Programma's over democratie

Election programmes

Tolhuistuin regularly makes efforts during political elections to make voting more popular and increase turnout, especially among young people. Think of a silent disco polling station or a playful voting night where votes can be cast in the dead of night. For this, Tolhuistuin works with a strong coalition of programme partners who reach different target groups: such as De Kiesmannen, Stem op een Vrouw, BKB, Verdedig Noord, the National Youth Council, etc.

Citizen Council and Democratic Fitness

Tolhuistuin is also a place for development & innovation. A telling example of how art and culture can lead to social change is the Citizens' Council. In 2020, Tolhuistuin initiated the interactive theatre production the ‘Straatberaad’, in which audiences were invited to help decide on climate policy. At Tolhuistuin's invitation, a group of pioneers then started weekly conversations to introduce citizen deliberations in the Netherlands. This grew into Bureau Burgerberaad, which now plays a key role in setting up citizens' councils in the Netherlands. Bureau Burgerberaad is now one of Tolhuistuin's housemates. Together with Stichting Nieuwe Helden, Tolhuistuin is working on a new interactive theatre production on the subject.

Have you ever considered the importance of training your democratic muscles? From empathy and active listening to curiosity and compromise. These are examples of ‘muscles’ you need if you want to contribute to a healthy and strong democracy. At Democratic Fitness, guided by energetic democratic fitness influencers, you will work on these important, but in many cases neglected, democracy muscle groups.

Voting for the Future

‘What do I want my world to look like ten years from now?’ In the run-up to the Lower House elections, Tolhuistuin is organising ‘Votes for the Future’ in collaboration with secondary schools. Pupils discuss concerns, wishes and dreams for their future at school. Based on this, the pupils formulate a wish: ‘I want that in 10 years that ... ’ They ask people they know who are allowed to vote to vote for their future.

Through a specially developed teaching package, secondary schools will pay attention to the elections. Prior to the elections, a group of schoolchildren reveal their dreams, wishes and concerns on large boards at the entrance to Tolhuistuin on the IJ side. On election day, anyone who goes to vote at the polling station in Tolhuistuin can be inspired by the high school students' voting cards and let them know whose wish they will factor into their vote.

Voting for the Future is an effective way to stimulate conversation about politics and society in school and outside school for a target group for whom politics is often a distant memory. The people with whom pupils engage in conversation and whom we reach through the exhibition at the polling station are stimulated to consider the longer-term perspective in their voting behaviour. After a successful project #whiestemtvoorjou in 2022 during the municipal elections, it is now time for the Lower House elections!

Concept & design: Tolhuistuin, secondary school teachers, Dolly Warhol.

Will you participate or want more information? Send an e-mail to info@tolhuistuin.nl with reference to ‘Vote for the Future’.