New Year's address, Jan. 7, 2025
New Year's Address 2025
So tonight all generations are represented. In particular, I would like to mention students from Adelbert College and Myron, a young piano talent from Ukraine. They will provide the music.
In addition, you will find several booths in our Council House for you to visit. Numerous Wassenaar organizations are gathered to engage in conversation with you. The snacks will be provided this year by people temporarily living in our AZC.
With a successful bonfire in Kerkehout - live on the NOS news - New Year's Eve started a day earlier this year. Too bad we had to deal with a strong wind, which prevented the New Year's dive from taking place. In general, the turn of the year went well. Unfortunately, it remains bitterly necessary for emergency workers to be actively present on the streets this evening to prevent worse. Therefore, it is incomprehensible that a cowardly fellow villager found it necessary to throw an egg on the head of a young policeman in hiding. We must never allow this to become normal. Keep your hands off our emergency workers. Unfortunately, we as a municipality do have some trash cans and a bowl sign to repair. Please give a big round of applause to all the people who worked for our safety again this evening.
I would like to take you back in time with a brief look back at 2024.
Sporthal De Duinpan opened, an energy neutral and modern sports hall, where sporty Wassenaar can indulge.
The Center Plan got off to a brisk start as the stimulus of a pleasant place to meet.
An important healthcare organization in our village, has been renamed: SWZ is now called Amarosa. A new Neighborhood Center has also opened on Zuidwijklaan.
As part of Woningbouwvereniging Sint Willibrordus' new housing in the Stompwijckstraat complex.
What also connects us is our local newspaper, De Wassenaarse Krant. This year the 1000th version came off the press.
With the new wing added, the Rijnlands Lyceum is again ready for the future and 1,100 students will be taught in the school's international, bilingual and Dutch departments.
Also, we who the road are better connected to the opening of the Corbulo Tunnel this summer.
The first citizens' consultation in Wassenaar has begun. A group of 108 Wassenaarders, from all generations, are working together to think about the future of traffic in our municipality.
All of these examples indicate that as Wassenaar we value connection and coming together. Especially in these times, when the world faces uncertainty, crises and threats of war. It is therefore necessary to invest in each other. And especially in the connection between the different generations. Because we can learn a lot from each other.
Therein lies immediately one of the greatest challenges of the coming year: how do we ensure that the different generations talk to each other? While young people often think in the short term, older people have completely different concerns. How wonderful it would be if young and old people would work together to find solutions to the challenges of our time, such as housing, energy transition, climate change, security of existence, good Health and safety.
For more than 1,000 days there has been war in Europe, a harsh reality that reminds us how fragile peace is. It is therefore good to remember how special it is to have lived in freedom for 80 years and to whom we owe our freedom. In the coming year, we would like to remember and celebrate this with you.
We reflect on our history, with special activities such as the commemorations of the Holocaust, the French commandos, the Remembrance of the Dead and the laying of Stolpersteine. So that we never forget and continue to pass on the stories from generation to generation.
The year 2025 will be special for Wassenaar. We will celebrate not only 80 years of freedom but also 100 years of De Paauw. We would like to do this together with you on Open Monument Day.
Regarding the festivities surrounding 80 years of freedom, a project group has been established in Wassenaar, which is busy with preparations for Monday, May 5, 2025 on the Berkhei, the market area. In a personal capacity there are in this project group: Piet van Herk, Martin Efdee, Roël Karamat, Jolande de Rambelje and Inge Zweerts de Jong ; from the municipality May Ling Kuijt and Ingrid Sachumsky. They are present, come with ideas and participate.
2025 will also be a year when the political parties will start preparing for the March 2026 municipal elections. What are the ideas for the Wassenaar of 2030? Politics is people's work. Who will participate? The completion of numerous ongoing and new projects will require the necessary attention of the College and City Council. This also requires connection and the will to listen and look for supported solutions.
At the same time, we look beyond our municipal borders. The world is on the move and Wassenaar plays a role in it. With the NATO summit in June, we are once again becoming aware of the value of security and cooperation. To be fair, we will undoubtedly feel some of this through reduced regional accessibility. Fortunately, June will be beautiful cycling weather.
I conclude with an appeal. Freedom, security and a strong community require commitment from all of us. Because freedom cannot be taken for granted. It is the foundation of our society. Everyone has the right to freedom without fear. That takes courage. It requires us to listen, to give each other space, to respect the opinion of another and to work together for a Wassenaar in which everyone feels at home.
Before we toast to the new year together - with or without a soda - I join Emir Nazari, Rob Mayfield and Chris Laarhoven in conversation. In conversation with three generations about freedom and connection
Cheers to a connected 2025 in freedom.
It's time for music by the Adelbert College band.