to a more social Maastricht. Ryan works as an optician and makes sure that everyone in the team keeps a sharp and critical eye.

Political assistant

Danny Janssen

Physical

Danny has been involved with Volt since the beginning of this year. After being inspired by our campaign in Maastricht, he decided to work for a sustainable Maastricht and a sustainable society. Born in Sittard, raised in Germany and educated in Maastricht, Rouen and Washington D.C. he is a European and world citizen at heart. Besides being a citizen member, he works as program manager Data Analytics at DHL Express and is the proud owner of his adopted dog Frits.

Secretary

Jessica Sleijpen

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Jessica Sleijpen is a 21-year-old Dutchwoman who grew up in picturesque Kanne. As those in the know probably know; a small village just across the border in Belgium. For her legal studies, she hopped across the border (only 10 minutes by bike) and found her (t)home in Maastricht.

Public council meeting chair

Rebecca Warren

Support

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Want to know more about Volt Maastricht?

View our organization

Maastricht: the Beating Heart of Europe

See here our spearheads we want to achieve through 2026 to become the beating heart of Europe.

Download the coalition agreement in two languages here

Download the election
program in two languages here

Spearheads

Living and living in a social and inclusive Maastricht

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No housing crisis for students

More text to follow soon!

Housing

Realization Student Campus

More text to follow soon!

Housing

Affordable housing for all

More text to follow soon!

Housing

Realization of flexible zoning plans

More text to follow soon!

Housing

Feeling safe in the Euroregion

More text to follow soon!

Diverse & safe city

A diverse and inclusive city

More text to follow soon!

Diverse & safe city

Countering nuisances in the city

More text to follow soon!

Diverse & safe city

Countering economic inequality

Volt believes that economic inequality is the source of many challenges in our society. Therefore, Volt aspires to always consider strengthening equal opportunity and livelihood security in social and economic policies of our municipality whenever possible.

Equal opportunity

Embracing migrants

Migration remains an issue in politics. With every council proposal, every motion and every other political move within the walls of the municipality, Volt identifies the necessary solutions to welcome non-European migrants, allow them to participate in the region and learn the language - so that Maastricht remains an open, inclusive and dynamic home city for newcomers. Do you have ideas for getting migrants more involved in the city and region? Then contact jessica_sleijpen@volteuropa.org!

Equal opportunity

Increase OZB

Volt wants to have a conversation with experts about a possible increase in the real estate tax, or OZB, in Maastricht. By emphasizing "strongest shoulders, heaviest burdens," we hope that we can move toward a more equal local society that ensures a healthier financial situation, without the most fragile group in the city giving up the most.

Equal opportunity

Traineeship internationals Maastricht

Together with the city council, Volt wants to look at the possibilities of setting up a traineeship for internationals in Maastricht, in cooperation with UM and Zuyd. We want to retain international talent in the city. This is possible, for example, by actively recruiting Flemish graduates and status holders who are learning Dutch as a municipality, or by setting up a Masters program in cooperation with UM and Zuyd.

Knowledge Economy

New employment agency

Volt wants to look into the possibilities of guiding new Maastricht people, whatever their nationality, through a new employment agency. In discussion with the municipality we want to see to what extent this is possible.

Knowledge Economy

Making energy allowance available to internationals

In 2022, Volt managed to make the energy allowance available to international students - including non-European ones! That is unique in the Netherlands and we are very proud of that. We continue to fight for a social system in Maastricht that takes non-Dutch people into account as much as possible. Any ideas of your own? Contact jessica_sleijpen@volteuropa.org!

Social domain

Locally organized informal care

Volt wants to look at the possibility of introducing district-specific budgets for informal care in consultation with the municipality, so that there is less financial pressure on municipal coordination and greater accessibility to informal care.

Social domain

Reduce low literacy

Low literacy is higher in Maastricht (13%) than regionally and nationally (11-12%). We want to engage with local partners, such as Vista municipal executives, to address this problem. Do you have any ideas? Then email jessica_sleijpen@volteuropa.org!

Social domain

True decentralization: financial resources lobbying to Maastricht

Volt is in favor of real decentralization of the social domain: more political space for local politics is good for a democracy close to the people. But then we have to get the money from The Hague for it! The Hague "decentralization" was actually an austerity in disguise. We are trying to counter this at all levels in the country, for example with our October 2023 letter to the Prime Minister. More ideas for good local care? Contact jessica_sleijpen@volteuropa.org!

Social domain

Part-time premium for benefit recipients

Volt wants to look at the financial possibilities of eventually working toward a part-time premium for benefit recipients so that people on benefits are not penalized if they work extra hours.

Social domain

Better prevention policies for care and safety

With every proposal, from Volt or others, that addresses health or safety, we ask the same question: are we just going to fight symptoms, or are we also going to invest in prevention? This is how we ensure long-term solutions in health care and law enforcement.

Social domain

Schools on both sides of the Meuse River

Due to a decline in school attendance, many high schools want to move to shared locations. Volt wants at least two school communities to remain for those schools, ensuring education on both sides of the Meuse River.

Education

More dialogue with secondary and primary education

Volt wants to innovate much more in language education in the border region and actively motivate a healthy lifestyle in elementary school. To realize this, we as an education party must continue to have active discussions with primary and secondary schools: for example, we have already visited St. Martin's College, the Bernard Lievegoed School and have several appointments on the agenda!

Education

Connect Vista, Zuyd and UM to politics

Volt wants to involve South Limburg's educational institutions - Vista, Zuyd and UM - in local politics as much as possible. Therefore, we continue to have active conversations with MBO, HBO and WO so that their concerns, challenges and successes are included in our political decisions.

Education

Connecting to "Healthy Elementary School of the Future"

Volt wants Maastricht to participate in the Limburg "Healthy Primary School of the Future" project, so that more healthy school meals, education and exercise become central to schools. To look at possibilities, we want to start discussions with elementary school and the municipal executives.

Education

Social studies: new elementary school curriculum

Volt wants to actively engage with Maastricht people to create a teaching package for Maastricht schools on topics that concern our "Mestreechter maotsjappij": from democracy to emancipation and from discrimination to inclusiveness. Would you like to participate? Mail: jessica_sleijpen@volteuropa.org.

Education

Understanding each other in a diverse Maastricht

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Dutch for the working international

More text to follow soon!

Multilingualism

Dutch language courses at university

More text to follow soon!

Multilingualism

Limburg language education

More text to follow soon!

Multilingualism

English-language communication from the congregation

More text to follow soon!

Multilingualism

More French and German in school

More text to follow soon!

Multilingualism

Affordable French and German language courses

More text to follow soon!

Multilingualism

More meeting places between non-native speakers

More text to follow soon!

Connecting language communities

Make Maastricht green again

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Catching up to green Maastricht

More text to follow soon!

Greening

Maastricht Aachen Airport to close

More text to follow soon!

Greening

Expand biking and hiking trails

More text to follow soon!

Sustainability & Air Quality

More P&R outside the city

More text to follow soon!

Sustainability & Air Quality

More bike racks

More text to follow soon!

Sustainability & Air Quality

Establishing a Maastricht "Green Deal"

More text to follow soon!

Sustainability & Air Quality

Creating car-free downtown

More text to follow soon!

Sustainability & Air Quality

Establish energy desk

More text to follow soon!

Sustainability & Air Quality

Bringing water resources up to standard

More text to follow soon!

Nature

Democracy 2.0

Read more

A Maastricht Citizens Council

More text to follow soon!

Innovative democracy

Establish membership council Volt

More text to follow soon!

Innovative democracy

Better communication between municipality and migrants

More text to follow soon!

Communications

Increased municipal focus on transparency

More text to follow soon!

Transparency

Establishing a lobbying registry

More text to follow soon!

Transparency

Ensuring security in the city council

More text to follow soon!

Security in the council

Establish Women for Volt 2026 project

More text to follow soon!

More women in politics

Maastricht in the heart of Europe

Read more

Implementation program Europe vision realize

More text to follow soon!

Europe Vision

Testing local policies against the border region

More text to follow soon!

Europe Vision

Making Tozo available to frontier workers

More text to follow soon!

Frontiersmen

Fewer obstacles for "Borderlanders"

More text to follow soon!

Frontiersmen

Realizing tri-country train

More text to follow soon!

Public transportation

South Limburg intercity trains expand

More text to follow soon!

Public transportation

Municipal executive Delivering European Affairs

More text to follow soon!

Municipal executive European Affairs

Volt South Limburg to further connect with Volt Europe

More text to follow soon!

Volt Europe

Establishment of the Meuse-Rhine Cultural Fund.

More text to follow soon!

Culture

Introduce Euroregional Museum Card

More text to follow soon!

Culture

Ensuring internationalization of education

More text to follow soon!

European education

More police cooperation between neighboring countries

More text to follow soon!

Euroregional Security

No housing crisis for students

Thanks to innovative urban planning and cooperation between universities and municipalities, the housing crisis for students is a thing of the past. Campuses throughout the Netherlands now provide enough affordable housing for every new student.

Housing

Here comes the title

Section

Thanks to innovative urban planning and cooperation between universities and municipalities, the housing crisis for students is a thing of the past. Campuses throughout the Netherlands now provide enough affordable housing for every new student.

Housing

Upcoming (Council group) events

Drink

Cafe forum

1.12.2023

17:00

Meeting cafe forum

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

6.11.2023

19:30

Public council meeting November (special campaign edition)

This is a special campaign edition. Led by Romy (candidate bicameral) we get a final boost to go all out. We discuss the current state of affairs, the latest insights around the polls and the best events to help Romy get as many Limburg votes as possible.

Seminar

Cafe forum

2.11.2023

19:00

A green future

In this special Volt seminar, Peter Bootsma, the Green Mayor of Groningen, explains why climate goals are always put on the back burner. The Groningen model of task democracy can also make Limburg politics more decisive and put the right groups to work to achieve decisive solutions.

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

5.10.2023

19:00

Europe-themed pub quiz

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

2.10.2023

19:30

Public council meeting October

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

4.9.2023

19:30

Public council meeting September

Trip

Collect from Maastricht station

14.8.2023

12:00

ALABONNEUR! VOLT GOES TO HATCH!

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

3.7.2023

19:30

Public council meeting July

Social meeting

Cafe forum

5.6.2023

19:30

Social meeting June

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

1.5.2023

19:30

Public council meeting May

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

3.4.2023

19:00

Public council meeting April

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

27.2.2023

19:00

Public council meeting February

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

30.1.2023

19:00

Public council meeting January

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

19.12.2022

19:00

Public council meeting December

Group Meeting

Cafe forum

28.11.2022

19:00

Public council meeting November

Social event

Maastricht

5.11.2022

12:00

Flyering with the group (drinks afterwards)

General Assembly

Prague

7.10.2022

8:00

With the group to the General Assembly of Volt Europe

Social event

Cafe Forum

8.9.2022

20:30

Getting to know the Council group

Social event

Liege station

3.9.2022

12:00

Visiting with the Council group to Volt Liege

Social event

Capucijnenstraat 21 C12

21.8.2022

18:00

Summer Activity

Course

Café Forum Maastricht

11.8.2022

20:30

Drinks Café Forum

Social event

Grote gracht 2B

7.7.2022

20:00

Debate training

Join the movement!

Find out how you can get involved

Jules Ortjens and Romy Frijters at election campaign for Volt Maastricht as Council group in Municipality of Maastricht

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