{"id":137563,"date":"2022-03-11T11:36:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-11T10:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=137563"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:10","slug":"econometrics-student-friso-wants-to-make-kralingen-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/03\/11\/econometrics-student-friso-wants-to-make-kralingen-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Econometrics student Friso wants to make Kralingen better"},"content":{"rendered":"

Unlike Delft and Utrecht, Rotterdam does not have a political party catering specifically to students, but quite a few EUR students are standing for municipal councils representing other political parties all over the Netherlands. EM<\/em> will speak to five such students in the run-up to the 16 March municipal elections. In this episode,\u00a0Friso van Gruijthuijsen, who is chasing a seat in the district council of Kralingen.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMigle Alonderyte<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Not all Rotterdam students are aware of the upcoming municipal elections. But the fact that they can vote for the district council at the same time may come as an even greater surprise to many of them. That\u2019s something that Friso van Gruijthuijsen (20) also notices when he talks to friends about his political dream. \u201cNot many people know what the district council does. But when I explain what the district council stands for, nearly everyone gets enthusiastic.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Econometrics and Economics student talks passionately and in the \u2018we\u2019 form about the institution in which he is trying to get a seat. \u201cThe district council is a mini municipal council. We give solicited and unsolicited advice to the municipal council about issues facing Kralingen. As residents, we are also more aware about what\u2019s going on and what\u2019s important in the area than most municipal council members.\u201d<\/p>\n

A shame<\/h2>

There are 39 district councils all over Rotterdam. They replace the area committees, district committees and current district councils. Van Gruijthuijsen feels it\u2019s important that, particularly in Kralingen, students are part of the district council who can represent EUR and make its voice heard. The candidate posters on the street show that not very many of our peers have a chance of a seat. \u201cWhich is a shame. As a member of the district council, you can really make changes. Traffic safety, more green amenities in the district and how to manage nuisance from student houses.\u201d<\/p>\n

That last issue is not just important to Van Gruijthuijsen but has been a subject of concern for quite some time throughout the district. \u201cAlthough we don\u2019t directly address that in the district council, we can explain what\u2019s happening and discuss what we feel might be good solutions. My idea? For a start, the houses should be better insulated. I think that would help a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\u2018As a member of the district council, you can really make changes. Traffic safety, more green amenities in the district and how to manage nuisance from student houses\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Make Kralingen better<\/h2>

There are 23 candidates for Kralingen district council and only nine seats. Van Gruijthuijsen will need to work hard until 16 March, but he enjoys it. \u201cHanging up posters, distributing flyers on campus. At the moment, I\u2019m not doing much studying.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite being a member of the youth organisation of the VVD, the party also by his name on the ballot paper, he hopes to encourage students and residents with different political views to vote too. \u201cThe great thing about the district council is that it doesn\u2019t matter whether you\u2019re on the left or right. If you are talking about greening the district or making Oostplein safer for cyclists, being left or right means nothing. We all want to make Kralingen better, that\u2019s what it\u2019s about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Lees meer<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t