24 Municipalities from the Republic of Moldova Complete a Study Visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Topics included decentralisation and local autonomy, public service management, inter-municipal cooperation, attracting investment, EU funds and community resilience. The mayors met the Moldovan Ambassador to the Netherlands and visited the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), learning how Dutch municipalities cooperate and represent their interests nationally. They also visited the Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland in Leiden, one of the oldest regional water authorities, and took part in a resilience policy lab with the Centre for European Security Studies on security risks and crises.

Visits to Kaag en Braassem and Leiden allowed direct talks with mayors and officials on strategic planning, local infrastructure, digitalisation of services, citizen participation and EU-funded projects. The Dutch experience shows that local governments with enough autonomy, administrative capacity and financial resources can contribute significantly to community development, and offers ideas that Moldovan authorities can adapt to local realities.