Zoetermeer has a new children's mayor
During a festive gathering on Monday, November 3, in the presence of family, friends, council and city council members, 10-year-old Sarah van den Berg was officially installed as the new children's mayor of Zoetermeer. Sarah succeeds Steff Hoevers, who has fulfilled this special role with great enthusiasm and commitment over the past year. Sarah made a promise and received the special children's mayor's chain of office from her predecessor Steff Hoevers.
Election
Sarah was chosen during the election on Tuesday, Oct. 28, which followed a call for elementary school students in grade 7 to apply with a video message sharing their motivation for becoming the new children's mayor. Several candidates were selected from the submissions and presented themselves to the public during the election meeting. The children chose among themselves who could call themselves the new children's mayor of Zoetermeer.
Engaging children in the city
Mayor Bezuijen thanked Steff Hoevers, who has worked for the voice of children in the municipality over the past year. Steff symbolically handed over the baton to Sarah, who will spend the coming year representing the interests of children in Zoetermeer. Mayor Bezuijen: "A children's mayor is a good representation of the children in Zoetermeer, as we experienced last year with Steff. With Sarah as the new children's mayor, we want to further strengthen the involvement of children in our city. I am therefore looking forward to our cooperation."
In the 2025-2026 school year, Sarah has an important role as children's mayor at various events and activities in Zoetermeer, such as the Sinterklaas parade, Lichtjesavond, Koningsdag, the May 4 commemoration, the liberation festival, the evening four-day march and the veterans' evening.
