4. Willem Stevens
Willem has been committed to Brussels for two decennia. First as a local councillor and for ten years as a deputy in Saint-Gilles.
“My Brussels wife and my daughter bring the multilingual Brussel into our home on a daily basis. I want to keep fighting for a city where everyone has the opportunities to be who they are, to develop and to live well. As a deputy, I am committed to children, young people, and to neighbourhoods that deserve more attention.”
Willem Stevens grew up in Willebroek. He went to school there, played football and was also active in the youth centre. His father worked in a wheelbarrow factory and his mother in a paper factory. Both worked hard to be able to give their son many opportunities and to let him study at VUB. This is how he ended up in Brussels and at Vooruit.
Love and Brussels
Meanwhile, Willem has been living in Brussels for more than 20 years. He also met the love of his life here. Laura is a native of Brussels and, like 9-year-old daughter Julia, multilingual. In short, in the Brussels mosaic lies his home. To Saint-Gilles, he has lost his heart.
In 2000, Willem started as the first Dutch-speaking councillor in Sint-Gillis. Ten years later, he became a deputy. By now, he has been in local politics for two decades, currently as Deputy for Finance, Urban Renewal, Youth and Digital Strategy.
Housing and lifestyle
William's focus is on improving the quality of housing and living for all residents and giving space, opportunities, and wings to young people so they can realise their dreams. Local politics is his thing because you are close to the people, work concretely and achieve tangible results.