Anyone who drops by our town hall or picks up the phone today will be surprised with a cheerful "Goedendag". We in the city administration have decided to take a big step towards our Dutch friends and neighbors: From now on, we are gradually switching our official communication to Dutch!
Why we are taking this path
Kevelaer and the Netherlands belong together. Whether praying together in the Chapel of Grace, strolling through our town center or working across the border on a daily basis - we are a region without borders in our minds.
With the changeover we would like to:
- Breaking down barriers: Information should be even more easily accessible for all citizens and our guests.
- Strengthening cohesion: We celebrate our close ties with our neighbors and make them visible in everyday life.
- Be a pioneer: As the first truly "European administration" in the Lower Rhine region, we are setting an example for the Euregio.
We will not leave you alone!
Don't worry, we know that not everyone speaks "vloeiend Nederlands" straight away. That's why we support you in crossing the (language) divide:
- Language courses for everyone: We are already planning free beginners' workshops in our meeting places.
- Bilingual transition period: We will of course continue to send out the first notifications and information in German and Dutch at the same time for a while.
An important step for our community
We are firmly convinced that this step will bring our region even closer together. And we are confident that you will get used to the new "Amt-Niederländisch" faster than you might think. We will be publishing further details and specific dates for the changeover in the coming weeks.
Tot ziens in the town hall!
And we wish you a happy April 1st!