Amsterdam mayor urges gov’t to invest in the police
Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema called on the national government Wednesday to increase police staffing and strengthen the role of the Interior Minister. She made the remarks during the fifth annual Binnenhoflezing at press center Nieuwspoort, Het Parool reports.
“Across the Netherlands, the police force is aging, and in many areas, safety and livability are under pressure,” Halsema said. She praised recent police work in Amsterdam, including the rapid arrest of Lisa’s murderer, and stressed the importance of neighborhood officers who know local communities.
The mayor also urged the government to strengthen local governance rather than override it. She also compared the relationship between local and national government to a marriage, requiring mutual trust.
Halsema defended her attendance at Budapest’s Pride march, which the Hungarian government had banned, saying she acted in solidarity with the local mayor. She called on national leaders to consider "unconventional policies", including regulating hard drugs and allowing enforcement officers to wear religious symbols.
Responding to criticism over her handling of demonstrations, she said, “It surprises me that talk shows show footage confirming otherwise. Local governments should not be played against each other.”
She said some ministries perceive Amsterdam as treating the national government like a cash cow. “We must show we can make difficult, sharp choices,” she said.
Halsema concluded, urging the new cabinet to strengthen the Interior Minister’s role as “guardian of the rule of law, good governance, and the interests of strong local government.” Asked about national office, she replied, “No, I am truly from Amsterdam.”
