Rik van der Graaf appointed as alderman for asylum and social care in Utrecht

Alderman Rik van der Graaf: “It is special to contribute as an alderman to the development of a city in motion. With increasing issues around asylum and the care of people in a vulnerable position, it is essential for the city that we continue to make decisions with a cool head and warm heart. The challenges ahead are significant, and the train is already moving. That is why proximity and connection are important, so that Utrecht remains a place where everyone feels at home.”

Portfolio
Van der Graafs portfolio was formally established on Friday, October 3, in the constitutive meeting of the college of mayors and aldermen. He will be responsible for social care and protected living, asylum & integration, heritage, recruitment, and personnel & organization. Van der Graaf will also become the neighborhood alderman of Overvecht, and will regularly be found at the neighborhood office of Overvecht. “Rachel has dedicated herself wholeheartedly to Overvecht. I want to do the same. Overvecht is a beautiful neighborhood, full of proud residents and hard-working professionals who are committed to improving the neighborhood step by step. I want to be in the neighborhood regularly and get to know the residents even better.”

Since 2018, Van der Graaf has worked as a project manager at Mobycon in the field of sustainable mobility. In addition to his regular job, Van der Graaf has been active in the Utrecht city council since 2017, first as a councilor and later as faction leader. He primarily focused on housing, spatial planning, traffic, and asylum issues. Van der Graaf studied Spatial Planning and Policy in Utrecht.