The city council of Utrecht has nominated Sharon Dijksma as the new mayor. She is still alderman for traffic and transport in Amsterdam for the PvdA.
Dijksma (49) will succeed Jan van Zanen, who has been mayor of The Hague since 1 July. After his departure, the position was taken over by Peter den Oudsten, former mayor of Groningen.
In recent months, the Utrecht Confidentiality Committee has conducted job interviews with a number of candidates. Two of them were presented to the city council tonight, which ultimately chose Dijksma. She was preferred, partly because of her broad network and managerial experience.
“We are confident that Sharon Dijksma will act with practical wisdom, self-awareness and that she shows what she does in the service of others,” said GroenLinks councilor Heleen de Boer, who announced the nomination.
Youngest Member of Parliament ever
Before she joined the Amsterdam Council, Dijksma was a Member of Parliament and State Secretary in various cabinets. In 1994 she was elected as the youngest Member of Parliament ever at the age of 23. She was involved in education and social affairs in the Lower House.
In 2007 she became State Secretary for Education in the Balkenende IV cabinet and in 2012 she held the position of State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Rutte II cabinet. In 2015 she succeeded Wilma Mansveld as State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment. Two years ago she left The Hague to become a councilor in Amsterdam.
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