Bram Peper
Encyclopedia
Abraham Peper (born February 13, 1940) is a Dutch
sociologist and former politician. Peper was Mayor of Rotterdam and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and is member of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA).
After finishing the HBS
, Peper studied social sciences
at the University of Amsterdam until 1965 and economy and sociology at the University of Oslo
(1963/1964) and got his PhD at the Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool (Currently Erasmus University
) in 1972. Peper became researcher, and fulfilled several academic functions, including professor at the Erasmus University until he became Mayor of Rotterdam in 1982 at the age of 42. Rotterdam is the second largest city of The Netherlands, and Peper was one of the youngest mayors of a large city at the time.
In 1984 an interview with Peper and his wife with Ischa Meijer
was published in Vrij Nederland
, a Dutch magazine, in which Peper was critical towards citizens and rulers. The interview was perceived as arrogant, and seemed to be made while Peper was in a drunk condition. Peper made his apologies, and soon after he and his wife divorced.
While Peper was mayor, the city completed its process of rebuilding after World War II
, which resulted in a new skyline
for Rotterdam. In the second half of his mayorship, Peper had a tough time with for instance his defeat on the formation of a city province (90% of the voters in a referendum were against). Peper was mayor until 1998, when he joined the government as minister of the interior of The Netherlands in the cabinet Kok II.
Starting 1999, rumours were spreading that Peper had made incorrect declarations while he was mayor of Rotterdam. On March 13, 2000 Peper resigned as minister, according to himself to no longer bring problems to the public government, and to be better able to defend himself. Although a report on March 17 suggested that Peper did not act properly regarding the declarations, Peper won the legal procedures finally two years later.
From 2002 until 2004 Peper was professor at the University Nijenrode, a private university, from which he resigned due to a disagreement regarding a study trip to the European Union in Brussels.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
sociologist and former politician. Peper was Mayor of Rotterdam and Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and is member of the Dutch Labour Party (PvdA).
After finishing the HBS
Hogere burgerschool
The Hogere burgerschool or HBS was a secondary school type in the Netherlands, existing between 1863 and 1974. The school, with a five or sometimes six year program, was continued in 1968 as havo and vwo. The last hbs diplomas were given out in 1974.-External links:*...
, Peper studied social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
at the University of Amsterdam until 1965 and economy and sociology at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
(1963/1964) and got his PhD at the Nederlandse Economische Hogeschool (Currently Erasmus University
Erasmus University
Erasmus University Rotterdam is a university in the Netherlands, located in Rotterdam. The university is named after Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus, a 15th century humanist and theologian...
) in 1972. Peper became researcher, and fulfilled several academic functions, including professor at the Erasmus University until he became Mayor of Rotterdam in 1982 at the age of 42. Rotterdam is the second largest city of The Netherlands, and Peper was one of the youngest mayors of a large city at the time.
In 1984 an interview with Peper and his wife with Ischa Meijer
Ischa Meijer
Israël Chaim Meijer was a Dutch Jewish journalist, author, actor and television presenter. He survived the Nazi concentration camp Bergen Belsen along with his parents.-Youth:...
was published in Vrij Nederland
Vrij Nederland
Vrij Nederland is a Dutch magazine which was established during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II as an underground newspaper but has since grown into a magazine. The weekly magazine is generally considered to be intellectually left-wing...
, a Dutch magazine, in which Peper was critical towards citizens and rulers. The interview was perceived as arrogant, and seemed to be made while Peper was in a drunk condition. Peper made his apologies, and soon after he and his wife divorced.
While Peper was mayor, the city completed its process of rebuilding after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, which resulted in a new skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
for Rotterdam. In the second half of his mayorship, Peper had a tough time with for instance his defeat on the formation of a city province (90% of the voters in a referendum were against). Peper was mayor until 1998, when he joined the government as minister of the interior of The Netherlands in the cabinet Kok II.
Starting 1999, rumours were spreading that Peper had made incorrect declarations while he was mayor of Rotterdam. On March 13, 2000 Peper resigned as minister, according to himself to no longer bring problems to the public government, and to be better able to defend himself. Although a report on March 17 suggested that Peper did not act properly regarding the declarations, Peper won the legal procedures finally two years later.
From 2002 until 2004 Peper was professor at the University Nijenrode, a private university, from which he resigned due to a disagreement regarding a study trip to the European Union in Brussels.