Mayor Stapelkamp receives medal for German-Dutch cooperation

Stapelkamp is actively involved in promoting cooperation between the fire stations in Dinxperlo (NL, municipality of Aalten) and Suderwick (DE, Stadt Bocholt), as well as other municipal and social initiatives. His personal contact with the members of both stations ensures close cooperation in joint exercises and deployments. Together with Mayor Kerkhoff of Bocholt, Stapelkamp plays a central role in the 'CrossFire' project, which is investigating the integration of the fire stations in Dinxperlo and Bocholt-Suderwick.

Thanks to his involvement, the posts participate jointly in firefighting events and support each other in internal exercises and events. Together they have developed T-shirts with the inscription "Brandwehr," a combination of the Dutch "Brandweer" and the German "Feuerwehr. Stapelkamp also shows initiative in other cross-border situations: in 2024, he set up a Dutch polling station for the European elections in the covered bridge between the Altenpflegeeinrichtung in Suderwick and the nursing home in Dinxperlo so that residents could vote on the border.

The medal highlights Mayor Stapelkamp's longstanding commitment to cross-border cooperation, security and pragmatic solutions in the community.

Mayor Stapelkamp: "I personally see this award as a great honor, but above all as appreciation and recognition for all involved: the firefighters and fellow administrators who have been working together for many years on the safety of the border area. Great steps have already been taken but of course I remain committed to a safe, connected and united community in Dinxperwick."

Bürgermeister Stapelkamp erhält Medaille für deutsch-niederländische Zusammenarbeit

Mayor Anton Stapelkamp from the municipality of Aalten was awarded a medal by the German Fire Service Association for his exceptional commitment to German-Dutch cooperation in the field of fire and disaster protection. The award recognizes his personal commitment to safety in the border region and his ability to find pragmatic solutions in special situations.

Stapelkamp is particularly committed to promoting cooperation between the fire departments in Dinxperlo (NL, municipality of Aalten) and Bocholt-Suderwick (DE, city of Bocholt), but also to many other municipal and cultural issues. Personal contact and trusting communication with the members of both fire departments are very important to him. Together with Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff from Bocholt, Stapelkamp plays a central role in the 'CrossFire' project, which is investigating the merger of the fire stations in Dinxperlo and Bocholt-Suderwick. Through his open communication and his presence at events and meetings, he continually motivates the fire departments to work together.

Dank seines Engagements nehmen beide Löschzüge nun gemeinsam an Leistungsnachweisen teil und unterstützen sich gegenseitig bei Übungen und internen Veranstaltungen. Zudem haben sie T-Shirts mit der Aufschrift 'Brandwehr' entwickelt, eine Kombination aus dem niederländischen 'Brandweer' und dem deutschen 'Feuerwehr'. Auch in anderen grenzüberschreitenden Situationen zeigt Stapelkamp Initiative: 2024 richtete er in der überdachten Brücke zwischen den Altenpflegeeinrichtungen in Suderwick und Dinxperlo ein niederländisches Wahllokal für die Europawahl ein, damit die Bürgerinnen und Bürger auf der Grenze ihre Stimme abmegeben konnten.

Die Medaille unterstreicht das langjährige Engagement von Bürgermeister Stapelkamp für die deutsch-niederländische Zusammenarbeit, die Sicherheit im Grenzgebiet und sein pragmatisches Handeln in besonderen Situationen.