Ivo Opstelten
Encyclopedia
Ivo Willem Opstelten is a Dutch
politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
(VVD). He is the Minister of Security and Justice in the Cabinet Rutte
since October 14, 2010.
He has served as Mayor
of seven different Municipalities
. Most recently as Acting Mayor
of Tilburg
from November 4, 2009 until July 16, 2010. He was Mayor
of Utrecht
from November 1, 1992 until February 16, 1999 when he became Mayor of Rotterdam which he served for nearly ten years until January 1, 2009. He was the Party Chair
of People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
between March 31, 2008 and October 14, 2010.
, where he specialised in constitutional and public law. He graduated end 1969 and worked from 1970 to 1972 at the municipality of Vlaardingen
, before starting a long-term career as Mayor
.
of Dalen
, at the age of 28 the youngest Mayor
of the Netherlands
. In 1977 he became Mayor
of Doorn
. In 1980 he became the Mayor
of Delfzijl
, in 1983 he became Acting Mayor
of Beerta
because of the pregnancy of Mayor
Hanneke Jagersma, a position he held for four months. In 1992 he made the switch to the fourth largest Municipality
of the Netherlands
Utrecht
. In 1999 he was nominated as Mayor of Rotterdam the second city of the Netherlands
. In 2002 he was praised for his handling of the aftermath of the assassination
of politician Pim Fortuyn
. He served as Mayor of Rotterdam for ten years. He resigned on January 1, 2009. He was succeeded by Ahmed Aboutaleb
. On March 31, 2008 he was elected as the new Party Chair
of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
. On November 6, 2009 it was announced by Wim van de Donk
, the Queen's Commissioner
of North Brabant
, that Opstelten had accepted the position as Acting Mayor
of Tilburg
after Mayor
Ruud Vreeman's resignation was sought by the City council
of Tilburg
.
Ivo Opstelten is also one of the politicians who support banning foreigners from The Netherlands' many coffee shops where cannabis products are freely sold. The government proposes having a "wietpas", or weed pass, and a Dutch id card to enter to buy their wares, thus eliminating tourists.
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...
politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(VVD). He is the Minister of Security and Justice in the Cabinet Rutte
Netherlands cabinet Rutte
The Rutte cabinet is the current Dutch coalition cabinet formed by the political parties People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Christian Democratic Appeal . The coalition is a minority cabinet, but is supported by the Party for Freedom to have a small majority in the House of...
since October 14, 2010.
He has served as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of seven different Municipalities
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
. Most recently as Acting Mayor
Acting Mayor
Acting mayor is a temporary office created by the charter of some municipal governments.-History:In many cities and towns, the charter or some similar fundamental document provides that in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the mayor, another official will lead the...
of Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
from November 4, 2009 until July 16, 2010. He was Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
from November 1, 1992 until February 16, 1999 when he became Mayor of Rotterdam which he served for nearly ten years until January 1, 2009. He was the Party Chair
Party Chair
In politics, a party chair is the presiding officer of a political party....
of People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
between March 31, 2008 and October 14, 2010.
Early life
He studied law at Leiden UniversityLeiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
, where he specialised in constitutional and public law. He graduated end 1969 and worked from 1970 to 1972 at the municipality of Vlaardingen
Vlaardingen
Vlaardingen is a town in South Holland in the Netherlands. It is located on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas/Nieuwe Waterweg river at the confluence with the Oude Maas...
, before starting a long-term career as Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
.
Politics
In 1972 he began as MayorMayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Dalen
Dalen
Dalen is an old village and a former municipality in the northeastern Netherlands, in the province of Drenthe. Since 1998, Dalen has been part of the municipality of Coevorden....
, at the age of 28 the youngest Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Netherlands
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...
. In 1977 he became Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Doorn
Doorn
Doorn is a town in the municipality of Utrechtse Heuvelrug in the central Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. On 1 January 2008 the town had 10,052 inhabitants.-History:...
. In 1980 he became the Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Delfzijl
Delfzijl
Delfzijl is a municipality and city in the northeast of the Netherlands. It is situated on the left bank of the river Ems estuary, which forms the border with Germany.-Population centres:...
, in 1983 he became Acting Mayor
Acting Mayor
Acting mayor is a temporary office created by the charter of some municipal governments.-History:In many cities and towns, the charter or some similar fundamental document provides that in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the mayor, another official will lead the...
of Beerta
Beerta
Beerta is a village in the municipality of Reiderland in the Netherlands.Until 1991, Beerta was a separate municipality. It merged with Finsterwolde and Nieuweschans. The new municipality was originally named "Beerta", but changed its name a year later to "Reiderland".-External links: Map of the...
because of the pregnancy of Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Hanneke Jagersma, a position he held for four months. In 1992 he made the switch to the fourth largest Municipality
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
of the Netherlands
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...
Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
. In 1999 he was nominated as Mayor of Rotterdam the second city of the Netherlands
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...
. In 2002 he was praised for his handling of the aftermath of the assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
of politician Pim Fortuyn
Pim Fortuyn
Wilhelmus Simon Petrus Fortuijn, known as Pim Fortuyn was a Dutch politician, civil servant, sociologist, author and professor who formed his own party, Pim Fortuyn List ....
. He served as Mayor of Rotterdam for ten years. He resigned on January 1, 2009. He was succeeded by Ahmed Aboutaleb
Ahmed Aboutaleb
Ahmed Aboutaleb is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He has been the Mayor of Rotterdam since January 5, 2009...
. On March 31, 2008 he was elected as the new Party Chair
Party Chair
In politics, a party chair is the presiding officer of a political party....
of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
. On November 6, 2009 it was announced by Wim van de Donk
Wim van de Donk
Wilhelmus Bernhard Henricus Josephus van de Donk is a Dutch politician and former academic and civil servant. He is a member of the Christian Democratic Appeal...
, the Queen's Commissioner
Queen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
of North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, that Opstelten had accepted the position as Acting Mayor
Acting Mayor
Acting mayor is a temporary office created by the charter of some municipal governments.-History:In many cities and towns, the charter or some similar fundamental document provides that in the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of the mayor, another official will lead the...
of Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
after Mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
Ruud Vreeman's resignation was sought by the City council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
of Tilburg
Tilburg
Tilburg is a landlocked municipality and a city in the Netherlands, located in the southern province of Noord-Brabant.Tilburg municipality also includes the villages of Berkel-Enschot and Udenhout....
.
Ivo Opstelten is also one of the politicians who support banning foreigners from The Netherlands' many coffee shops where cannabis products are freely sold. The government proposes having a "wietpas", or weed pass, and a Dutch id card to enter to buy their wares, thus eliminating tourists.