Steven van Weyenberg appointed Amsterdam Housing Alderman after predecessor resigns
Steven van Weyenberg was officially installed May 14 as Amsterdam’s new alderman for housing, land and development and spatial planning, according to the municipality of Amsterdam. He replaces Reinier van Dantzig, who resigned after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
Van Weyenberg, a member of D66, brings extensive national political experience to the post. He served in the Tweede Kamer from 2012 onward and held several interim cabinet roles between 2021 and 2024, including as State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management, State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science, and Minister of Finance. He said he will remain in the role through the current coalition period, ending with the municipal elections in March 2026.
His appointment ends a prolonged period of instability in the city’s housing leadership. Since Van Dantzig’s departure, the housing brief had been split among several aldermen. The Amsterdam city government has reportedly seen repeated personnel gaps in recent years. Shula Rijxman resigned after one year and was replaced by Alexander Scholtes. Zita Pels was on extended medical leave, Scholtes went on parental leave, and Van Dantzig was often absent due to illness.
Speaking ahead of his appointment, Van Weyenberg said he wants to be pragmatic and results-oriented. “Sometimes the choices are difficult. But easy choices mean doing nothing. And doing nothing is really not an option in the housing market,” he told AT5.
Asked whether he would challenge coalition rules mandating 40 percent of new housing be social units, Van Weyenberg said he will honor the coalition agreement. “The coalition agreement stands. I have to abide by it. I’ll be sitting in the council on behalf of the executive board. But I’ll always make the trade-offs clear,” he told AT5.
Van Weyenberg steps into the role amid a sharp construction slowdown. Developers have paused major projects due to high costs and economic uncertainty. National policies, including Housing Minister Mona Keijzer’s rent freeze, have further spooked housing associations, who warn their building capacity is shrinking. With limited city funds, developers are reportedly seeking concessions—fewer social units, smaller floorplans, or the removal of costly elements like underground garages.
The coalition’s 40–40–20 target—40 percent social housing, 40 percent mid-market, and 20 percent high-end—is now reportedly under pressure. Right-wing council parties hope Van Weyenberg will take a flexible approach, making exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Even within D66, concerns are allegedly growing that mid-market rental and owner-occupied housing have not kept pace. The party is pushing for around 3,000 such units annually.
Van Weyenberg will also take a lead role in lobbying The Hague for construction support, alongside GroenLinks alderwoman Zita Pels. Pels is focused on preserving existing housing, while Van Weyenberg is expected to secure national backing for new development. Delays could reportedly trigger repayment demands on subsidies already received.
Among the projects on Van Weyenberg’s desk are two of Amsterdam’s most contentious developments. In the Lutkemeerpolder—Amsterdam’s last fertile farmland—activists are demanding preservation while the city has contractual agreements for logistics development. The city council recently approved a proposal to spare 14.3 more hectares of green space, giving activists hope more land could be saved. But municipal officials warn that revoking existing contracts could lead to legal disputes.
He also inherits the stalled Cornelis Douwesterrein project, where plans for 9,600 homes have been on hold since the national government and the province intervened to protect the shipbuilder Damen. Tensions with provincial authorities escalated under Van Dantzig, and Van Weyenberg will be tasked with repairing those relationships and attempting to restart the project.
Inside the governing coalition of GroenLinks, PvdA, and D66, Van Weyenberg is expected to strengthen D66’s position against the dominant left bloc. Alderman Melanie van der Horst is seen as D66’s informal leader on the council and has recently distanced the party from its partners on key issues, including housing and the future of the city’s sheltered employment provider, Pantar.
Party insiders told Het Parool that Van Weyenberg was brought in to ensure D66’s views are represented in the final year of the administration. He must avoid major political missteps but is also expected to be more than just a caretaker.
Ahead of his official appointment, Van Weyenberg was already preparing for the role. On April 30, he posted a selfie on Instagram with the Stopera in the background and the caption: “Getting started #amsterdam #aandeslag.”
