Participation is a nice word. You hear it everywhere. In council meetings, in policy documents, in municipal newsletters. But what does it really mean? Participation means taking people seriously. It means listening. Not only to the loud voices, but also to the quiet ones. To the neighbor who is concerned about traffic in her street. To the entrepreneur who is stuck because of regulations. To the young people who say, “No one ever asks us anything.”

In Diemen, people are often talked about, rather than talked to. Plans are made, public consultations are held, reports are written, and then the outcome is almost already decided. That doesn’t feel fair.

And in all honesty, that is something that the people of Diemen value.

Independent Diemen says: participation starts with respect. Respect for opinions, for emotions, and for the reality of ordinary people. Not just at the end of a decision, but right at the beginning. Because if the municipality really wants to know what is going on, it must also dare to listen when it does not fit into the policy plan.

We want all residents of Diemen to be able to participate when something affects the entire municipality. Whether it concerns an asylum seekers’ center, new construction plans, traffic, or sustainability: the consequences affect everyone. Therefore, everyone should be able to have a say. Not only the people in the immediate vicinity, but also residents who do not live in the immediate vicinity, sports clubs, caregivers, and shopkeepers on Diemerplein.

That is what we mean by genuine participation: not just ticking a box, but having a conversation. Not pretending, but really listening.

Together, Diemen knows more than any report or survey could ever show. And together, we can ensure that decisions are not made from above, but from within, from the heart of Diemen itself.

Independent Diemen stands for a municipality that talks with people, not about them, because only with mutual respect can we continue to build a Diemen where everyone feels heard.

Participation starts with respect. Period.

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