Halsema thus responds to an earlier message from student magazine Personal Cures, which established through an appeal to the Government Information (Public Access) Act (Wob) that Amsterdam was in danger of making a mistake. The rules prescribe that the tender limit in this case is 214,000 euros.
If that amount is exceeded, a tender procedure must be opened. The total compensation that program director Lennart Booij received would exceed the limit in February.
That is why his assignment with the municipality will be terminated on 1 February, according to Halsema. Booij was hired as director of Amsterdam 750 in February 2019, with a contract that would initially last two years. However, the agreement was ‘tacitly’ renewed, with the intention of having Booij stay on until the municipal elections. The new city council would then re-examine the collaboration with Booij, says Halsema.
Warning System
‘This appears to be an error that unfortunately can occur more often in the municipal organization; a warning system is missing,’ writes the mayor, who says he regrets the suspension of the collaboration with Booij. ‘It is obvious that the tendering process should have started earlier.’
According to NRC, the program director himself does not want to answer questions about the situation that has arisen. “I don’t consider myself qualified to do that, I didn’t cause this problem.” Booij, 51, is co-founder of campaign agency BKB. He is an art historian and works as an independent consultant. He is also a crown member of the Council of Culture.
The community struggled previously also with external hire. In 2020 it turned out that, despite promises to reduce the number of self-employed, the number of expensive temporary workers increased at the municipality. More than a fifth of the salary budget went to the self-employed and other flex workers. In addition, in 2019 a lot of criticism disproportionate severance packages for top officials.
750th anniversary of Amsterdam
In 2020, preparations started for the celebration of the 750th anniversary of Amsterdam on October 27, 2025. According to the municipality, the celebration should strengthen the identity, and not the promotion of the city. In addition, it will become a ‘catalyst for changes in the city’.
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