Jan van Zanen

Jan Hendrikus Cornelis van Zanen (Purmerend, 4 September 1961) is a Dutch politician and member of the VVD. Since 1 July 2020, he has been Mayor of The Hague. He previously served as Mayor of Utrecht (2014-2020) and Amstelveen (2005-2013) and national chairperson of the VVD (2003-2008). He has been president of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) since 3 June 2015.

In this Dutch name, the surname is Van Zanen, not Zanen.
His Excellency

Jan van Zanen
Jan van Zanen in 2011
Mayor of The Hague
Assumed office
1 July 2020
Preceded byJohan Remkes (Acting)
Mayor of Utrecht
In office
1 January 2014 – 1 July 2020
Preceded byAleid Wolfsen
Succeeded byPeter den Oudsten (Acting)
Mayor of Amstelveen
In office
1 July 2005 – 1 January 2014
Preceded byHarry Kamphuis
Succeeded byFred de Graaf (Acting)
Chairman of the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy
In office
28 November 2003 – 23 May 2008
Leader
Preceded byBas Eenhoorn
Succeeded byIvo Opstelten
Personal details
Born
Jan Hendrikus Cornelis van Zanen

(1961-09-04) 4 September 1961
Purmerend, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Political partyPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
(from 1979)
Spouse(s)
Marian van den Berg
​
(m. 1991)​
Children1 son and 1 daughter
ResidenceThe Hague, Netherlands
Alma materFree University Amsterdam
(Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Cornell Law School
(Master of Studies in Law)
OccupationPolitician · Civil servant · Jurist · Trade association executive
Website(in English) Mayor of The Hague
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/serviceRoyal Netherlands Air Force
Years of service1989–1991 (Conscription)
1991–1996 (Reserve)
Rank Second lieutenant
Battles/warsCold War

Career

Van Zanen grew up in Edam-Volendam and was the national vice president of the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy (JOVD). He studied law at VU Amsterdam and at Cornell Law School of Cornell University in Ithaca (New York).[1] After completing his military service as reserve officer with the Royal Netherlands Air Force, from 1991 to 1998 he was secretary of the executive board of the national entrepreneurs association VOG. From 1990 to 2002, he represented the VVD in the municipal council of Utrecht. From 1998 to 2005, he was deputy mayor of public space, finance and economic affairs in Utrecht. From 2005 to 2013, he was Mayor of Amstelveen.

He was also chairperson of the VVD (2003-2008), as the successor to Bas Eenhoorn. In 1994, Van Zanen wrote a biography about a former VVD chairperson, Haya van Someren-Downer: Haya, vrouw voor vrijheid en democratie. [Haya, woman for freedom and democracy] In 1996, Van Zanen won the Thorbecke Award for political eloquence. On leaving his position as deputy mayor, in 2005 he was presented with the Silver City Medal of Utrecht. When he resigned as chairperson of the VVD, he was presented with the Thorbecke medal by his successor Ivo Opstelten. Following his departure as Mayor of Amstelveen, Van Zanen became an honorary citizen of this municipality. On 28 March 2015, the general assembly of the JOVD nominated Van Zanen as honorary member.

Mayor of Utrecht

From 1 January 2014 to 1 July 2020, he was the 330th mayor of Utrecht.[2] On 3 June 2015, the members of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) chose Van Zanen as its new president.[3] In this framework, since 15 November 2019, he has been co-president of the UCLG and executive president of the CEMR.[4][5] On 18 June 2015, Marcel Guinchard, president of the French Chamber of Commerce, and the French ambassador Laurent Pic presented Van Zanen with the 'Prix de la Personnalité de l'Année 2015'.[6] On 27 May 2016, Japanese ambassador Hiroshi Inomata presented him with an imperial award in the order of the Rising Sun, Golden Rays with Cravatte for his 'exceptional contribution to promoting the relationship and cultural and economic relations between the Netherlands and Japan'.

On 15 November 2016, the French ambassador Philippe Lallio presented him with the medals associated with the National Order of the Legion of Honour. Van Zanen was decorated for his contribution to relations between France and the Netherlands. This particularly related to his involvement in the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in Utrecht, as well as his role in launching the French-Netherlands economic year in the summer of 2015. On 8 November 2017, he took sick leave following his diagnosis of malignant prostate cancer at the beginning of September of that year.[7] On 30 December 2017, he resumed his work as mayor.[8]

On 8 June 2018, Van Zanen received the Clear Language Award in the category of clearest mayor of the Netherlands. This award is an initiative of the VU Language Centre and is presented annually to a well-known Dutch national with exceptional language skills. On 12 April 2019, governor Bauke Boersma from Rotary International presented Van Zanen with the medals associated with the honorary title Paul Harris Fellow of The Rotary Foundation. '... To reflect our appreciation for the real and meaningful contribution to promoting international relations and friendship between all nations of the world ...'. On 18 July 2019, the municipal council proposed that Van Zanen should be reappointed as mayor.[9] His reappointment formally started on 7 January 2020. On that occasion, he referred to Utrecht as "The city of my dreams".[10] On his retirement as Mayor of Utrecht on 30 June 2020, Van Zanen received the golden city medal.[11][12]

Mayor of The Hague

On 1 July 2020, Van Zanen was appointed Mayor of The Hague.[13] On 11 October 2020, during the Utrecht Rainbow Festival, he was presented with the Annie Brouwer-Korf Award 2020 for his contribution to the acceptance and visibility of the LGBTI+-community.[14]

Personal life

Van Zanen has two children.

References
  1. "Class Notes". www.lawschool.cornell.edu. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  2. "Benoeming burgemeester Utrecht | Nieuwsbericht | Rijksoverheid.nl". 2017-09-21. Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  3. "Jan van Zanen gekozen als voorzitter VNG | VNG". 2017-09-21. Archived from the original on 2017-09-21. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  4. "Presidency 2019-2022". UCLG - United Cities and Local Governments. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  5. "CCRE". www.ccre.org. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  6. "Pays-Bas". CCI France Pays-Bas (in French). Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  7. "DPG Media Privacy Gate". myprivacy.dpgmedia.nl. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  8. "Burgemeester Jan van Zanen weer aan het werk | Gemeente Utrecht". 2017-12-28. Archived from the original on 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  9. "Jan van Zanen door gemeenteraad voorgedragen voor herbenoeming burgemeester Utrecht | Gemeente Utrecht". 2019-08-08. Archived from the original on 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  10. "Jan van Zanen herbenoemd als burgemeester van Utrecht". De Utrechtse Internet Courant. 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  11. "Jan van Zanen neemt afscheid tijdens raadsvergadering in Tivoli Vredenburg". NU (in Dutch). 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  12. "Van Zanen: niet alleen maar burgemeester". dagblad070.nl. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  13. Zaken, Ministerie van Algemene (2020-06-19). "Benoeming burgemeester Den Haag - Nieuwsbericht - Rijksoverheid.nl". www.rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 2020-10-27.
  14. "Voormalig burgemeester Jan van Zanen neemt digitaal Annie Brouwer-Korf Prijs in ontvangst". De Utrechtse Internet Courant. 2020-10-12. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
Official
Party political offices
Preceded by
Bas Eenhoorn		 Chairman of the People's Party
for Freedom and Democracy
2003–2008		 Succeeded by
Ivo Opstelten
Political offices
Preceded by
Harry Kamphuis		 Mayor of Amstelveen
2005–2014		 Succeeded by
Fred de Graaf
Acting
Preceded by
Aleid Wolfsen		 Mayor of Utrecht
2014–2020		 Succeeded by
Peter den Oudsten
Acting
Preceded by
Johan Remkes
Acting		 Mayor of The Hague
2020–present		 Incumbent
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by
Annemarie Jorritsma		 Chairman of the
Association of
Municipalities
2015–present		 Incumbent
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.