Candidates
Leendert van der Laan
#1.Leendert is the figurehead of the party and co-founder of the Partij vóór het Noorden. As a former member of the Provincial Council, he brings extensive administrative experience, and he is active as a hands-on board member in the Schilderswijk. He is driven by the gas file and contributes substantial financial and economic expertise. Leendert is known as a strong debater who works closely with residents and entrepreneurs across the city, neighborhoods, and villages.
Matthijs Arjen Hekert
#2.Matthijs has lived in Groningen his entire life and fulfils several roles within the party: secretary of the board, quartermaster, coordinator of the think tank, and campaign leader for these elections. As spokesperson and policy officer for the Groningen faction, he has developed into a substantive, principled, and sharp debater, focused on clear choices, workable policy, and a reliable government. In daily life, he works as a policy advisor.
Evelien Bernabela
#3.Evelien built her experience as a city councillor and maintains close contact with residents and civil society organisations. She has worked for many years in the cultural sector and has broad knowledge of social issues, education, the environment, and nature. With her extensive network, she works to strengthen the connection between policy and practice.
Jonathan Schans
#4.Jonathan was born in Drenthe and raised in the city of Groningen. He seeks to strengthen the connection between residents and politics, based on the conviction that politics should serve the public. Reliability, affordability, and accessibility form the core of his commitment to the municipality.
Myrthe Jansen
#5.Myrthe was born and raised in Groningen and works in healthcare. Drawing on her professional experience, she wants to focus on tackling poverty, affordable housing, accessibility, and greening. Equality and safety are her key guiding principles.
Eddy Poker
#6.Eddy’s priority is to listen to residents and to think from the perspective of neighborhoods and villages. He is known as driven, clear, and practical. His efforts focus on poverty reduction, housing construction, sport, and sustainability, with attention to concrete results in people’s daily lives.
Jesse Collenteur
#7.Jesse advocates space for culture, initiative, and pioneering spirit. He believes in Groningen’s strength and wants to contribute from the city council to a city and villages that become more attractive, resilient, and liveable. His priorities are affordable housing and vital neighborhoods and villages, with freedom where possible and support where necessary.
Chloé Legrand
#8.Chloé grew up near Antwerp in a French-speaking family and moved to Groningen after completing her Master’s degree in Sustainability. She believes every effort counts and wants to work to reduce loneliness, create a more child-friendly society, and further sustainability, without imposing unnecessary financial burdens on residents.
Danny Erenstein
#9.Danny is an energetic debater with a pragmatic drive to improve things. He works from integrity and transparency and is committed to citizen participation, strong education, and digitalisation that makes daily life easier. For him, the connection between the city and surrounding areas is essential: villages and neighborhoods must feel equally heard, with clear, workable plans and decisions residents can rely on.
Johan ten Hoove
#10.Johan has an extensive network in the city, including through sport and healthcare, and brings substantial local knowledge. He wants to focus on sport and policy for older residents and considers it important that other age groups also receive sufficient attention in municipal policy. Johan is also chair of the Rollyside supporters’ group of FC Groningen.