Netherlands
Utrecht
Sharon Dijksma
Mayor
Recommended
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Utrecht: from car to boat
20 years ago, a referendum sparked the demolition of a 12-lane highway to bring back the canal to the centre of the city. Today, the water is now flowing through the heart of the city again.
4 minute read -
Utrecht focus on women to welcome and include refugees
The Dutch city of Utrecht is focusing on gender equality to include and integrate refugees with the help of the local community.
4 minute read -
Why gender equality?
“When I think back to how I felt before I started here, I saw no light” – Gothenburg is tailoring its integration policies to fit the needs of migrant women.
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Healthy urban park
Utrecht's Máximapark brings communities together and is a model of good citizen engagement.
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A path to wheel urban development
When cycling is the most popular method of getting around, it promotes healthy urban living.
5 minute read
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Poverty in cities is changing, and becoming harder to escape
As poverty becomes more entrenched and concentrated, cities across Europe are rethinking how they respond, from local services to calls for stronger EU support and funding.
9 minute read -
Europe is tested in its cities
Cities turn Europe’s challenges into solutions. At the Eurocities Annual Conference in Utrecht, they called for stronger backing to keep delivering for people.
10 minute read -
The next EU budget must be built with cities
As EU budget negotiations reach a crucial stage, city leaders state they must be treated as strategic partners, not the final stop in a centralised funding chain. If cities are side-lined, key EU ambitions on climate, housing and competitiveness risk falling short.
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Buying zero-emission buses: procurement that reshapes operations and infrastructure
European cities are moving from pilots to full deployment of zero-emission buses. Lessons from Utrecht, Rome and London show how planning, procurement and governance shape the transition, highlighting both the opportunities and complexities of electrifying public transport at scale.
5 minute read -
Beyond mobility: integrated urban planning for liveable and resilient neighbourhoods
As European cities continue to densify, the question is no longer whether to foster greater use of active travel, shared mobility, and public transport, but how to do so in a way that remains socially inclusive, economically viable and accessible to all.
6 minute read -
SUN4Ukraine project unveils 14 city partnerships for climate action
Ukrainian municipalities will be paired with European Cities that are part of the EU Mission for 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. These unique partnerships will help embed climate neutrality in Ukrainian reconstruction strategies.
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“Cities will struggle to function if we cannot offer affordable housing for residents”
Dennis de Vries, Utrecht’s alderman for housing, discusses how the city is addressing the housing crisis through innovative and inclusive solutions. Key measures include housing cooperatives, shared housing, and long-term affordable ownership for middle-income households.
7 minute read -
European cities turn solidarity into action
Through humanitarian funding, ethical procurement, civic mobilisation, and community cohesion measures, cities are finding ways to help protect rights and support aid delivery.
4 minute read -
European mayors travel to Istanbul in defence of local democracy
A delegation of European mayors travelled to Istanbul as part of a mission organised by Eurocities to express solidarity with Turkish local leaders, and reaffirm a shared commitment to democratic governance, local autonomy, and the rule of law.
4 minute read -
Local leaders urge European Commission to set a binding 90% domestic emissions-cut target for 2040
Mayors of European cities, on behalf of their networks of C40, CEMR, Eurocities, and ICLEI Europe are among the signatories of a joint letter to President of the European Commission Von der Leyen, Executive Vice-President Ribera, and Commissioner Hoekstra.
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Cities call for stronger EU rules on new wood-burning heaters to tackle deadly air pollution
Cities urge the EU to tighten Ecodesign rules on wood heaters to cut deadly air pollution and support local efforts to meet revamped clean air targets.
4 minute read -
Cities stand with Ukraine and the Mayor of Istanbul
At the Eurocities Conference 2025 in Braga, two powerful moments underscored the importance of shared democratic values: an address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a tribute to Ekrem İmamoğlu, illegally imprisoned Mayor of Istanbul.
6 minute read -
Mayors voice support for Ekrem İmamoğlu
Mayors across Europe are speaking out on the unlawful detention of Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, and are demanding his immediate release.
4 minute read -
Empowering cities to build a more democratic Europe
As the European Commission marks its first 100 days, city leaders are calling for an EU partnership to deliver strong policies that uphold Europe’s democratic values and make a lasting difference to people's lives.
5 minute read -
Urban mobility is about autonomy and connection
The Eurocities Mobility Forum in Utrecht spotlighted the essence of inclusivity and empowerment in urban mobility, urging cities to design with everyone in mind.
7 minute read -
Better mobility starts in cities
Cities gather to discuss how to radically reshape urban space and present their demands for the next EU mobility policy agenda.
5 minute read -
Teaming up for climate neutrality
Knowledge and best practice sharing is a key enabling factor for cities that are on the way to becoming climate-neutral. The NetZeroCities Twinning Programme allows cities at the early stages of becoming climate neutral to learn from other pilots and their innovative solutions.
4 minute read -
It all starts with the resident
Utrecht joined the UCC project to exchange practices and learn from other peer municipalities. The city is currently optimising its website following a user-friendly approach and working on an open-source solution such as a virtual assistant developed with 22 municipalities within the Netherlands.
4 minute read -
In Utrecht, sowing the seeds of Ukraine’s future
To strengthen local governments in Ukraine and lay out solid reconstruction plans, Utrecht drew up a project offering Ukrainian civil servants temporary employment in Dutch municipalities.
3 minute read -
Cities gather in Istanbul for democracy
Eurocities Mayors flew to Istanbul last week, rallying behind Ekrem İmamoğlu, Mayor of Istanbul, after his sentencing by a Turkish court.
3 minute read -
Cooperation and funding opportunities for cities welcoming refugees
How can cities make better use of funding and partnership opportunities, and what more needs to be achieved between levels of government when it comes to better welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees? The recent influx of Ukrainians to cities throughout Europe offers many learning points.
8 minute read -
COP 27: Local governments must be empowered to deliver climate agreement
On the occasion of the Solutions Day at COP27, the European Committee of the Regions, Eurocities, ICLEI, and others, call on national governments, the Parties and international organisations to fully support local and regional authorities in delivering climate action on the ground
6 minute read -
Cities step up to mitigate energy poverty
Many cities are already embarking on innovative local projects to mitigate the present and future energy poverty effects, which mainly concerns economically vulnerable groups.
5 minute read -
Interview with the Deputy Mayor of Utrecht on the integration of refugees
The city of Utrecht is hosting Eurocities' 10th Integrating Cities Conference and has a lot to say on best practices to welcome and integrate refugees.
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How to thrive in cities? Re-think public spaces
This year, European Mobility Week puts a spotlight on public urban spaces, how to make them more livable and welcoming to residents.
2 minute read -
Solving local migration funding
Tips and solutions from cities on securing European funding for migration-related initiatives. This is the second and final part of our series.
4 minute read -
Cities seek to fund migration
Cities discuss the challenges they face to secure European funding for migration-related initiatives
4 minute read -
Short term rentals: cities ask Europe’s help
With the summer holidays starting, cities worry once more about the impact of short term holiday rentals, and Europe seems to turn a blind eye on the issue.
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Cities discuss solutions to welcome Ukrainian refugees
Several European cities shared past and recent experiences to discuss how to better welcome, host and integrate Ukrainian refugees
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How to eradicate homelessness by 2030
Cities are playing a key role in combatting homelessness and they should be further included in national and EU plans to tackle housing problems, says Rachel Streefland , Deputy Mayor for Wellbeing, Asylum and Integration in Utrecht.
3 minute read -
COP26: More than ‘blah blah blah’?
Cities represented at COP26 demonstrated that any transformative action on the path to climate neutrality needs to firmly involve the local level.
4 minute read -
Top city prizes at Eurocities Awards 2021
Nice Cote d’Azur, Copenhagen and Ghent have scooped the top prizes at the Eurocities Awards 2021.
3 minute read -
People’s power to improve cities
People collect data in their neighbourhood, to create a better living for all – the new European project CitiMeasure wants to support citizen science initiatives.
2 minute read -
10 ways to make integration gender-sensitive
About half of all migrants in the EU are women, but integration policies often leave women behind. Here are ten cities where things are different.
8 minute read -
What can cities do to fight homelessness?
Everyone has a right to shelter and housing. Yet even before the pandemic, homelessness was on the rise in Europe. What actions can cities take, and what more is needed?
3 minute read -
Cities call for new EU pact for just and sustainable recovery
City leaders from around 70 cities, meeting today, one day ahead of the EU Social Summit, have called for a new pact between all levels of government to foster a just, sustainable and inclusive recovery.
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“We need each other more than ever before”
How are social rights affected by the Covid-19 pandemic? What steps can cities take to alleviate a worsening situation of job losses, and the risk of poverty, for so many people? Maarten van Ooijen, Deputy Mayor of Utrecht, shares some thoughts.
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Cities: “Talk with us!”
Cities have so far not been sufficiently involved in the national recovery plans to respond to the corona crisis, shows a survey of Eurocities. President Nardella urges governments to ensure that EU funds arrive where they are needed most: in cities.
3 minute read -
Housing affordability: A European crisis
A new Eurocities report on housing and homelessness shows that a lack of access to affordable and social housing was already putting new groups of Europeans at risk of poverty and social exclusion before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Putting people first in the green energy transition
How do we put people first when moving to a green and digital economy in times of crisis recovery? Bringing together social and environmental goals is a key task for many cities now focussing on recovery efforts.
5 minute read -
Cities pledge over €14 billion to fight poverty and social exclusion
44 cities, representing more than 51 million citizens, have jointly pledged €14.2 billion in social investment measures towards creating a fairer, more equal and inclusive Europe.
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Short Term Holiday Rentals: large European cities seek EU cooperation
Mayors and representatives of cities want stronger regulations on the Short Term Holiday Rental market in order to counter the harmful impact of STHR on the housing market and make neighbourhoods more liveable.
3 minute read -
Opportunities and challenges in a digital era – Cities meeting with Margrethe Vestager
Ahead of the announced Digital Services Act, mayors and leaders from 12 European cities met with European Commission Executive Vice-President, Margrethe Vestager.
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Cities respond to social implications of COVID-19 crisis
Deputy mayors from Athens, Barcelona, Leipzig, Malmo, Utrecht, Vienna and Zagreb engaged in a direct dialogue with the European Commission Director for Social Affairs, Katarina Ivankovic.
5 minute read -
Cities ready to take in refugee children
Cities across Europe are ready to welcome children from overcrowded refugee camps on the Greek islands.
1 minute read -
City letter on refugee children relocation gains traction
The city of Bruges is the most recent signatory to the letter, which seeks to bring together cities that support relocating refugee children from the Greek islands.
2 minute read -
22 cities call for stronger European regulation of holiday rental platforms
European cities call for tougher laws on short-term tourist accommodation.
1 minute read -
Cities commit to invest €4.3 billion to fight poverty and social exclusion over 5 years
21 cities, representing more than 20 million citizens have so far pledged €4.32 billion towards a fairer, more equal and inclusive Europe.
3 minute read
