Dick van der Velde is saying farewell this week to his network and the employees of the Province of Zeeland. Since 2019, Dick van der Velde has been a deputy for Zeeland. He was committed to environment (PFAS), spatial planning, housing, tourism & recreation, and ICT.
On Tuesday, 3 February 2026, his farewell meeting took place. A short impression of Dicks farewell can be found on YouTube.
The Kings Commissioner Hugo de Jonge said during Dicks farewell meeting, “Dick is a man of one piece. What you see is what you get. Everyone who knows Dick, and we are here in a full church with acquaintances of Dick, will agree with me that you never have to wonder what Dick thinks about something. He simply says it. And if he doesnt say it, then he doesnt think it. A second character trait of Dick is that he has an incredibly strong sense of responsibility. He has taken care of a long list of difficult files: PFAS, tourism, permits, supervision and enforcement, housing of status holders. All difficult files. Dick, in the beginning you might have thought: who am I to be able to advance those files? But you fully devoted yourself to them. You live them through. You are incredibly loyal to your assignment.”
Before Dick became deputy, he was a hospitality entrepreneur, entrepreneur manager in Veere, and project manager at Impuls Zeeland. From 2006 until June 2015, he was a member of the municipal council of Goes for the VVD.
Daniëlle de Clerck is his intended successor as deputy for the VVD.