Wim Hillenaar (CDA) will be the new mayor of Maastricht. The city’s city council nominated him Thursday night. The 54-year-old Hillenaar succeeds the current mayor Annemarie Pennte Strake, who will retire on 1 July.
Hillenaar was acting mayor of Land van Cuijk, a municipality in North Brabant, until January 31. Before that, he was mayor of the municipality of Cuijk for eleven years.
“The city of Maastricht has an enormous attraction for me,” he says in a first reaction. “What a beautiful city, Maastricht! So much history. So much diversity.”
Nineteen candidates applied for the vacancy at Governor Emile Roemer, five women and fourteen men. A nine-member confidential committee, together with the governor, made a choice from the candidates. The city council chose the new mayor from two aspiring candidates during a meeting behind closed doors on Thursday evening.
“Hillenaar is a mayor for all residents of Maastricht. He has the authority and warm appearance that the residents ask for,” said John Steijns, chairman of the confidential committee. Hillenaar is expected to be installed on July 10.
