Council adviser during municipal elections: ‘New councillors can’t wait to get started’
Alumnus interview image: Monique Shaw
With the municipal elections in the Netherlands just around the corner, an intensive period is beginning for council adviser Kirsten van Adrichem. Behind the scenes, this political science alumnus and her colleagues work to ensure a smooth political transition.
While the municipal election campaigns take place outside the city hall, Van Adrichem’s work behind the scenes has already begun. She prepares the council for the transition of power, oversees procedures and coordinates with colleagues in the region. ‘For councillors and aldermen, this is always a tense time,’ she says. ‘Current officials don’t know whether they’ll be returning, while new ones can’t wait to get started.’ For Van Adrichem, this means meticulous planning: making sure that all processes are in place, that everyone knows what to expect and that the transition runs as smoothly as possible.
The municipal elections are held every four years in the Netherlands. The next edition is on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
Twenty hours per week alongside day job
Preparing new councillors is a key part of this. Together with her colleagues, Van Adrichem developed an induction programme that not only introduces new councillors to procedures and their role but also helps them get to know their new colleagues. This includes speed dates with different departments, so councillors know where to go for support. Van Adrichem also created a handbook for new councillors. ‘You want people to get off to a good start,’ she explains. ‘Most do this work alongside their day job and various other commitments. We’ve got business owners, youth workers and lawyers, and also people who are carers. They spend about 20 hours per week on their council work.’
Sometimes the two jobs even mix. ‘One of our councillors is a teacher,’ says Van Adrichem. ‘He often brings his class along so they can experience politics up close.’ This fits with the municipality’s approach to education: schools are frequently invited to visit. ‘I recently had a long discussion with a lad from Year 8,’ she laughs. ‘He’d put on a suit for the occasion and had a surprisingly strong opinion about charging points for electric vehicles.’
From sustainability to football changing rooms
Van Adrichem talks enthusiastically about her work for the secretariat, the body that supports the council. ‘We support decision-making and policy development. That means providing advice, preparing committee meetings and ensuring councillors have all the information they need to make well-informed decisions.’
No two days are the same. One day she might be dealing with complex issues such as urban development, sustainability or mobility; the next a loan request for new changing rooms at a local football club. ‘What I enjoy is helping councillors arrive at decisions, without taking a political stance. We’re neutral, regardless of our personal political preferences.’
Broad knowledge, local focus
Van Adrichem volunteered for years as a secretary for the PvdA party in her hometown. Politically engaged from a young age, she chose to study political science in Leiden. The degree offered a wide-ranging perspective, covering national and international politics, law, philosophy and local governance. Each course provided insights she still uses daily: from understanding the political landscape to that elusive sensitivity in public administration. ‘Everyone has their own agenda: councillors, aldermen, civil servants, residents... They’re all players who want something, and it’s my job to keep track of that and help them work together.’
Her studies also clarified what she wanted from a career: a role where she could make a tangible difference. ‘In a ministry, I felt you’re more removed from everyday life. In a municipality, you immediately see the impact of your work means on the city and the people who live there.’
At home in politics
Her role as council adviser feels like a perfect fit. ‘I knew straight away this was where I belonged, right in the heart of politics.’ The job offers both intellectual challenge and plenty of contact with others. ‘Everyone has their own style and their own way of being approached. And soon, after 1 April, we’ll welcome 12 new councillors – and that’s exactly what makes this work so enjoyable.’
Career and education
Council adviser - Capelle aan den IJssel – 2022-today
Economic Affairs Policy Adviser - Capelle aan den IJssel – 2016-2022
Work placement - Leiden University Parliamentary Documentation Centre – 2014
Bachelor’s in Political Science, Leiden University – 2012-2015
Foundation year in Communication 2011 – 2012,
Inholland University of Applied Sciences (Rotterdam)
Associate Degree in Crossmedia Communication 2010 – 2011