Rotterdam welcomes new mayor Carola Schouten

ROTTERDAM, 10 October 2024 – Carola Schouten was officially sworn in as mayor of Rotterdam during a special city council meeting. The ceremony included the presentation of the mayoral chain and the official handover of duties.

Carola Schouten sworn in as mayor of Rotterdam

Carola Schouten was sworn in as the new mayor of Rotterdam during a special meeting of the city council. The ceremony, led by the King's Commissioner, was attended by key figures such as Ruud van der Velden, chair of the selection committee, and deputy mayor Robert Simons, among others.

During the session, the mayoral chain was formally presented to Schouten, and she took over the official duties as chair of the city council. Van der Velden expressed the council's honour in making the appointment, stating, "It was an honour and a pleasure to do this as a city council, we are proud of the outcome, and now: let's get to work!"

Mayor Schouten: commitment to the city

Following the swearing-in, Schouten addressed the attendees with a speech expressing her enthusiasm and dedication to the city of Rotterdam. She remarked, "I am incredibly proud to be the mayor of Rotterdam. With everything I have, I will be here for this beautiful city. I look forward to meeting people who want to work together to move Rotterdam forward. Because the city improves through collaboration. And that is what we are going to do!"

Schouten's appointment as mayor marks a new chapter for Rotterdam, and the city council extended its congratulations, wishing her success and good fortune in her new role.

Background of Carola Schouten

Born in 1977, Carola Schouten grew up in Giessen, Noord-Brabant, and has lived in Rotterdam’s Delfshaven district since 1995. In 2001, she became a mother to a son. Schouten holds a degree in business administration from Erasmus University and began her career with an internship at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. She later became a policy officer for the Christian Union (ChristenUnie) in the Dutch House of Representatives. Schouten entered national politics in 2011 as an MP, and in 2017, she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality in the third Rutte cabinet. Most recently, she served as Minister for Poverty Policy, Participation, and Pensions in the last Rutte government (2022–2024).