Great honor
“It is a great honor to stand here before you as mayor,” Schouten began her speech. She emphasized that she wants to work for all Rotterdam residents. In doing so, she returned to her own past. 24 years ago, unexpectedly pregnant, she sat desperately on a bench in Rotterdam-West. ‘I had no money, work or things and I really didn’t know what to do anymore.’
Soul power of Rotterdam
But she received help from Rotterdammers from all over. Desperation turned to hope. ‘I was privileged to experience this Rotterdam soul force. I wish that for every Rotterdammer. And I will fully commit myself to that every day. It is that Rotterdam soul that, indeed, becomes stronger through struggle. Rotterdam is never just me, Rotterdam is always us. We are Rotterdam.’
Green-white heart
Schouten also praised her predecessor, Ahmed Aboutaleb. ‘Rotterdam loves him and he loves Rotterdam. It’s not just big shoes to fill. It is also that enormous green-white heart that is transferred to me.’
Sturdy and approachable
Wouter Kolff and Ruud van der Velden recalled in their speeches that Schouten is the first female mayor of Rotterdam. “‘Men of Authority’ is the title of a book about former mayors of Rotterdam,” Kolff said. ‘The name of Carola Schouten has now been added to this list of administrative heavyweights.’ But the fact that she is a woman is not the reason she became mayor, he added: “There was a strong wish list and you are the type of mayor that Rotterdam is looking for: solid and approachable.”
World Mayor
‘Sworn in on the 10th of the 10th in 010. How R’dams do you want it?’ said Ruud van der Velden. ‘We also asked Rotterdam residents that. Thousands responded to the call to think about the profile for the new mayor. She and the city council set the bar high. We wanted a world mayor. And we succeeded.’ He gave Schouten as a gift the first copy of the book in which these advices from Rotterdam residents and neighborhood councils are bundled.
Rotterdam tassie
Mayor Van Zanen congratulated the city of Rotterdam on the new mayor and said he looked forward to working with her. Deputy Mayor Simons gave her a ‘Rotterdam bag with compulsory reading’: the book ‘Rotterdam, the city of two speeds’ by Mark Hoogstad and the book ‘Je suis Ahmed’ by Peter Groenendijk. ‘We look with anticipation at how you will fulfill your position. You can count on our support in finding your way.’
