lack of mayors, but the class of lateral entrants is full

• Michael van der Velde

  Text editor online

“A dream profession,” said Iris Meerts about her job as mayor of Wijk bij Duurstede. She really enjoys communicating with the residents of the town where she has been at the helm for almost five years.

Meerts has known since she was four that she wanted to be mayor, but she is one of the few. People do not line up for an office.

Look at the work site for mayors provides a list of 38 municipalities where investigations are still ongoing or awaiting swearing in, from Smallingerland to Bonaire.

A majority of the mayors, 70 percent, had previously been senators. It is good ‘training’ for a mayor, as he already has experience in municipal politics.

Iris Meerts did not have that experience. She worked for the European Commission, for a while she was a Member of Parliament in the South of Holland and she wrote speeches for Bram Peper, who was the mayor of Rotterdam. It was only when she ended up in a ‘mayor class for interested parties’ that she learned more about the role.

“I already knew certain things, but other things were disappointing: how do you become a proper chairman of a town council and what are the rules? That is very hard to learn,” she says. to say

The class is also used to make the mayor’s office a better reflection of society. Any Dutch person can be mayor, but so far it has often been a native person, without physical disabilities and with political experience.

To change that, sixteen people can participate each year in the “guidance” program, as the class is officially called. It lasts about a year and has several components, such as a personality test, assignments and internships.

Iris Meerts completed the process successfully. Business consultant Rosita Drigpal continues to follow this. She shares Meerts’ passion.

“I came to a point where I wanted a new challenge and all kinds of tests showed that I have the profile of a mayor,” said Drigpal. “My family recognized that image. Then I contacted several mayors and one of them recommended the orientation program to me. I notice that I am becoming very enthusiastic about everything we do. ‘speak in the programme.’

Interest in the mayor’s office has waned in recent years. Between 2016 and 2023, the number of applicants for each vacancy fell by 40 percent, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior.

In a written response, the ministry informed NOS that they are investigating the move down. This also includes that mayors regularly oppose fear. The investigation should be completed by the end of this year.

Enthusiasm for the training class is increasing. “Because awareness about it is increasing,” Hilde Westera thinks. She is the director of the Association of Mayors of the Netherlands, which organizes the orientation program. She says the tight job market for mayors also plays a role.

Four years ago, 27 people wanted to participate, this year that has increased to 102. Among the candidates are lawyers and people from social groups.

Once the future mayor is named, the next challenge is to find a home. As a mayor you must live in the city where you work. “That’s still very difficult because of how tight the housing market is,” says Westera.

The office does not have to have a positive image. Mayors are expected to solve local crises about, for example, the reception of asylum. That doesn’t always make them popular in the community. Mayors regularly face threats and intimidation, on the street and on social media.

Rosita Drigpal sees that too. “It’s a very impressive office, the idea that you are so visible and vulnerable at the same time. But on the other hand, you have the opportunity to make a difference for a city.”

Iris Meerts also understands that the office has such an intense experience. She never let herself be held back by stories of threats, even when she had to deal with them as mayor. “Then I think: they won’t let me down. This is my dream.”