Femke Halsema sworn in for second term as Amsterdam mayor

Femke Halsema was sworn in for her second term as mayor of Amsterdam on Thursday afternoon during the city council meeting.

Halsema became the first female mayor of Amsterdam on 6 July 2018. In September, she announced her intention to serve the “beautiful city” for another six years.

Kune Burgers, deputy chairman of the municipal council, called Halsema’s appeal for reelection a “convincing letter.” At the end of February, the city council agreed to a second term for the 58-year-old Halsema (GroenLinks). According to Burgers, the reappointment went “smoothly, but what do you expect with such a courageous and smart mayor as we have.”

King’s Commissioner Arthur van Dijk also praised Halsema. He called her passionate and sharp and praised her many efforts that often remain out of the spotlight. Van Dijk wished Halsema success in the coming years to keep the city and its various residents together, regardless of which neighborhood people live in. “Keep a cool head but a warm heart,” he said just before swearing her in.

Halsema thanked the city council for the trust and the aldermen for their cooperation. She praised employees at the Public Prosecution Service, police, fire brigade, and enforcement for their commitment to the capital and thanked the people immediately around her.

Halsema said she met “thousands of Amsterdammers” in her first term. “Noisy, quiet, cheeky, shy, driven, creative, enterprising, caring, idiosyncratic Amsterdammers.” They allowed her “into their intimate, sometimes sad, and sometimes very happy moments.” She called that “the greatest privilege of being mayor.”

The mayor also looked ahead in her speech, seeing “tasks for our city.” She wants to continue the fight for security and tackling undermining crime, to protect the rule of law and fundamental rights and to ensure confidence in the government. The municipality must again be seen as an ally of Amsterdam residents because “progress comes from people who take action, who speak out, who are a contagious example with their own initiatives.” Halsema concluded her speech by saying that she considered it “a great honor” to be mayor of the capital.