Candidates

1. Stevie Nolten
My name is Stevie Nolten (she/her) and since 2022 I have been a councillor for BIJ1 in the Utrecht city council. 15 years ago I moved from Brabant to Utrecht to study Art History and now I live with my partner in Kanaleneiland. I’m fighting for a just city that works for all, free from racism and discrimination.

Beyond my work as a council member, I work as an archive researcher in the field of colonial heritage where I am committed to democratization and repatriation of colonial heritage material, to supplement silences in the archive together with underrepresented communities.

There is a lot of inequality in Utrecht and politics often talks about people instead of with people. Before I became politically active, I was involved in feminist and decolonial activism in the city. I joined BIJ1 because, in addition to grassroots organizing, I see a need for change within the system. From people of color, queer people, people with disabilities, people living in poverty, sex workers, homeless people and displaced people, our collective presence proves how important critical counterpower is in this city. With love I continue this struggle for a solidarity, anti-racist and anti-capitalist Utrecht.

2. Noura Oul Fakir

I am Noura Oul Fakir (she/her) and since 2022 I have been working as a policy officer and committee member for Utrecht BIJ1.

In everything I do, one question is central: who is left out, and what does it take to break through that?

As a Moroccan woman, I have experienced up close what the impact is of prejudice, discrimination and inequality of opportunity and what happens when people are spoken of instead of with them.

Within BIJ1, I deal with issues like homelessness and social care, various forms of discrimination (such as internship discrimination, Muslim discrimination and housing discrimination) and the position and rights of undocumented people. I also work as a researcher at an anti-discrimination agency, where I investigate various grounds and forms of racism and discrimination.

With BIJ1 I fight for an equal and just city, free from racism and discrimination. A city where we stop labelling people as those who have rights and those who don’t because it can only be a truly human rights city when no one is excluded from the system. Solidarity does not stop at the city limits, therefore Utrecht must take responsibility in global struggles for justice, such as the commitment to a free Palestine, Congo and Sudan.

3. Chiara Fakkel

I am Chiara Fakkel (she/her) and I have been living in Utrecht for over ten years and this city has become my home. A home that I care about, but also dare to be critical of because I want to live in a city where there is room for everyone, people and nature, and where no one is forgotten.

For me, that starts with housing. In my own community I see how difficult it has become to find affordable housing. People are forced to leave their neighborhoods and sometimes even the city. Yet, as the housing crisis magnifies, there are properties that remain vacant for years. That affects me personally. Housing isn’t a profit model, but a human right, so I want to advocate for an active vacancy policy and affordable housing to be the norm in Utrecht.

In my daily life, I work as a policy advisor for newcomers at the Den Haag municipality. This experience has shown me the importance of developing policies that truly help people. I believe that real change begins with tackling the root causes of problems, recognizing inequality, and developing policies that exclude no one.

In addition to my commitment to Utrecht BIJ1, I am a regular volunteer at Tori Oso Utrecht. I enjoy helping with activities there and meeting people from different cultural backgrounds in the city. It’s precisely there that I feel how important culture, encounters, and community are for an inclusive and connected city.

I also think it is important that we as a city dare to face and learn from our past. The history of slavery isn’t a distant memory; it still has an impact on inequality and racism today. That’s why I believe it is essential that Keti Koti becomes a permanent part of Utrecht’s culture, with continued (financial) support.

6. Myrthe Minnaert

I am Myrthe Minnaert (they/them)! I was born and raised in Utrecht and now, after a few years of wandering around for my studies, I am back here. I’m genderqueer and have a passionate aversion to landlords. I’ve been active for BIJ1 for almost seven years and currently work as a party staff member. I love making things, especially lamps, and I’m a big fan of the birdies who come to snack on my balcony.

Especially in a city like Utrecht where 

every neighborhood is being or has already been gentrified; 

homophobic and trans-hating parties and institutions are still allowed to participate in the Pride parade;

where the university calls the police to forcibly remove its own students for being critical and protesting for justice; 

where most left-wing parties approach people out of charity rather than genuine recognition of human rights and its violation; 

it is precisely here that I see the importance of BIJ1. In the years that I have been active with BIJ1, I have drawn hope from the fighting spirit and wealth of experience and expertise of BIJ1 members. BIJ1 members are always there where it is needed, even when others don’t yet recognize it is necessary. It is these networks of resistance and solidarity that sustain me in times of growing fascism and hatred.

7. Marie-Renee Latuapon

My name is Marie-Renee (she/her). I’m a philosophy teacher at a secondary school in Leidsche Rijn, and believe that awareness and education can be the key to a just and inclusive society! As a third-generation Moluccan, neurodivergent, and first-generation student, I know what it’s like to find a place where you’re truly seen and heard. 

For six years, I’ve have been working as a teacher and every day, I’m committed to an education where everyone is equal. All young people in Utrecht deserve to be seen and have true equal opportunities. This starts with the stories we tell, for example, in our history books. The voices that are too often forgotten must be heard. This also means combating internship discrimination and under-advising, and providing extra support to students who need it. 

I stand up for young people who are currently underestimated, for parents who are under-represented, and for teachers who deserve the space to do their important work without falling apart themselves. For an equal and just Utrecht, we must be willing to confront injustice and change it together. Together with BIJ1, I want to work towards a city where all students are seen and heard in the classroom, everyone can feel at home in their neighborhood, and everyone has a place in our city.

8. Gül Streutker

My name is Gül (she/her). I am 25 years old, and I live in Lombok. I am committed to radical equal rights, a free Palestine, decolonization, and climate justice. I organize various actions and campaigns related to the protests for a free Palestine. While I strongly believe in the change that comes from the streets and through direct action, I also believe that radical politics can lead us to a society in which everyone truly enjoys equal rights. It’s our job to amplify the voices of those who repeatedly take to the streets, and whose very existence is a form of activism. It’s time for us all to truly take up the fight for our basic rights.

9. Alessia Gigliotti

Hi, I am Alessia Gigliotti (she/her)! I am trained as a neuropsychologist and sociologist. I currently work for Utrecht BIJ1 and as an independent musician. I grew up in Utrecht and feel a strong connection to the city and its residents. I’m running for the city council on behalf of BIJ1 because I want to work towards a city where policies exclude no one. 

Many young people feel they don’t belong in society because they are, for example, women, queer, neurodivergent, or have a migrant background. We live in a world where a genocide seems to be acceptable, our planet is being made uninhabitable, and we are in the midst of a manufactured housing crisis. This can put extreme pressure on our mental health, while mental health care doesn’t support us. We feel broken but the system we operate in is broken. It’s a system that deliberately excludes people so that others can profit from it. This is the result of political and social choices that truly can and must be made differently. 

BIJ1 is a political movement that doesn’t break inequality down into separate issues, but instead identifies and combats the interconnectedness of systems like capitalism, colonialism, racism, sexism, and heteronormativity. As long as we unite, we can change systems that others take for granted. That makes BIJ1, for me, the indispensable party for a radical voice in the city council.

10. Welmoed Yonas Mulder

My name is Welmoed Yonas Mulder (they/them). I was born and raised in Leeuwarden and have lived in Utrecht for about ten years now. What ignited my passion for activism was accessing transgender healthcare a few years ago. There, I experienced firsthand what it is like to lose control over your own body. I quickly understood that the skewed power dynamic I found myself in is just one of many examples of inequality in our society. So, solidarity became my guiding principle. 

Now that our society is increasingly fascist, and LGBTQIA+ identities, for example, are readily exploited to justify racism, I find it especially important, as a queer person, to work towards a just and equal Utrecht; a city where we make decisions with people instead of about them, where healthcare and housing are self-evident for everyone, and where no one lives in poverty. I am convinced that we can achieve this with a diverse and intersectional city council. For that, BIJ1 is indispensable!

11. Andre Damian

My name is Andre (they/them). My work and life revolve around one question: who is seen, heard, and protected in this city, and who, too often, isn’t? 

For the past five years, I’ve dedicated myself to queer and trans people of color, including as founder and leader of the Utrecht Ballroom Scene. Beyond fun voguing moves, it is a community where people care for each other and create a safer space to be ourselves. This is important in a society with increasing queerphobia, transphobia, and racism.

This experience has shaped my perspective on politics and policy. I know what intersectionality means in practice: 

that inequality doesn’t have a single cause, but accumulates;

that safety, livelihood security, healthcare, and access to culture are inseparable;

and that policy is often made without the people who feel its consequences daily. 

In my work, I’ve seen how powerful it is when communities are truly at the table. When our daily reality is recognized as expertise, and when queer and trans people of color can help shape policy. BIJ1 in Utrecht has meant so much to the city and to my community, including supporting Utrecht Ballroom Scene’s activism for Palestine in Pride 2024 and advocating for Trans Clinic Utrecht. With one seat we have achieved so much and with more it will only increase. So I’m proud to be on the list for Utrecht BIJ1, number 11. A vote for me is a vote for someone deeply rooted in the queer and trans community. Someone who knows what it feels like to be excluded, and what it’s like to fight against it.

12. Laura van Stein

Hi, my name is Laura (she/her)! I come from a working-class family and I know how important it is to be seen and given space to be yourself. I carry this belief with me in everything I do: my work, my activism, and my political commitment. I want to work towards a city where everyone feels welcome and can participate, without having to adapt to fit in. Where we not only accept differences but also value them, and where we work together towards radical equality, economic justice, and equal opportunities. 

In my daily work, I’m involved in the union for women in the workplace: for example, fighting the wage gap and promoting fair workplaces. I work at the advocacy organization Ava and work on improving access to abortion care and contraception. I do this because feminism, for me, is about autonomy, safety, and justice for everyone. 

I stand for a feminist, supportive, and just Utrecht: with affordable housing, accessible healthcare, and strong communities. I want to commit myself to this with warmth, conviction and courage.

13. Josefien Terburg
I am Josefien Terburg (she/her). I work in secondary vocational education and with a background as a singer. In the music world, I was used to making a lot of noise but I now use that volume for everything I stand for and to call out injustice. I’m an activist, a connector, and someone who prefers to roll up my sleeves rather than stand idly by. Justice, equality, and taking personal responsibility in this, are important principles for me. I’m on the BIJ1 list because I want to contribute to a society in which everyone can participate and achieve their full potential. We have a shared responsibility to create safety, equal rights, and opportunities, and I want to fight for that.

14. Kim de Roder

My name is Kim (he/him). I have lived in Utrecht for over ten years. I’ve been active in various NGOs, the human rights movement, and the climate movement. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been driven by a strong sense of justice. I believe in a society that excludes no one, regardless of background or circumstances. However, that society isn’t yet a reality. I’ve witnessed firsthand how refugee students were structurally excluded from university because of their migration background. I see how the space for LGBTQ+ people is increasingly under pressure. And I’ve experienced how speaking out against serious injustice, such as genocide, is increasingly met with the curtailment of freedoms. Later in life, I was diagnosed with ADHD and in 2020, after a COVID infection, I also developed a chronic immune disease. These experiences taught me what it’s like when systems aren’t designed for everyone. That’s precisely why I believe it’s essential that Utrecht continues to oppose policies that exclude and divide. Our city has a responsibility to protect its diversity and ensure that everyone can truly reach their full potential.

15. Jay Sadhoe

I am Jay Sadhoe (he/him). In my daily work as a financial professional, I see how policy works in practice. I see where funding gets stuck, where choices are unequal, and where systems hinder rather than support people. I bring that experience to politics. Not to think technocratically, but to make policy more human, fairer, and more effective. 

For me, BIJ1 is the party that consistently chooses equality and justice. I want to use my knowledge, experience, and energy to work with residents and members on solutions that truly make a difference. Not talking about people, but building a city with people where everyone counts. I believe that Utrecht becomes stronger when decisions are made together and when policy not only sounds good but is also tangible in people’s daily lives. As a council member, I want to contribute with keen insight, commitment, and a strong focus on collective change.

16. Marije Okhuijsen

My name is Marije Okhuijsen (she/her). I live in Lunetten where I’m actively involved as a board member of the Lunetten Residents’ Consultation, and work with my fellow residents to improve the neighborhood. From the Musketon that needs renovation, moldy houses whose rents are constantly increasing, tenders that benefit no one except a few directors, I say: let’s fight against them and I’ll stand with you! It’s so important that you and every other Utrecht resident know that you have the power in your own hands. And Utrecht BIJ1 will stand with you in this fight. 

What made me politically active is the unequal distribution of wealth perpetuated by the rich. I grew up in Overvecht where people so often face the unequal distribution of money and power. Where, for many, security of existence isn’t an abstract concept but a daily reality: how am I going to make ends meet today? Where no one bats an eye at issues like Mohamed unable to find an internship after 10 applications, while Johan does? Meanwhile, Mohamed is the one blamed when unnecessary budget cuts are imposed. Scapegoat politics is a means to get NATO to meet the 5 percent target. But I believe in change from the ground up.

Not just by meeting weekly, but by working in community centers, together with your neighborhood and fellow citizens, to create the conditions that make life better for everyone. During the Utrecht municipal elections, you, as a voter, also have a say in the direction we take as a city. Seize this opportunity, vote for the party that doesn’t compromise too much in advance, that stands by you when you stand up for your rights. Vote for BIJ1.

17. Janna Lenders

I am Janna (she/her). I grew up in North Limburg, but have lived in Utrecht for over 10 years now. I work here as a youth coach for underage newcomers. 

In the ten years I’ve lived in Utrecht, much has changed in the city:

Promises to students have been broken. 

Our right to demonstrate has been repeatedly restricted. 

There are more and more homeless people with increasingly less space. 

Over the past few years, I’ve worked in various ways to create a Utrecht for everyone. I was involved in establishing the regional Amnesty network in Utrecht and I’ve been active in the climate and agriculture movements. I also advocate for a Utrecht that is committed to international solidarity: for Palestine, for Cuba, for Venezuela. All these movements shaped my political consciousness, which led me to Utrecht BIJ1. Utrecht BIJ1 stands alongside the communities it represents. I look forward to standing with them in this campaign period, for radical equality, for everyone.

18. Dinesh Panday

I am Dinesh (he/him). I live in Utrecht with my partner and have worked as a secondary school teacher for over 15 years. I joined BIJ1 2.5 years ago and have been a board member for the Utrecht branch for the past 6 months. In this role, I am committed to strengthening and making BIJ1’s inclusive voice visible. 

I strongly believe that society is for everyone. This means that everyone deserves the same rights and opportunities. Unfortunately, this equality is increasingly under pressure. The gap between rich and poor is growing, social services are being cut, and more and more (hard)working people are struggling to make ends meet. 

At the same time, racism and xenophobia have become entrenched in politics, and scapegoats are no longer being sought for social problems, but rather for solutions. With strict asylum laws, we keep out people who want a good life for themselves and their loved ones, and we shift the blame of poor housing policy onto this vulnerable group. Excessive market forces in the housing, healthcare, and public transport industries are driving us to the brink of collapse exacerbating existing wealth disparities. 

Utrecht BIJ1 is committed to a fair distribution of our wealth and a good life for all. That’s why: Utrecht BIJ1.

19. Marissa Shanmugalingam

I am Marissa (she/her). I moved from the Achterhoek region to Utrecht in 2018 for my (pre-)master’s degree in sociology. As a first-generation student and the eldest child of refugees, Utrecht felt like coming home, like sitting at the table with my favorite people and meals. It was the place where I first felt I could truly do something about all inequality and injustice. 

Because radical equality, inclusion, discrimination, collective action, and community have been my constant fixations ever since, I now work as a consultant at Discriminatie.nl in the Amsterdam region. Action within the system is impossible without action outside it. We must do this together and make it as accessible and inclusive as possible for everyone. That’s why I became active for Utrecht BIJ1 in 2024 to help build a world where everyone matters and has an equal place, even outside of work. Since 2025, I have also been chair of Utrecht BIJ1 board to further promote this. I am also active in the Palestine movement and can often be found at various demonstrations. If we believe in a radically equal world for all, we must also show how we can achieve it.

20. Naya Aljoudi