Maaike, an alderman in Delft, shares her personal background, international experiences, and current role in the city council. She is dedicated to major projects like Schieoevers, promoting entrepreneurship and sustainability, and discusses the challenges and successes of building a resilient future for Delft.
Could you introduce yourself?
Maaike has been an alderman for STIP for over two years now, which makes us curious: what is it like, and what is she working on?
Could you introduce yourself?
"I'm Maaike, 36 years old and a mother of two. I studied in Delft, where I also met my husband, Remko. He studied physics, and I studied architecture. We first met during a date dinner—very Delft-like, haha! During my time in Delft, I was involved in all sorts of activities, including ORAS. I also worked on a project with STIP back then, which is how I got to know the party.”
What did you do after your student years?
“Towards the end of my studies and in the first few years afterward, I did a bit of everything abroad. I lived, studied, and/or worked in various countries, including China, Trinidad & Tobago, and New York. I got to see every corner of the world, and it was amazing. I knew I wanted to contribute to society, and I really enjoyed my master’s in urban planning. At the same time, there were many directions I could take. For me, the question was: what scale fits me best? Do I want to work on a global level, or focus more on neighborhood-level projects? I systematically explored all these scales. I interned at the UN, did studies for the European Commission, worked for the national government, provinces, and municipalities. Through that process, I concluded that the city is my scale. Cities are complex, bringing together countless interests and challenges, which makes the work so fascinating. At the same time, cities are comprehensible: everyone can engage with them. That combination of complexity and practicality is something I love.”
You’re about halfway through your term as alderman. How has it been so far?
“It’s been great. I enjoy it! The role of alderman is incredibly diverse. In a single day, I might meet with residents, climate activists, entrepreneurs, students, the city council, and other regional officials. As an alderman, you get to visit remarkable places, and people share stories with you that you otherwise wouldn’t hear. That’s something I find truly special and valuable.”
One of the major projects in your portfolio is the Schieoevers project. Could you tell us more about the plans for this area?
"Schieoevers is a project that has been in development for quite some time. A few years ago, we created a development plan for it. We envisioned transforming the area into a mixed-use space with room for work, housing, and culture. I firmly believe in this development. Early in my tenure as alderman, I had the privilege of shepherding the zoning plan through the city council. The council approved it by a significant majority, which I’m certainly pleased about!”
Have you encountered any challenges with this project?
“There are concerns in the area. We’ve accounted for these in the zoning plan by including, for example, growth space for businesses. At the same time, not everyone is enthusiastic. Some businesses have filed appeals because they’re worried about their future in the area. I understand these concerns because the area will change significantly. That’s why we’re in continuous dialogue with entrepreneurs. We work closely with the Schieoevers Business Association and are establishing an area committee where businesses and residents can continue these conversations together.”
We just touched on businesses along the Schieoevers, but they’re far from the only enterprises in Delft. The city was recently named the best place for entrepreneurship again. What makes Delft so appealing to entrepreneurs?
"Yes, that’s correct. Delft was named the best place for entrepreneurship for the third year in a row by the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Index, and there are several reasons for this. We have TU Delft, the best technical university in the Netherlands. Through collaborations with the university, we have incubators like YES!Delft and innovative test locations like RoboHouse and the Green Village. These spaces help startups and scale-ups grow and develop new technologies. It’s going fantastically! Many of the companies emerging from this ecosystem create jobs for both highly educated people and those with more practical skills. That mix of jobs is vital for a city. However, we’re facing a problem: there’s not enough space for these companies to grow or downsize. That flexibility is crucial, but we have so little vacant space that it becomes an issue. This is why we’re working hard to create more room for entrepreneurs.”
Sustainability is also part of your portfolio. Can you share some plans for a climate-neutral Delft?
"We’ve established the Climate Neutral Roadmap 2050. This roadmap outlines where we currently stand and identifies the major milestones and steps the municipality must take to achieve our goal. In essence, we focus on two main themes: the built environment and mobility. These are two significant sources of CO2 emissions where we can make an impact as a municipality.”
What measures are planned for the built environment?
“In terms of the built environment, the focus is primarily on heating. Right now, we’re working with various partners to construct a district heating network for approximately 5,000 homes, which will use geothermal energy. This will provide sustainable and affordable heating for these residents. What’s exciting is that one of our partners is TU Delft, which conducts extensive research on geothermal wells. This is a great example of how we can accelerate the energy transition through innovation and collaboration with TU Delft.”
Do you still have any free time left?
“Time is definitely my biggest challenge. There are so many things I want to do as an alderman, but you can’t be everywhere at once. First and foremost, I’m a mom and try to make time for my family. I have two young children who, of course, need attention. It’s important to me that everything runs smoothly at home because if it doesn’t, work won’t go well either. Every Sunday afternoon, I sit down and plan for the week ahead: what do I need to do, and where do I need to be? That helps me manage everything.”
If anything were possible, what would you still like to achieve for Delft?
“One of the most persistent problems we face is creating space for entrepreneurship. Delft is small and charming, but that also makes it challenging to provide enough space for businesses to grow. Solving that puzzle is something I truly want to achieve.”
What are you most proud of?
“I’m proud of the collaboration within the city. Whether it’s with residents, entrepreneurs, or the university, there’s a strong willingness to work together to make the city better. There’s a sense that we’re collectively shaping the future of Delft, which is something truly special. There aren’t many big egos or conflicting interests fighting against each other; everyone wants to move forward. That’s something I hope Delft can hold onto.”
