Vanessa has served as municipal secretary in Heerlen since May 2023 and, in the years before, as interim municipal secretary, helped several municipalities in their organizational development and changing role in society. Originally from the middle of the country, she has returned to the region where she spent much of the year during her professional cycling and mountain biking career and feels at home.

Vanessa: "What makes Heerlen unique in my eyes and connects with me as a person is that 'thinking and doing things differently' is very normal and even desirable. This phrase in the coalition agreement 2022-2026 is completely in line with who I am: 'In Heerlen we do things differently and we are proud of that!' If it's too high, too far or too crazy for others, we often find it just right for us.' That shows courage and, above all, the creativity to continually search for how we as municipality can be of added value to all our residents, organization, education and fellow governments. The curiosity to investigate how something can be done. That's what makes Heerlen unique!"