Judith Uitermark, Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations: “Mayors are the face of a municipality and play a crucial role in public administration. It is a unique way to be part of a community and contribute to it. At the same time, it is challenging and sets high demands. I have great appreciation for all current and future mayors and I believe it is important for the position to remain attractive. Moreover, there are still few female mayors, and it is good for women to apply more often. I will continue to actively advocate for this.”
Applicants for mayoral vacancies
Between the period from 2016 to 2023, the average number of applicants per mayoral vacancy decreased from 30 to 18. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations has asked researchers from Leiden University and the University of Amsterdam to investigate this declining trend. The research report: ‘Who still wants to become a mayor?’, provides a nuanced picture of the factors influencing the number of applicants for a vacancy. It turns out that the tightness in the labor market, which is generally present, also significantly affects mayoral vacancies. Additionally, the number of applicants in 2016 was exceptionally high. In 2024, the number of applicants has slightly increased again. On average, 21 candidates responded per vacancy in 2024 compared to 18 in 2023.
Attractiveness of the mayoral position
Although the slight increase in the number of applicants provides some reassurance, in recent years several mayoral procedures have also stopped due to a lack of suitable candidates. As a result, a municipality faces delays in successfully completing the procedure to find a new mayor. Therefore, it is important that as many different candidates as possible come forward. Keeping the application for a mayoral vacancy attractive goes hand in hand with ensuring a good legal position and support in cases of aggression and intimidation. Researchers indicate that growing security risks do not have a direct effect on the total number of applicants. At the same time, they observe that this factor diminishes ambition among women, whereas it is the opposite for men. Judith Uitermark: “There are still fewer women than men mayors. In the coming period, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, together with the Commissioners of the King and the Dutch Association of Mayors, will examine which specific measures are needed to keep the position attractive.