A pilot of Strategic Stakeholder Engagement was implemented to explore the useful insights this methodology would offer.

In the summer of 2016, the failed coup attempt by the military in Turkey had a major impact on the Turkish-Dutch community. Tensions also ran high in the Delfshaven district of Rotterdam. The police have traditionally built good relationships in this neighborhood, partly through the "Bondgenoten" (Allies) program. Nevertheless, these relationships weren't always sustainable under high tension. A pilot with Strategic Stakeholder Engagement was deployed to experience what useful insights this methodology would offer.

Under the guidance of Monique Broekhoff, employees from the police and the municipality of Rotterdam inventoried issues and stakeholders. Subsequently, the different interests were examined closely. This ‘looking and thinking from the perspective of interests’ provided a new perspective on the issue. For example: normally, the neighborhood officer maintains contact with the chairman of the mosque. However, reasoning from the scale levels of interests (society/organization/individual), it can bear more respect and recognition if a team leader or even the police chief takes over contact during difficult times. Furthermore, the environmental analysis also revealed ‘how much we actually don’t know’. The insights gained have given the police new perspectives for action, not only for the case in Delfshaven but also for other problem areas.