Introducing: Ide Opdam for Water Naturally Delfland

After Rijnland & Schieland and Krimpenerwaard, today it is time for a candidate from Delfland to introduce himself. There are only six days left until the Water Board elections! Do you live in the Delfland area and have no idea who to vote for yet? Ide Opdam is 3rd on Water Natuurlijk's list for The Delfland Water Board. He introduces himself!

Can you briefly introduce yourself? Name, hometown, age, what do you do in daily life?

I grew up in the south of the country on a biodynamic farm in the stream valley landscape of the rivers Dommel and Tongelreep. Here I saw from an early age how farming can exist in complete harmony with the soil and water system. I currently live in Delfshaven in Rotterdam. After studying water management at the Hogeschool Rotterdam and Wageningen University, I started working at the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, in the Staff of the Delta Commissioner. The government commissioner for the National Delta Programme.

Why did you run for the Water Boards?

Water boards are more relevant than ever, they are actually among the first to notice the effects of climate change. Be it extreme precipitation, prolonged drought or the effects of a rising sea.

Currently, the average age on water boards is over 60. The perspectives of the younger generations are still really insufficiently represented in water board decision-making. That has to change, I sometimes say 'they have the experience, we have the fresh perspective and the future!

What do you hope to achieve in the Water Boards?

We are at the beginning of a major rebuilding of the Netherlands; the decisions we will take in the coming years will directly affect how we live and work in the Dutch Delta in the future. We have to choose between passing on problems to future generations or daring to make sustainable choices now. Do we opt for sustainable investments in advance or repair afterwards?

So why are these elections so important for young people?

Traditionally, businesses and farmers have had a lot of influence on decision-making within water boards. The initiative bill by GroenLinks and D66 has reduced the guaranteed seats in the General Board to just two seats for the nature and agriculture interest groups. This has made the water boards more democratic, so to speak, making voting for them perhaps more important than ever before.

A green vote for Water Naturally is directly a vote for your future!

Water Natuurlijk is supported by GroenLinks, D66 and Volt during the water board elections. Earlier Margot Kwee of Water Natuurlijk Schieland and Krimpenerwaard proposed and Mitchell Wiegand Bruss From Water Naturally Rhineland. Thank you Ide for your cooperation!