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Why I am a candidate for the municipal council

I want to commit myself to all residents of Maasdriel, driven by genuine involvement and my liberal convictions. My goal is to be a connecting link between residents, entrepreneurs, and local government. In doing so, I follow a simple but important principle: equal treatment for all. I say what I do, and I do what I say. Openness, clarity, and reliability are my priorities. As lead candidate of a local liberal party, I am proud of the strong composition of our list of candidates. It is a good reflection of the different villages within the municipality and offers a powerful mix of experience, expertise, and renewal.

My background

In my day-to-day work, I am the national Training & Quality Manager at RRS Nederland BV. Before that, I was a branch manager at RRS Nederland BV. I started there as a mechanic and ultimately set up the Den Bosch branch. Alongside my work, I have extensive experience in community associations. For thirty years, I was a team leader, trainer, and coach at basketball club Condor. I also served for many years as chairman of Tennis & Padelvereniging Maasdriel. Since 2002, I have been active within VVD Maasdriel, including as chairman, citizen committee member, and municipal councillor.

Who I am

I live in Kerkdriel and I am married. In addition to my children, I now have three grandchildren. In my spare time, I enjoy sports and travelling. I draw my energy and enthusiasm from working together, improving, and connecting people—values I also bring into my political work for the municipality of Maasdriel.

Why I am a candidate for the municipal council

With enthusiasm and a positive mindset, I want to commit myself to a municipality where it is good to live, work, and thrive. I believe politics should be close to people and accessible to everyone. In the municipal council, I want to contribute to cooperation based on freedom and responsibility. I want to do this not only for the people who vote for our party, but for all residents of the municipality of Maasdriel. Together, we can continue building a strong, engaged community.

My background

I studied Human Resources and Labour Relations at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. After that, I worked for many years as an HR professional in both large and smaller companies. I later made a career switch to the healthcare sector. Since our return in 2009 to my hometown of Hurwenen, I have been working part-time in a general practice as a Somatic Practice Nurse. I have also gained governance experience within various volunteer organisations, including as chair of the Hurwenen Village Council. This combination of experiences has taught me to listen carefully, seek connection, and act with genuine commitment.

Who I am

I live in Hurwenen with my husband and our daughter. Our sons have left home. I love my work, but I love the outdoors just as much. Active holidays give me energy, while at other times I enjoy the calm of a good book. That balance between being active and reflecting shapes everything I do. My areas of interest include care and well-being.

Why I am a candidate

I am standing as a candidate for the municipal council because I want to contribute to a more businesslike and results-driven municipality. A sound financial foundation is essential in this regard: generating more income and managing costs more intelligently, without residents or entrepreneurs having to pay more. I also want to commit myself to the development of business parks for small-scale enterprises in all larger villages of Maasdriel. Housing construction likewise deserves continued attention, especially in the smaller villages. Finally, I believe it is important to support associations and community centres, so that liveability in all village centres is maintained.

My background

During my career, I have worked worldwide on the development and implementation of ICT systems. This work not only provided me with extensive technical knowledge, but also with valuable insights into how people from different cultures think and collaborate. I apply this experience in my political work: practical, solution-oriented, and with attention to the person behind the issue. As chairman of football club VV HRC ’14, I am actively committed to community life. Within VVD Maasdriel, I have been active for many years, including as a municipal councillor.

Who I am

My name is Anton van Doorn, born and raised in Rossum and Hurwenen. I am married, the father of two children, and a proud grandfather of five grandchildren. People describe me as a down-to-earth, no-nonsense person who is always willing to roll up his sleeves for his community.

Why I am a candidate for the municipal council

As a secondary school student, I regularly sat in the public gallery during council meetings. I found it fascinating how decisions that directly affected people’s daily lives were made there. At the same time, I noticed how large the gap between government and citizens often was. That experience shaped me: politics should serve society. Now, years later, I have broad experience in business, governance, and social organisations. What drives me is the conviction that a reliable government must be fair, transparent, and goal-oriented, always keeping the interests of residents and entrepreneurs in mind. A municipality must do what it promises and handle public funds with care.

My background

After studying Public Administration and Public Policy at the University of Twente, I worked as a policy advisor and later as a director for trade associations in the IT and telecom sector in the Netherlands. I then became managing director of a global company. Nowadays, I have my own company, specializing in associations and foundations. I also have experience as a non-executive director, including in the education and non-profit sectors.

Who I am

I live in Heerewaarden with my wife and daughter. I grew up in a village and feel at home in a village environment. From that sense of connection, I want to contribute to our municipality, with particular attention to good governance, digital innovation, public finances, the economy, and education. I stand for quality, trust, cooperation, and the ambition to work together to make our living and working environment a little better.

Why I am a candidate for the municipal council

I am standing as a candidate for the municipal council because I believe in a municipality where equal treatment for everyone is self-evident. A municipality where rules are applied fairly, and where residents, entrepreneurs, and associations know what they can expect. What is possible for one person should also be possible for another. To me, that is the essence of liberal politics.

Our municipality faces major choices. The housing shortage is growing, especially for first-time buyers and young families. Every village should have enough affordable homes. In my village of Ammerzoden, housing development has lagged behind for years, even though demand is high. To keep the village liveable, extra effort here is truly necessary. I also want to work towards a strong local economy. Local businesses must have the room to grow within our municipality. Entrepreneurs create employment and vibrant villages. The municipality should support their growth by thinking along and removing unnecessary obstacles.

My background

After studying Mechanical Engineering at Avans University of Applied Sciences (formerly the HTS), I have been the founder and owner of the family business Rotech since 1992. Entrepreneurship means taking responsibility, recognising opportunities, and persevering. I bring that experience into my political work. From 2010 to 2018, I served as a councillor for VVD Maasdriel, including seven years as parliamentary group leader. That period taught me how local politics works and what is needed to deliver results.

Who I am

I was born and raised in Ammerzoden and still live there. I am married and the father of three children. For many years, I was active at football club Jan van Arckel, including as a coach and a board member. With knowledge, experience, and commitment, I want to contribute to a strong, fair, and future-oriented municipality.

Why I am a candidate for the municipal council

I am standing as a candidate for the municipal council because I want to commit myself to an accessible, socially engaged, and future-oriented municipality in which everyone can participate, regardless of background or age. My key focus areas are accessibility, culture and heritage, and the social domain. I want our public spaces and municipal services to be naturally accessible to everyone. I see culture as a connecting force that brings people together and creates a sense of pride. Heritage strengthens the identity of our villages and keeps them vibrant. Within the social domain, I strive for policies that are humane, clear, and practically workable—focused on what truly works.

My background

From an early age, I have been fascinated by technology and creativity. After studying ICT, I completed programmes in Studio Sound Engineering and Media & Entertainment. For my graduation project, I wrote a business plan for my own company, Wijsneus Media. Today, I develop websites, corporate identities, and creative solutions for businesses and organisations with great pleasure, always with an eye for visual design, sound, and experience.

Who I am

I am Bertus de Leeuw and I live in Kerkdriel together with my cat, Anka. Because of my disability, I have learned to put things into perspective and to approach life with humour. Not everything is possible—but that applies to everyone. What is possible is often more than you think, and that is the message I try to convey in both my political and everyday life.

From Wellseind, I run my own business focused on improving the accessibility of television programmes for people with hearing impairments. We provide live subtitling to ensure access to information, and with that, their involvement in and influence on societal developments.

For me, the VVD is a party that likewise creates the conditions needed to continue working together on our prosperity and well-being. As an entrepreneur, my priorities are job retention, innovation, and sound public finances, but what truly matters to me is sharing goals and ambitions with all stakeholders—also within our municipality.

I am 61 years old and, together with Bernadetta, I have a son who is 28.

Lion wants to work towards a safer and freer Maasdriel. He values cooperation, wants to name problems clearly, and then come up with practical ideas and concrete solutions. With his experience in the field of safety and security, he wants to make a visible contribution.

Lion grew up in Bergen op Zoom. He completed his compulsory military service with the Commandos and then became a professional soldier with the Dutch armed forces. During his service, he attended the sports academy and became a physical education instructor within Defence. Through training, courses, and participation in missions, he gained broad experience.

After his military years, Lion worked as a self-employed security adviser for the municipality of Roosendaal, focusing on identifying fraud and criminal activity. Sport has been a common thread throughout his life: for many years he was a coach and instructor at sports clubs in and around Roosendaal. Since moving to Hedel in 2016 with his wife Jeannette and their family, he has coached the women’s team of V.V. Hedel, leading them to a championship title.

Martin wants to actively contribute to improving Maasdriel. He believes local politics should stay close to residents and he attaches great value to liberalism and openness. Being able to be yourself and form a clear opinion is a key principle for him.

For Maasdriel, Martin’s main priority is better and safer infrastructure. He feels that roads in the municipality are currently not safe enough and that this must improve. Community life is also essential to him, which is why he wants associations in Maasdriel to be well supported and facilitated.

Martin was born and raised in Kerkdriel and comes from an entrepreneurial family. After completing his higher professional education, he worked in ICT as a marketer and held marketing and sales roles in various sectors. He now runs his own recruitment and selection business. Martin lives in Kerkdriel with his family and has been a member of DSC for 50 years. In his spare time, he enjoys sports—football, skiing, and golf are his favourites.

Freek has been a member of the municipal council for VVD Maasdriel for eight years. He wants to continue working for residents, entrepreneurs, and associations, with a clear approach: equal treatment for all. Freek takes a helicopter view of issues, weighs interests from every angle, and looks for smart, innovative solutions.

For Maasdriel, his main priority is greater clarity: residents should know exactly where to go when they need the municipality. He also wants to encourage strong and enjoyable local initiatives, so liveability increases and neighbourhood ideas can get off the ground more quickly. Freek values plain language and does not beat around the bush.

In his spare time, he enjoys festivals and concerts. You will also often find him on the football pitch, at DSC or indoors on the court. Spending time with friends and family, and creating fun, memorable moments together, is just as important to him.