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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.
Read more about us.
Party leader
Jules Ortjens
General Affairs
Social domain
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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
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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
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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
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 organizationSee here our spearheads we want to achieve through 2026 to become the beating heart of Europe.
Spearheads
No housing crisis for students
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Housing
Realization Student Campus
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Housing
Affordable housing for all
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Housing
Realization of flexible zoning plans
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Housing
Feeling safe in the Euroregion
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Diverse & safe city
A diverse and inclusive city
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Diverse & safe city
Countering nuisances in the city
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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
Dutch for the working international
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Multilingualism
Dutch language courses at university
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Multilingualism
Limburg language education
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Multilingualism
English-language communication from the congregation
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Multilingualism
More French and German in school
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Multilingualism
Affordable French and German language courses
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Multilingualism
More meeting places between non-native speakers
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Connecting language communities
Catching up to green Maastricht
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Greening
Maastricht Aachen Airport to close
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Greening
Expand biking and hiking trails
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Sustainability & Air Quality
More P&R outside the city
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Sustainability & Air Quality
More bike racks
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Sustainability & Air Quality
Establishing a Maastricht "Green Deal"
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Sustainability & Air Quality
Creating car-free downtown
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Sustainability & Air Quality
Establish energy desk
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Sustainability & Air Quality
Bringing water resources up to standard
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Nature
A Maastricht Citizens Council
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Innovative democracy
Establish membership council Volt
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Innovative democracy
Better communication between municipality and migrants
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Communications
Increased municipal focus on transparency
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Transparency
Establishing a lobbying registry
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Transparency
Ensuring security in the city council
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Security in the council
Establish Women for Volt 2026 project
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More women in politics
Implementation program Europe vision realize
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Europe Vision
Testing local policies against the border region
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Europe Vision
Making Tozo available to frontier workers
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Frontiersmen
Fewer obstacles for "Borderlanders"
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Frontiersmen
Realizing tri-country train
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Public transportation
South Limburg intercity trains expand
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Public transportation
Municipal executive Delivering European Affairs
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Municipal executive European Affairs
Volt South Limburg to further connect with Volt Europe
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Volt Europe
Establishment of the Meuse-Rhine Cultural Fund.
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Culture
Introduce Euroregional Museum Card
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Culture
Ensuring internationalization of education
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European education
More police cooperation between neighboring countries
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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
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
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
Find out how you can get involved
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