Thousands say goodbye to Mayor Aboutaleb in Rotterdam
Thousands of Rotterdammers gathered to say goodbye to Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb, who will be stepping down on October 1 after 15 years of being mayor of the Maasstad. His send-off was a free festival in the Park under the Euromast on Sunday afternoon.
The afternoon was full of music, dance, sports activities, and workshops. The best mayor in the world shook hands with hundreds, if not thousands, of locals and received countless notes, letters, and drawings. Lee Towers paused his retirement to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone for the mayor.
Aboutaleb expressed his gratitude, NOS reports. “You supported me, you enriched me with ideas, you corrected me when I said or thought the wrong thing. I take my hat off to you for that.”
He praised Rotterdam as “a city where you can meet the whole world, where there are opportunities, and where a migrant can become mayor.” He will continue to live in the city. “I will remain a Rotterdammer, that is what you made me.”
He ended his speech with an appeal for solidarity. “Division weakens. Solidarity gives strength.”
He also asked the people of his city to welcome his successor - former minister Carola Schouten. “She is a fantastic person with a beautiful heart. Stand around her and make her the mayor of Rotterdam as soon as possible.”
