Terneuzen Mayor stands by resignation amid controversy over asylum center decision

Mayor Erik van Merrienboer of Terneuzen confirmed Tuesday that he will proceed with his resignation despite a personal appeal from Hugo de Jonge, the King’s Commissioner for Zeeland, who urged him to remain in office.

Van Merrienboer, a member of the PvdA, announced Monday that he was stepping down over disagreements with the municipal council’s handling of an asylum seekers center permit.

Previously, both the council and the municipal executive had approved the establishment of the center. However, at the council’s insistence, the aldermen decided to withdraw the permit, prompting Van Merrienboer to describe the situation as “an almost impossible administrative dilemma."

De Jonge said in a letter to the municipal council that he had “urgently requested” Van Merrienboer not to resign. He stressed that, “in the interest of Terneuzen’s governability,” it would be better for the mayor to stay. De Jonge emphasized that he was not weighing in on the council’s decision itself, but in his role as King’s Commissioner, he is responsible for ensuring “a careful and integrity-based decision-making process.”

The King’s Commissioner also asked the council’s chair to hold a closed session to discuss the situation. “Given the nature of the discussion, it is important that this meeting takes place in private,” De Jonge wrote. A municipal spokesperson confirmed that the council will organize the meeting, though no date has been set.