Almere mayor to step down after 12 years

Annemarie Jorristma is stepping own as mayor of Almere next summer. At that time she will have served two terms as mayor. She announced her decision to the municipality now to provide them sufficient time to find a replacement. "When this term expires, I have been mayor for 12 years, two full terms in office. In this time I have lost my heart to this city. And that does not change when my mayoralty is over. My husband and I will continue to live in Almere." Because of Jorristma's resignation as mayor, she will also lose the presidency of the Association of Dutch Municipalities (VNG) in June 2015. The members of the VNG, which includes all the municipalities in the Netherlands, will choose a new chairman at the general assembly on June 3rd.