my name is Marijke Daamen. Starting January 1, 2026, I will be joining the board of the Genderbeemd Neighborhood Management Foundation (Stichting Buurtbeheer Genderbeemd), alongside Hedwig Lemmens and Antoon Knapen.We have already become quite accustomed to working together over the past few years, as I have regularly attended board meetings covering topics such as the residential environment and the SBG newsletter. We have also collaborated on meetings regarding the future of 'Het Slot', the construction of the HOV4 high-quality public transport route, the development of Kastelenplein, and the widening of the A2/N2 highway. It is great to be able to continue our collaboration in this way.
I was born and raised in Stratum nearly 75 years ago. For over 30 years now, I have lived with my partner at Eimerick 103 in Genderbeemd. I never would have imagined this earlier in life, given the stories my parents told about the area between Strijp and Stratum—which was often wet and marshy during the winter months.
My children—now 37 and 40 years old—had a wonderful time growing up here, with plenty of outdoor play, friends, and good schools. My partner, who hails from the Achterhoek region, has been delivering mail in Gestel for nearly 25 years. Until eight years ago, I worked as a project manager for Dutch Railways (NS), operating across the entire country; I was frequently in Utrecht, but also regularly in Tilburg, Haarlem, Groningen, and Maastricht.
Over the past few years, I have come to know and appreciate Genderbeemd—with its excellent cycling and walking areas and good public transport—more and more. I look forward to continuing my efforts on behalf of our neighborhood and its residents in the years to come