Become the voice of the citizens in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park!

Become the voice of the citizens in the Weerribben-Wieden National Park!

Steenwijkerland is looking for a new member of the National Park Weerribben-Wieden management team. This park, the largest contiguous fen area in northwestern Europe, is not only a natural gem, but also one of 21 national parks in the Netherlands. An important goal is to reconcile the interests of nature, quality of life, tourism and agriculture dekopvan.nl reports.

The board team consists of representatives from various parties, including two members who specifically represent residents' concerns. For the new board position we are looking for someone with in-depth knowledge of the region and a broad network in Steenwijkerland. This person should be able to effectively represent citizens' concerns on the board and have a feel for administrative processes. Applications must be submitted by October 6, 2025 to the email address inwoners@npweerribbenwieden.nl. Introductory discussions are scheduled for the last week of October.

The role of the residents and the foundation

The National Park Weerribben-Wieden Foundation plays a central role in working with the residents and the Plaatselijk concerns, the local interest groups. These partners live or work in the region and know the challenges as well as the beauty of the area, reports npweerribbenwieden.nl. The foundation aims to create a balance between nature, economy and quality of life.

A crucial aspect of this quality of life is that the number of facilities in smaller communities is maintained. While tourism can certainly contribute to strengthening the local economy, it must not lead to a reduction in the quality of life, especially at peak times. The foundation is also involved in village development discussions in Ossenzijl, where, among other things, a bypass road and a new visitor center, the European Wetland Center, are planned.

LEADER funding for rural development

Another important element for the region is the European Union's LEADER program, which focuses on the development of rural areas. LEADER stands for “Liaison entre actions de développement de l’économie rurale” and has been implemented in the EU member states since the 1990s. The aim of the program is to involve local people in shaping their economic and social environment. The bottom-up approach ensures that local action groups (LAGs) decide how to fund projects leader-ahl.de explains.

The projects planned in many regions can contribute to improving the quality of life and thus ensure the balance between nature conservation and economic development. Ideas from various areas such as business, tourism, nature conservation or agriculture and forestry can be realized through LEADER initiatives. The challenges facing the region require close cooperation from all parties involved in order to sustainably promote the quality of life and the natural beauty of Steenwijkerland.