Twenty-one local political parities are running for a seat in the Municipal Council in this year's municipal elections in The Hague. How will voters ever be able to choose? We asked each party to submit a short statement about their political agenda for the city if they would be elected. Here are their plans in five areas: Safety, Health Care & Education, Housing & Employment, Spatial Planning & Transportation, and Citizenship & Culture.
PvdA list 1
The PvdA is in favour of a society in which diversity is seen as a strength; we will not allow ourselves to be played off against each other. The PvdA aims to increase people’s self-reliance and tackle poor language skills. The Hague as a cultural attraction, in the neighbourhoods as well.
VVD list 2
For the VVD, it’s not about where you’re coming from but rather about where you’re going. New residents of The Hague must learn Dutch and must work. Subsidies for immigrant organisations will be stopped. Single-sex swimming hours will be abolished.
CDA list 3
For the CDA, citizenship is about investing in society. The 40,000 residents who do not speak Dutch adequately must learn it quickly in order to participate in society. Community theatre brings people together and deserves support.
SP list 4
The SP aims to promote integration by encouraging people to live, work and learn together. Everyone will be given access to a tailored language course. Culture will be affordable for everyone. There will be no exorbitantly expensive cultural forum built on the Spui.
GroenLinks list 5
Culture brings people together and inspires them. GroenLinks believes that there must be room for diversity and more attention paid to innovative initiatives and amateur art.
D66 list 6
Changes in the city aren’t taking place behind a writing desk. That’s why D66 is for a government that sees citizens as partners and treats their contribution seriously. This also means that cultural entrepreneurship will be rewarded.
Islam Democraten list 7
It must be possible to take single-sex civic integration courses. Municipal employees must reflect the social fabric of The Hague. The cultural programme in the city must also be attractive to residents with a non-atheistic background.
Politieke Partij Scheveningen list 8
Preserve and strengthen Scheveningen's cultural heritage through the promotion of harbour-related business. There will be an historic shipyard. New residents in the city will receive a welcome package with specific information about their neighbourhood. Community participation/consultation is the greatest good.
Haagse Stadspartij list 9
Do not judge people on where they come from but on what they do. Less patronising, more participation. Rather than spend € 240 million on a cultural tower on the Spui, invest in culture in all neighbourhoods and for all residents of The Hague.
Partij voor de Dieren list 10
We need to stop thinking in black and white terms and end polarisation by putting compassion and sustainability first. The Hague must become the greenest and friendliest city in the Netherlands, where animals can also feel at home. It should also set an international example!
Candidate list headed by Khoulani, A. list 11
Conduct a policy of acceptance for all people in the city. Citizenship can only begin when diverse groups are accepted! The cultural programme must also be coordinated to reflect the multicultural groups in the city.
ChristenUnie list 13
The ChristenUnie aims to work with you to enable The Hague to flourish. Ten city rules for The Hague to promote normal Dutch etiquette will help achieve this. Art and culture are enormously important, but a new expensive cultural centre is money down the drain.
Nederlandse Moslim Partij list 14
We will continue to fight all forms of racism, especially Islamophobia, by bridging the gap between non-Muslims and Muslims. The party aims to involve the citizen more in the governance of the country, region and municipality.
Unie van Democraten (de Unie) list 15
Awareness-raising and civic integration programmes for all ethnic Dutch: about life and equal treatment in a multicultural society, anti-racism and anti-discrimination training courses and information about different religions and cultures. The certificates will be awarded during a ceremony to Dutch residents of The Hague.
Christelijk Sociaal Den Haag – SGP list 16
The Hague: living TOGETHER is something we do TOGETHER! Dutch is our language of communication! For everyone, irrespective of their origin, beliefs and sexuality: equal respect and equal treatment! Culture, as one of the factors in society that brings us TOGETHER, needs to be reinforced!
De Vrije Tegenpartij list 17
A second passport for a country of choice for every adult resident of The Hague who does not yet have a second passport. A cultural temple will emerge on the Spuiplein, a Hague take on the green, blooming Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Stop Wilders Nu list 18
We will never write off the population of The Hague. Everyone wants to be able to develop himself. A focus on culture, the soul of our civilisation, is necessary. The international character of the city is something to be proud of.
De Liberale Partij list 19
Young civil servants do not have any manners or respect for citizens. Older people should staff the service desks. Get rid of headscarves; it is nowhere in the Koran. The Hague has violated Dutch culture for several mosques. Dutch churches must return.
PVV list 20
Hundreds of millions of taxpayers’ money is wasted every year on subsidies and crackpot liberal hobbies. Politics in The Hague seems to have lost all sense of reality. The PVV wants to put an end to multicultural dream projects and senseless subsidies.
Trots op Nederland Lijst Rita Verdonk list 21
Every resident of The Hague should speak and write Dutch. Schools will no longer teach lessons in immigrant languages. We demand respect for Dutch values. The expansion and preservation of Dutch habits and customs should always be a key priority!