Former Deputy Prime Minister Carola Schouten has been nominated as the new mayor of Rotterdam. As a former minister for poverty reduction, the politician seems to be in her element. But what do Rotterdammers think of Schouten? “I think she’s going to do a great job.”
Schouten has lived in Rotterdam since she was 18 and studied business administration at Erasmus University. She was seen as a financial specialist for the Christian Union faction and negotiated on behalf of the party for the Rutte III and Rutte IV cabinets. She became deputy prime minister and minister both times, the first time as minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. In the last cabinet she was minister for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions.
Poverty Reduction
Her resume is one that makes Rotterdammers predominantly positive regarding Schouten. Elly Seymor is one such enthusiastic Rotterdammer. As the owner of a food and goods bank, she is very happy with Schouten because of her background as Minister for Poverty Policy. “Mrs. Schouten was close to the fire. She had a lot to do with this.”
Seymor herself knows well what it is like to live on little money, she was on welfare for years. “Zevenkamp is known as one of the poorest neighborhoods in Rotterdam,” she says regarding her neighborhood. “They are very nice people, but it is really regarding people who have trouble making ends meet.”
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‘A lot of work ahead’
Rotterdam city guide Eveline van Wanrooij is also positive regarding Schouten. She hopes that the new mayor will put Rotterdam more on the map, but she already knows that it will not be easy. “Of course it remains a dangerous city with the port and the drug imports,” Van Wanrooij notes.
The port city has been fighting drug crime for years. But Schouten’s experience as Minister of Poverty gives her an advantage, Van Wanrooij thinks. “I myself live in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Netherlands. And I see that we really still have a lot of work to do.”
Poverty, nuisance and femicide
“We are a city full of contemporary problems,” she continues. “The poverty, the drug nuisance. And yet also the confused people.” But femicide also remains a persistent problem. “Far too many women are still being murdered here. That is something that has to stop as soon as possible,” says Van Wanrooij.
She also thinks that the ‘special story’ of Rotterdam should be told better. “We no longer have a VVV and currently no Museum Rotterdam either. So the story of Rotterdam has not been told so well. I think we are an example for the whole world. We have built it up so beautifully, you should want to present that.”
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Positive reactions
But despite the concerns regarding the city, both Seymor and Van Wanrooij are already seeing and hearing positive reactions regarding Schouten from their fellow citizens. “I think she’s off to a surprisingly good start. I see that on social media too,” Van Wanrooij notes.
This is in contrast to her predecessor, Ahmed Aboutaleb. “He started at ‘minus 10’ and that turned out really well. He is currently the best mayor in the world, 84 percent of Rotterdammers agree with that,” says Van Wanrooij. “But I actually think that Carola is also going to do really well even though she doesn’t start at ‘minus 10’.”
Right person for Rotterdam
Finally, Seymor also hopes that Schouten can encourage Rotterdammers to treat each other more humanly. “Rotterdam needs that, I think that you can solve a lot of problems that way. If you just push people in a certain direction, they simply can’t get out of there anymore.”
Van Wanrooij agrees, citing a quote from Erasmus from 1511. “He said: ‘always stay in touch with people of a different religion, culture or background. But always use humor. And, don’t make yourself more important than you are’. I think that suits her.”
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Rotterdam residents enthusiastic regarding Carola Schouten as new mayor: ‘I think she’s off to a surprisingly good start’
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