Children's mayor Lars: 'I don't know all the centres of Haarlemmermeer yet'
Being a child mayor is hard work
Children's mayor Lars is 12 years old and is in group 8 of primary school de Klippeholm in Hoofddorp. Although he was born in Haarlem, he has lived his entire life in Hoofddorp. Lars is therefore a true Haarlemmermeerder. Lars has a lot of tasks, which means he also visits different places in Haarlemmermeer. “Together with mayor Schuurmans, I received and welcomed Sinterklaas in three cores. That was in Spaarndam, Zwaanshoek and Zwanenburg. With deputy mayor Marja Ruigrok, I was at the Airman Candlelight Memorial at the CRASH Air War and Resistance Museum '40 – '45. There was a commemoration for pilots who died in the war. We laid a wreath and lit a candle and placed it at the runway.”
At home, at school and at the football club
Lars thinks the best places in Haarlemmermeer are the places where he can be himself and where he feels safe. “Places where I often go, like home of course and at school. You can make new friends there. I also like being at my football club SV Overbos.” A little further from home, you can find Lars in the summer at the Toolenburgerplas. “Nice swimming with my friends when the weather is nice in the summer.” The coolest playground for our children's mayor? "I live close to the Kaj Munk College. There is a football field there where we play football with boys from my class. I used to go to the playground behind my house too."
Haarlemmermeer is bigger than you think
During the Day of the Children's Mayor, the coolest play street is traditionally chosen. Lars: "To get a good idea, my father and I drove around Haarlemmermeer. It took us three hours. Because we live in Hoofddorp, we know it well. Now we saw a lot of cool places that we had never been to before. So many nice little towns. And there is something to see everywhere. It is quite difficult to say what the most beautiful place in Haarlemmermeer is. Because Haarlemmermeer is much bigger than you would think."
Lars' favorite hotspots
Lars: "There are several places you have to visit. It depends on what you want to do. If you want to go shopping, you have to go to the city center. At Skagerak you can do all sorts of things. The Haarlemmermeer forest is a beautiful area where you can swim and walk. Schiphol is special. Not everyone has that nearby. Just go and watch planes on a spotter spot. "
Lars' tips
The best places to spot planes at Schiphol
The Haarlemmermeerse Bos: from playground to Spartel pond
Hoofddorp Center & Vier Meren shopping center: the shopping heart of Haarlemmermeer
The Toolenburgerplas: ultimate swimming fun in Hoofddorp
