Political party Volt affirms new courage, shared action

As part of our Eindhoven election round-up, we present the political parties and their manifestos. Please note that this content is provided by the parties themselves. We start with the pan-European party Volt.

Volt is the only European political party active in Eindhoven. Active in 35 countries, Volt truly believes in collaborating across borders. This doesn’t just mean on a national level; it’s especially local. Here, the consequences of European regulations affect daily life.

Volt thinks Eindhoven is unique, but most of its challenges are not. Therefore, Volt’s election program is bursting with best practices from across Europe. For example, we look at Vienna, which proves that housing can be a fundamental right rather than a privilege. This inspires Volt’s goal to guarantee that at least 40% of all new construction in Eindhoven is social housing. We also draw from Finland and Sweden, where free and healthy school meals have been provided for 80 years – a model we want to replicate for all primary schools in Eindhoven to ensure every child has an equal start. Furthermore, we draw on Copenhagen’s innovative approach to keeping the city clean and on cities like Rotterdam and Lisbon to develop publicly accessible green parks on building rooftops.

Volt welcomes internationals and hopes they feel at home in Eindhoven. To make that happen, Volt thinks the municipality should facilitate meetings with both internationals and locals. We want to actively lower the barriers to integration. This means expanding the successful ‘Welkom in Eindhoven’ program, encouraging language learning – whether that’s Dutch or even a few words of Brabants – and offering practical support like cycling lessons for internationals so everyone can navigate our city safely. We also advocate for clear, accessible, and English-friendly communication from the municipality, ensuring that non-Dutch speakers can easily access essential services, digital platforms, and local information.

Furthermore, Volt hopes the municipality of Eindhoven will involve international residents in decision-making by establishing a new International Council. With this council, Volt wants new Eindhovenaren to be heard, whether they are labour migrants, partners from abroad or refugees. This advisory body would represent non-Dutch nationals and provide solicited and unsolicited advice to the city council on policies regarding inclusion, housing, education, and participation.

VOLT’s vision for a future-proof Eindhoven

Beyond empowering the international community, Volt’s broader agenda for the upcoming municipal elections on March 18 focuses on creating a sustainable, accessible, and vibrant Eindhoven:

• Affordable housing & Smart densification: We want to accelerate housing construction and embrace smart densification without losing green spaces. By building higher near public transport hubs and introducing a ‘pre-Council-of-State Check’ to filter out low-probability objections and speed up building permit approvals, we can tackle the housing shortage efficiently.
• A green, climate-proof city: Volt aims for a fully sustainable and circular economy by 2040. We champion the 3-30-300 rule: every home should have a view of at least 3 trees, neighbourhoods should have 30% canopy cover, and a park must be within a 300-meter walk. We also propose an emission-free city centre by 2038 and advocate for public heat networks that remain affordable and resident-owned.
• The 15-minute city & smart mobility: We want to transform Eindhoven into a 15-minute city where work, leisure, education, and healthcare are just a short walk or bike ride away. We aim to make sustainable travel the most attractive option. This includes fast cycle paths to surrounding villages, a low-traffic city centre, and efforts to push for Eindhoven Centraal to become a hub for international night trains.
• Broad prosperity & a diversified economy: While ASML and the high-tech sector are crucial engines for the region, Volt wants to ensure Eindhoven does not become dependent on a single industry. We want to diversify our local economy by investing in health, cleantech, and creative industries. We advocate for a ‘Small Business Act’ to support local SMEs and demand that large companies expanding in the region contribute fairly to local society.
• Culture that connects: Volt views culture as the living heart of Eindhoven, essential for bringing locals and internationals together. We want to ensure a fairer distribution of cultural subsidies so that not just the largest organisations benefit. Our ambition is to establish a vibrant cultural centre in every city district (seven in total), with Cultuur & Kunst Eindhoven (CKE) acting as the central hub. We also advocate for repurposing vacant buildings to provide affordable workspaces for creative makers, ensuring art and culture remain accessible and thrive in every neighbourhood.
• A safe city for everyone: Everyone deserves to feel safe in Eindhoven – on the street, at home, and online. Volt pushes for more visible enforcement officers who focus on community connection and prevention rather than just repression. Crucially, we take a strong stance on privacy: we firmly oppose the use of facial recognition cameras in public spaces. We also propose establishing a dedicated Domestic Violence drop-in centre and adopting a “Housing First” approach for the homeless.  By providing a stable home first, we can much more effectively help vulnerable individuals tackle their underlying problems.

By combining European best practices with local action, Volt is dedicated to building an Eindhoven that is socially just, green, and welcoming to all.

VOLT Eindhoven