Youth Cabinet

Visie21 not only resulted in a vision for the Netherlands in 2021, it also led to the establishment of the Youth Cabinet. Jip Samhoud (17), who participated in several Visie21 gatherings, decided that many more young people should become aware of their country and of their own future. And what they can do about it. He founded the Youth Cabinet, which was installed in Beetsterzwaag in March 2007, the Frisian village in the north of the Netherlands where not long before Jan-Peter Balkenende, Wouter Bos and André Rouvoet began a government coalition led by Prime Minister Balkenende.  Secretary of Youth and Family Rouvoet came to Beetsterzwaag again to receive the Youth coalition agreement.

The Youth Cabinet gathered the opinions of young people in the Netherlands and strongly encourages that young people have a voice in policy development. As part of this it also offers educational material to secondary schools. It also resulted in Jip Samhoud’s book  ‘Het kan allemaal zo veel beter’ (translated 'It Can All Be Done So Much Better’).  The Youth Cabinet is in recess at the moment.

Blue ball of connection for Lubbers and Balkenende, from Youth Prime Minister Jip (September 10th, 2007)