{"id":144129,"date":"2022-09-22T14:23:17","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T12:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=144129"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:26","slug":"speech-from-the-throne-offers-very-few-prospects-say-politically-active-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/09\/22\/speech-from-the-throne-offers-very-few-prospects-say-politically-active-students\/","title":{"rendered":"Speech from the Throne offers \u2018very few prospects\u2019, say politically active students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Four politically active students watched the Speech from the Throne at EM\u2019s request on Tuesday. None of them knew each other, and they all hailed from different parties. Their views on the Royal House and the student loan system differ, whereas their views on the position of students do not: \u201cThe King offered students very few prospects.\u201d<\/p>\n

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From left to right: Friso van Gruijthuijsen (JOVD), Thomas van der Voort (Young Socialists), Paul de Vries (CDJA) and Thomas Kloos (ROOD)<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJosephine Hartmann<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

\u201cI quite like the Royal House\u201d, says Public Management student Paul de Vries. He is a member of the Board in the Christian Democratic Appeal\u2019s youth division in Rotterdam and is responsible for all political affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut do you know just how much money goes to the King?\u201d, asks Thomas van der Voort, Public Administration student and secretary of Young Socialists Rijnmond. He immediately Googles the exact amount spent on the Royal House every year. \u201cThat\u2019s for the whole family, though\u201d, says De Vries. \u201cFor just one family\u201d, interrupts Van der Voort. \u201cThat\u2019s how you need to look at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farmers, climate plans and basic grant<\/h2>

Once the group has fully assembled, they get ready to watch the address from the throne and discuss some of their expectations. Philosophy student Thomas Kloos thinks that a number of things will be raised as a minimum. \u201cUnless they\u2019re going to keep Budget Day squeaky clean, the King is going to have to discuss farmers and the climate plans. But I hope that he\u2019ll also address the basic grant and that students won\u2019t end up being forgotten again.\u201d Kloos is a member of ROOD, the Socialist Party\u2019s old youth association.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m in favour of the student loan system\u201d, Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy (JOVD) Chair Friso van Gruijthuijsen chips in. He is studying Economics and Econometrics. \u201cStudents will often go on to secure much better paid jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other three disagree with him, but King Willem-Alexander is about to start, so there is not much time for discussion. \u201cI\u2019m just hoping for a Speech from the Throne that will give people a bit of hope, showing some humanity rather than just running through a list\u201d, says Christian Democratic Youth Appeal (CDJA) member De Vries. Van Gruijthuijsen agrees: \u201cIt\u2019s going to be one of the toughest Speeches from the Throne in years. I hope the King will be able to show that he\u2019s really in touch with what\u2019s going on.\u201d Young Socialist Van der Voort is mainly hoping for a long-term vision. \u201cThey\u2019ve got plenty of money. What we need now
\nis a viable plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\u2018It\u2019s going to be one of the toughest Speeches from the Throne in years. I hope the King will be able to show that he\u2019s really in touch with what\u2019s going on\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Sports commentator<\/h2>

The four students take notes during the King\u2019s Speech so that they can comment on it afterwards. \u201cI feel a bit like a sports commentator who\u2019s going to be talking about the match after the final whistle\u201d, laughs Van Gruijthuijsen.<\/p>\n

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Paul de Vries and Thomas Kloos take notes during the Speech from the Throne<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJosephine Hartmann<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Kloos is the first to speak once the King has finished his Speech: \u201cJust another checklist, then.\u201d He thinks that the Speech from the Throne lacked depth. The rest agree. And yet a few positive points get mentioned as well: Van Gruijthuijsen thinks it was great that attention was given to small businesses, and Van der Voort is pleasantly surprised by the comment about taking back control of the housing market.<\/p>\n

'Students are being forgotten'<\/h2>\n\t
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\n\t\t\u2018I didn\u2019t hear anything about compensation, and it\u2019s not the first time that we\u2019ve been overlooked\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

One thing really stood out for all four of them. \u201cStudents are being forgotten yet again\u201d, says Van der Voort. \u201cHe briefly touched on the basic grant, but I didn\u2019t hear anything about compensation, and it\u2019s not the first time that we\u2019ve been overlooked.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the students\u2019 opinions on the student loan system and compensation for students vary, they do at least agree on this point: politicians give scant attention to students. \u201cHe does give hope to certain groups of people, but he\u2019s offering very few prospects to students\u201d, adds De Vries.<\/p>\n\n\t

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\n\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\u2018It\u2019s a myth that the world of politics is remote. Sure, there\u2019s some distance, but we young people have got just as much right to get involved in politics\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Distance from politics<\/h2>

This irritates the four gentlemen, but they also have clear ideas on what students themselves can do about it. \u201cStudents still aren\u2019t politically active enough. We aren\u2019t a major force at the ballot box. A sizeable proportion of young people don\u2019t even vote, part of them isn\u2019t allowed yet of course\u201d, explains Van der Voort. The rest nod in agreement, and Van Gruijthuijsen picks up the thread, \u201cEven though there aren\u2019t many other places that give this many opportunities to work towards your ambitions and ideals. And I speak for all political youth parties rather than just the JOVD.\u201d<\/p>\n

De Vries even thinks it is logical that young people often get forgotten. \u201cIt\u2019s all well and good that we have our opinions on the basic grant and the student loan system, but if we fail to stand up and be counted, then of course we\u2019ll get overlooked. That is why I joined. If you want change, then you\u2019ve got to get active!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI get why the threshold is so high\u201d, says Kloos. \u201cBut actually, it\u2019s a myth that the world of politics is remote. Sure, there\u2019s some distance, but we need to understand that we young people have got just as much right to get involved in politics.\u201d Suddenly, after all the disagreement, the four students are united.<\/p>\n

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The four students chat all afternoon. Not only about politics, but also about their reasons for becoming active in a political youth organisation<\/span><\/p>

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJosephine Hartmann<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Stereotypes<\/h2>

As a matter of fact, they all got into politics for the same reasons. They want to make the Netherlands a better place, but it is also a way of being there for your fellow human beings. Preconceived ideas that they had about one another beforehand are discussed and debunked.<\/p>\n

Kloos: \u201cROOD may be one of the few openly anticapitalist youth parties, but we often get written off as conspiracy theorists, and that\u2019s just way off the mark.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd at the JOVD, I really notice that everyone believes in freedom and in getting the best out of yourself. The atmosphere there is great and open\u201d, adds Van Gruijthuijsen. \u201cMany of our members don\u2019t even vote for the People\u2019s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). It\u2019s really diverse.\u201d De Vries says it\u2019s the same at the CDJA. \u201cWe believe that society\u2019s role is
\ntremendously important, for instance, but there\u2019s a wide range of opinions and
\nideas within our party. We\u2019re actually very diverse.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\u2018The prevailing culture on the left is extremely nuanced. I\u2019m not one for naive leftist politics. There are plenty of good discussions to be had within my party\u2019\n\t<\/blockquote>\n\n\t<\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n

Last to speak, Van der Voort states that this is also why he likes being in the Young Socialists. \u201cThe prevailing culture on the left is extremely nuanced. I\u2019m not one for naive leftist politics. There are plenty of good discussions to be had within my party.\u201d<\/p>\n

The students carry on talking long after the Speech from the Throne is over. Now and then, there are some clear differences in opinion, but they often find themselves in agreement too. The atmosphere is so good that they all head home with a feeling of satisfaction at the end of the afternoon. \u201cI\u2019ve been involved in a few heated debates with other youth party members, but this one was great\u201d, says Van der Voort.<\/p>\n\n\t

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De redactie<\/h2>\n\t\t\n\t\t
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