Dr. I.C.H. (Ilona) Mathijsen

Leudal’s strength lies in the people who live, learn, care for others, work, and come together here. People thrive best when they feel they have a say in their own lives, can develop their talents, and feel like they belong in their community. Support must be accessible, understandable, and reliable. The focus should be on people, not the system. Assistance should be familiar, with short lines of communication and familiar faces. Every child deserves a promising start, and every resident must be able to participate. This requires support that identifies issues early and prevents problems where possible. Schools, childcare centers, libraries, community organizations, and care partners are indispensable links in this effort. Together, we are building a Leudal where no one falls through the cracks and where we make even better use of the strength of our villages.

Portfolio

Social services (including administrative reform), education, libraries, health, and prevention.

Political party

Samen Verder

Contact

Phone number: (0475) 85 92 03
Email address: i.mathijsen@leudal.nl

100-Day Review

The Leudal Municipal Executive has now completed its first 100 days in office. This is a good time for a brief look back and a look ahead. You can find the article by Ilona Mathijsen of * Alderman * in the expandable section below.

100-Day Retrospective | Ilona Mathijsen

With the arrival of the new aldermen Ilona Mathijsen (Samen Verder) and Peter Francot (Ronduit Open), the Baexem community is represented on the Municipal Executive for the first time since the founding of the municipality of Leudal. Both aldermen from Baexem are energetic and enthusiastic and have begun their terms with full schedules.

“During these first hundred days, you’re faced with a lot of complex issues—and surprises, too,” notes Ilona Mathijsen, Alderman , reflecting on her first three months as a Alderman for Leudal. In the new municipal council, Mathijsen is responsible for the portfolios of Social Services, Education, Libraries, Health, and Prevention. “That makes mine the best portfolio of them all,” she says with a laugh.

In her policy area, Social Services, quite a few statutory municipal responsibilities are organized in consultation with other municipalities in the region.

“I didn’t really expect that,” she says. “That’s why I have two to three meetings a week with aldermen from neighboring municipalities to discuss this matter.” Together, we act as the contracting authority for care providers in the areas of youth services, assisted living, and the Social Support Act (Wmo). I find this collaboration with the neighboring municipalities to be very positive. Furthermore, as a new Alderman , it’s also enjoyable and educational for me to exchange ideas with fellow council members who oversee the same portfolio.

A warm bath

A recent first meeting with the joint village councils of Leudal also made a very positive impression on the “ Alderman .” She describes the village councils’ involvement in the community as nothing short of heartwarming. Ilona Mathijsen:

The village councils are generally quite active. They organize many events and are wholeheartedly committed to bringing people in their villages together. I was very pleasantly surprised. They truly serve as the lubricant of society.

In addition to meeting with the village councils, the newly appointed Alderman has also, during her first 100 days, gotten to know many of the agencies she deals with professionally.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many dedicated and enthusiastic people—for example, during my visit to the MensOntwikkelbedrijf and when I met the executive director of the Bibliocenter and the board of the Jozefhuis. As the new “ Alderman ,” I’m also very grateful for the indispensable administrative support. It all feels like a warm welcome. In short, my start as “ Alderman ” feels great!