Dutch Prime Minister Jetten backs out of Euromast abseil

Prime Minister Rob Jetten will not join Rotterdam Mayor Carola Schouten in abseiling down the Euromast on Thursday. His schedule has no room for the event, the municipality of Rotterdam said.

Schouten, who is scared of heights, had promised to descend the 185-meter landmark tower if voter turnout in the March municipal elections exceeded the previous election. Turnout reached 40.7 percent, up from 38.9 percent in 2022.

Jetten had separately committed to abseiling if national turnout improved. Nationally, 53.7 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, higher than the 51 percent recorded in 2022.

Schouten has severe acrophobia and prepared for the descent by training at a climbing wall with assistance from marines, she told regional broadcaster Rijnmond.

Jetten is not alone in last-minute withdrawals. According to NRC, of the more than 3,000 people who abseil from the Euromast each year, 20 to 30 back out at the final moment.