Expenses scandal may take down Bussum mayor

Bussum Mayor Henk Heijman may be forced to step down following the recent questions about his housing alliance. The faction heads of the Bussum city council will discuss his fate next week, Bussum Nieuws reports.

Earlier this week it came to light that Heijman has been receiving a double housing allowance that he may not be entitled to for years. He is also breaking the municipal law by not living in Bussum, according to part of the city council.

The mayor offered his excuses and said that an inaccurate image of affairs has been created. According to Heijman, he is entitled to a monthly allowance of pension costs, despite the lack of double housing, according to the Telegraaf. He called the commotion surrounding his housing allowance an "action to damage the mayor" by a small group of councilors.

These excuses and explanations do not seem to be enough for the city council. The council members still have many questions they want the mayor to answer before Wednesday, when they will discuss how to move forward.

According to Dichtbij, the mayor is also in trouble for previous behavior. He long supported a merger of Naarden and Muiden, despite knowing that Muiden was in debt. Council members have also blamed him for more than a year for procedural errors. According to the newspaper, there was a argument between the mayor and the council members in December abut a change in the council's order rules and an inappropriately convened meeting of faction heads.