View source for Government of Rotterdam

The '''Government of Rotterdam''' is the government of the municipality and city of [[Rotterdam]] in the [[Netherlands]]. Most of the inhabitants live in the city of Rotterdam, but the municipality also covers a number of small villages, and other parts of the local government, such as [[Rozenburg]], cover an even larger area.

== Local government ==

Results of the elections of [[Dutch municipal elections, 2002|2002]], [[Dutch municipal elections, 2006|2006]], [[Dutch municipal elections, 2010|2010]], [[Dutch municipal elections, 2014|2014]], [[Dutch municipal elections, 2018|2018]], and [[Dutch municipal elections, 2022|2022]]:

{| class="wikitable"
!colspan="13"| City council seats
|-
! Party !! % 2002 !! % 2006 !! % 2010 !! % 2014 !! % 2018 !! % 2022 !! S. 2002 !! S. 2006 !! S. 2010 !! S. 2014 !! S. 2018 !! S. 2022
|-
|[[Livable Rotterdam]]||align="right"|34.7|| align="right" |29.7|| align="right" |28.6|| align="right" |27.5|| align="right" |20.5|| align="right"| || align="right" |17||align="right"|14||align="right"|14||align="right"|14||align="right" |11|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie|VVD]]||align="right"|9.8|| align="right" |6.2|| align="right" |9.6|| align="right" |7.5|| align="right"|10.7 || align="right"| || align="right" |4||align="right"|3||align="right"|4||align="right"|3|| align="right"| 5|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[Democraten 66|D66]]||align="right"|5.1|| align="right" |2.2|| align="right" |9.3|| align="right" |12.7|| align="right" |9.9 || align="right"| ||align="right" |2||align="right"|1||align="right"|4||align="right"|6||align="right" |5|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[GreenLeft]]||align="right"|6.5|| align="right" |4.3|| align="right" |7.3|| align="right" |4.9|| align="right"| 9.9|| align="right"| || align="right" |3||align="right"|2||align="right"|3||align="right"|2|| align="right"| 5|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[Partij van de Arbeid (Nederland)|PvdA]]||align="right"|22.4|| align="right" |37.4|| align="right" |28.9|| align="right" |15.8||align="right" |9.7 || align="right"| ||align="right" |11||align="right"|18||align="right"|14||align="right"|8||align="right" |5|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[DENK (political party)|DENK]]||align="right"|-|| align="right" |-|| align="right" |-||align="right"|- || align="right"|7.4|| align="right"| ||align="right"|-|| align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|-|| align="right"|4|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[NIDA (political party)|NIDA]]<ref>Islamic party.</ref>||align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|4.8||align="right"|5.4||align="right"| ||align="right"|-||align="right"|-|| align="right"|-|| align="right"|2|| align="right"|2|| align="right"|
|-
|[[Socialistische Partij (Nederland)|SP]]||align="right"|4.0|| align="right" |6.6|| align="right" |5.6|| align="right" |10.5||align="right" |4.9|| align="right"| ||align="right" |1||align="right"|3||align="right"|2||align="right"|5||align="right" |2|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[Christen-Democratisch Appèl|CDA]]||align="right"|11.3|| align="right" |7.7|| align="right" |6.7|| align="right" |5.9|| align="right"|4.7 || align="right"| || align="right" |5||align="right"|3||align="right"|3||align="right"|3|| align="right"| 2|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[Party for Freedom|PVV]]||align="right"|-|| align="right" |-|| align="right" |-||align="right"|- || align="right"|3.5|| align="right"| ||align="right"|-|| align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|-|| align="right"|1|| align="right"|
|-
|[[Party for the Animals|PvdD]]||align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|2.5 || align="right"|3.5|| align="right"| || align="right" |-||align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|1|| align="right"|1|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[50PLUS|50+]]||align="right"|-|| align="right" |-|| align="right" |-||align="right"|- || align="right"|3.2|| align="right"| ||align="right"|-|| align="right"|-||align="right"|-||align="right"|-|| align="right"|1|| align="right"| 
|-
|[[ChristenUnie|CU]]/[[Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij|SGP]]||align="right"|2.7|| align="right" |2.4|| align="right" |3.0|| align="right" |3.2|| align="right"|3.0|| align="right"| || align="right" |1||align="right"|1||align="right"|1||align="right"|1|| align="right"|1|| align="right"| 
|-
|Cityparty Rotterdam||align="right"|2.5|| align="right" |1.0|| align="right" |-||align="right"|- || align="right"|-|| align="right"| ||align="right"|1|| align="right"|0||align="right"|-||align="right"|-|| align="right"|-|| align="right"| 
|-
|Others||align="right"|1.0|| align="right" |2.5|| align="right" |1.1|| align="right" |4.6||align="right"| 4.2|| align="right"| ||align="right" |0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0||align="right"|0|| align="right"|0|| align="right"|0
|-
|''Turnout''||align="right"|''54.8''||align="right"|''57.8''||align="right"|''46.0''||align="right"|''45.1''|| align="right"|''46.7'' ||align="right"| ||align="right"|45||align="right"|45||align="right"|45||align="right"|45|| align="right"|45|| align="right"|45
|}

=== City council 2006 - 2010 ===
The coalition [[mayor]] and [[aldermen]] for the period 2006-2010 was formed by a [[Coalition government|coalition]] of the parties [[Partij van de Arbeid|PvdA]] (labour), [[Christen Democratisch Appèl|CDA]] (Christian democratic), [[Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie|VVD]] (liberal) and [[GroenLinks]] (green left). The college was sworn in on May 18, 2006.

The college since its inauguration in 2006 had a number of cycles. VVD alderman [[Roelf de Boer]] retreated from his position in 2007. In 2008, GreenLeft alderman [[Orhan Kaya]] was replaced by [[Rik Grashoff]]. In April 2009 [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] left the coalition,<ref>[http://www.nu.nl/algemeen/1953061/vvd-stapt-uit-college-rotterdam.html "VVD stapt uit college Rotterdam"] NU.nl, 23 April 2009</ref> though it retained a slim majority of 23 of the 45 seats. The two VVD aldermen [[Jeannette Baljeu]] and [[Mark Harbers]] were replaced by CDA and PvdA aldermen. This left the CDA with three council seats and three aldermen, a remarkable situation. In July 2009 CDA alderman [[Leonard Geluk]] joined the coalition but he stepped down prematurely, because of his new position as chairman of ROC Netherlands.

=== City council 2010 - 2014 ===
The city board of mayor and aldermen was formed by four parties: [[Partij van de Arbeid|PvdA]] (labour), [[Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie|VVD]] (conservative-liberal), [[Democraten 66|D66]] (social-liberal), and [[Christen Democratisch Appèl|CDA]] (christian-democratic).

[[Alderman|Aldermen]] were: [[Jeannette Baljeu]], [[Hugo de Jonge]], [[Hamit Karakus]], [[Jantine Kriens]], [[Antoinette Laan]] and [[Korrie Louwes]] ([[Dominic Schrijer]] resigned on May 17, 2011).

=== City council 2014 - 2018 ===
The city board of mayor and aldermen was formed by three parties: [[Livable Rotterdam|Leefbaar Rotterdam]] (right populistic), [[Democraten 66|D66]] (social-liberal), and [[Christen-Democratisch Appèl|CDA]] (christian-democratic).

[[Alderman|Aldermen]] were: [[Joost Eerdmans]], [[Hugo de Jonge]], [[Pex Langenberg]], [[Ronald Schneider (politician)|Ronald Schneider]], [[Maarten Struijvenberg]] and [[Adriaan Visser]].

=== City council 2018 - 2022 ===
The city board of mayor and aldermen is formed by seven parties: [[People's Party for Freedom and Democracy|VVD]] (conservative liberal), [[Democrats 66|D66]] (social liberal), [[GreenLeft|GL]] (green left), [[Labour Party (Netherlands)|PvdA]] (social democratic), [[Christian Democratic Appeal|CDA]] (Christian democratic), and [[ChristianUnion|CU]]-[[Reformed Political Party|SGP]] (conservative Christian).

[[Alderman|Aldermen]] are:<ref>[https://www.rotterdam.nl/bestuur-organisatie/college-van-benw/ Aldermen on the Rotterdam municipality website]</ref>
# [[Judith Bokhove]] (GL)
# [[Arno Bonte]] (GL)
# [[Christine Eskes]] (CDA) - replacement of [[Sven de Langen]]
# [[Arjan van Gils]] (D66)
# [[Michiel Grauss]] (CU-SGP)
# [[Vincent Karremans]] (VVD) - replacement of [[Bert Wijbenga]]
# [[Said Kasmi]] (D66)
# [[Bas Kurvers]] (VVD)
# [[Richard Moti]] (PvdA)
# [[Roos Vermeij]] (PvdA) - replacement of [[Barbara Kathmann]]

===Mayors===
{{See also|List of mayors of Rotterdam}}
The mayor of Rotterdam is the head of the city council. The current mayor is [[Ahmed Aboutaleb]] ([[Dutch Labour Party|PvdA]]). The mayors since the World War II are:
* [[Pieter Oud]]            (1945–1952)
* [[Gerard van Walsum]]     (1952–1965)
* [[Wim Thomassen]]         (1965–1974)
* [[André van der Louw]]    (1974–1981)
* [[Bram Peper]]            (1982–1998)
* [[Ivo Opstelten]]         (1999–2009)
* [[Ahmed Aboutaleb]]       (2009–present)

==Boroughs==
[[File:Rotterdamse wijken.PNG|thumb|right|Rotterdam boroughs and neighborhoods.]]
Until 19 March 2014, Rotterdam's fourteen boroughs had the formal status of submunicipalities (''[[deelgemeenten]]'') under the Dutch Municipalities Act.<ref>[http://www.deelgemeenten.rotterdam.nl/smartsite352764.dws Deelgemeenten Rotterdam] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617040204/http://www.deelgemeenten.rotterdam.nl/smartsite352764.dws |date=2010-06-17 }}, gemeente Rotterdam</ref> The submunicipalities were responsible for many activities that previously had been run by the central city. The idea was to bring the government closer to the people. All submunicipalities had their own ''deelgemeenteraad'' ('submunicipal council'), direct elected by the borough's inhabitants. The district councils enjoyed far-reaching autonomous decisionmaking powers in many policy areas. Only affairs pertaining the whole city such as major infrastructural projects remained within the jurisdiction of by the central municipal council.

In 2014, the submunicipalities were abolished by law, but Rotterdam maintained its boroughs. The district councils were replaced with smaller, but still directly elected ''gebiedscommissies'' ('area committees'). The area committees no longer have autonomous powers, but instead act primarily as advisory and participatory bodies for the central municipal council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rotterdam.nl/takenvandegebiedscommissie|title=Taken van de gebiedscommissies|publisher=City of Rotterdam|language=nl|access-date=2014-08-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322043404/http://www.rotterdam.nl/takenvandegebiedscommissie|archive-date=2014-03-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The fourteen boroughs of Rotterdam are:

* [[Rotterdam Centrum|Centrum]]
* [[Charlois]]
* [[Delfshaven]]
* [[Feijenoord district|Feijenoord]]
* [[Hillegersberg-Schiebroek]]
* [[Hoogvliet]]
* [[Hook of Holland]]
* [[IJsselmonde, Rotterdam|IJsselmonde]]
* [[Kralingen-Crooswijk]]
* [[Noord, Rotterdam|Noord]]
* [[Overschie]]
* [[Pernis, Netherlands|Pernis]]
* [[Prins Alexander]]
* [[Rozenburg]]<ref>De gemeente Rozenburg wordt na 18 maart 2010 een deelgemeente van Rotterdam</ref>

The port areas are governed directly by the central municipality.

=== Annexations and reclassifications ===
The city of Rotterdam was especially strong growth since 1850. Initially they tried to accommodate the population within existing municipal boundaries, but this soon proved inadequate. Therefore, sequentially neighboring municipalities annexed or she had to cede territory to Rotterdam. An overview of these [[annexation]]s and reclassifications:
* 1816 municipality [[Cool district|Cool]] annexed.
* 1870 won territory of the municipalities Charlois, IJsselmonde and Katendrecht'''*''' serving ports and urban expansion on the current Kop van Zuid.
* 1886: annexation of the town Delfshaven (13,651 inhabitants)
* 1895: annexation of municipalities Charlois (12,154 inhabitants) and Kralingen (21,132 inhabitants), also won territory of the municipalities IJsselmonde and Overschie
* 1903 won territory of the municipality Overschie
* 1904 won territory of the municipality Hillegersberg
* 1909 won territory of the municipality of [[Schiedam]]
* 1914 won territory of the municipalities [['s-Gravenzande]] (Hook of Holland village, population 2964), [[Naaldwijk]] and [[Rozenburg]]
* 1926 won territory of the municipality of Schiedam
* 1934: annexation of municipalities Hoogvliet (1331 inhabitants) and Pernis'''**''' (4988 inhabitants), also won territory of the municipalities [[Poortugaal]], [[Rhoon]] and Schiedam
* 1939 won territory of the municipalities 's-Gravenzande and Naaldwijk
* 1940 won territory of the municipalities Schiedam and Overschie
* 1941: annexation of municipalities Hillegersberg (25,638 inhabitants), IJsselmonde (9183 inhabitants), Overschie (11,639 inhabitants) and Schiebroek (8030 inhabitants), also territories from the municipalities of [[Barendrecht]], [[Berkel en Rodenrijs]], [[Capelle aan den IJssel]], [[Kethel en Spaland]] (both annexed by Schiedam), Rozenburg, Schiedam and [[Vlaardingen]]
* 1953 won and lost territory to the municipality of Schiedam
* 1966 won territory of the municipalities of [[Geervliet]], [[Heenvliet]], Rozenburg, [[Spijkenisse]] and [[Sienna]] serving the [[Europoort]]
* 1972 won and lost territory to the municipality [[Oostvoorne]] and won territory of the State (North) serving the [[Maasvlakte]]
* 1976 won and lost territory to the municipality Rhoon
* 1978 won and lost territory to the municipality Capelle aan den IJssel and territory from the municipality of [[Zevenhuizen-Moerkapelle|Zevenhuizen]]
* 1980 won territory of the municipalities of [[Brielle]], Rozenburg and Oostvoorne
* 1985 won territory of the municipalities and Poortugaal, Rozenburg (new housing east of Hoogvliet, 17,032 inhabitants) and lost to the municipality [[Albrandswaard]] (which was recorded simultaneously Poortugaal)
* 1995 won territory of the municipalities of [[Nieuwerkerk aan den IJssel]] and [[Zevenhuizen-Moerkapelle]] serving the [[Vinex]] Nesselande district, also lost territory to [[Ridderkerk]]
* 1997 won territory of the municipality of [[Capelle aan den IJssel]]
* 2001 won and lost territory to the municipality [[Capelle aan den IJssel]]
* 2010: annexation of the town [[Rozenburg]] (ca. 12,500 inhabitants).

'''*''' The municipality Katendrecht in 1873 annexed by the municipality Charlois

'''**''' The city annexed Pernis in 1834 the town [['s-Gravenambacht]]

== International relations ==
Rotterdam has the following city and port connections throughout the world:
* 14 Sister Cities
* 13 Partner Cities
* 4 Sister Ports

===Twin towns – sister cities===
Rotterdam is [[twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Cologne]], Germany 1958
* {{flagicon|LUX}} [[Esch-sur-Alzette]], Luxembourg 1958
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Lille]], France 1958<ref name=Lille.fr>{{cite web | url=http://www.mairie-lille.fr/sections/site-en/Menu_horizontal_haut/discovering-lille/lille-facts-figures/lille-facts-figures| archive-url=https://archive.today/20090210192016/http://www.mairie-lille.fr/sections/site-en/Menu_horizontal_haut/discovering-lille/lille-facts-figures/lille-facts-figures| url-status=dead| archive-date=2009-02-10|title=Lile Facts & Figures|work=Mairie-Lille.fr|access-date=2007-12-17}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Turin]], Italy 1958 <ref name="ct-tc">[http://www.comune.torino.it/relint/inglese/index.shtml Turin City Hall – International Affairs] {{in lang|en}} Retrieved on 2008-01-26.</ref>
* {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Liège]], Belgium 1958
* {{flagicon|BUL}} [[Burgas]], Bulgaria 1976
* {{flagicon|ROM}} [[Constanța]], Romania 1976
* {{flagicon|POL}} [[Gdańsk]], Poland 1977<ref name="Gdańsk">{{cite web|url=http://www.gdansk.pl/samorzad,62,733.html |title=Gdańsk Official Website: 'Miasta partnerskie' |publisher=[[copyright|©]] 2009 [http://www.gdansk.pl/ Urząd Miejski w Gdańsku] |language=pl, en |access-date=2009-07-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723091807/http://www.gdansk.pl/samorzad%2C62%2C733.html |archive-date=2013-07-23 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Shanghai]], China 1979
* {{flagicon|CUB}} [[Havana]], Cuba 1983<ref>[http://www.granma.cu/espanol/2008/marzo/mar11/rotterdam.html Granma – En La Habana vicealcalde de la ciudad de Rotterdam] -La delegación visitante hará la entrega oficial de una donación de implementos deportivos, en momentos en que se celebra el aniversario 25 de las relaciones entre ambas urbes {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115072746/http://www.granma.cu/espanol/2008/marzo/mar11/rotterdam.html |date=January 15, 2009 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Saint Petersburg]], Russia 1966<ref name="saint_petersburg">{{cite web|url=http://eng.gov.spb.ru/figures/ities |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090224073839/http://eng.gov.spb.ru/figures/ities |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-02-24 |title=Saint Petersburg in figures – International and Interregional Ties |publisher=Saint Petersburg City Government |access-date=2008-03-23 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Baltimore]], Maryland, USA 1985<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/intl/sistercities.php |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5msGAdWU8?url=http://www.baltimorecity.gov/government/intl/sistercities.php |archive-date=2010-01-18 |title=Baltimore City Mayor's Office of International and Immigrant Affairs – Sister Cities Program |access-date=2008-10-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Las Palmas de Gran Canaria]], Spain
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Dresden]], Germany 1988 <ref name="Dresden">{{cite web|url=http://www.dresden.de/en/02/11/c_03.php |title=''Dresden – Partner Cities'' |year=2008 |publisher=Landeshauptstadt Dresden |access-date=2008-12-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130020425/http://www.dresden.de/en/02/11/c_03.php |archive-date=January 30, 2009 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Istanbul]], Turkey 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greatistanbul.com/sister_cities.htm|title=Sister Cities of Istanbul|access-date=2007-09-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/haber.php?haberno=94185|publisher=Radikal|language=tr|date=2003-11-03|quote=49 sister cities in 2003|title=İstanbul'a 49 kardeş|last=Erdem|first=Selim Efe}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|INA}} [[Surabaya]], Indonesia
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Szeged]], Hungary
* {{flagicon|MYS}} [[Kuching]], Malaysia
{{div col end}}

===Partner cities===
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* {{flagicon|UK}} [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], United Kingdom 1936<ref name="Hull">{{cite web|url = http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/hullinprint/archive/dec2006/christmas_around_the_world.php|title = Christmas around the world|work = Hull in print|access-date = 2007-09-30|year = 2003|publisher = Kingston upon Hull City Council}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|BEL}} [[Antwerp]], Belgium 1940
* {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Basel]], Switzerland 1945
* {{flagicon|NOR}} [[Oslo]], Norway 1945<ref name="int_coop">[http://www.oslo.kommune.no/the_city_of_oslo/international_cooperation/ Partners – Oslo kommune] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090102135652/http://www.oslo.kommune.no/the_city_of_oslo/international_cooperation/ |date=January 2, 2009 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Duisburg]], Germany 1950
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Nuremberg]], Germany 1961
* {{flagicon|IDN}} [[Jakarta]], Indonesia 1983
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Osaka]], Japan 1984
* {{flagicon|HUN}} [[Budapest]], Hungary 1991
* {{flagicon|SVK}} [[Bratislava]], Slovakia 1991 <ref name="Bratislava">{{cite web|url=http://www.bratislava-city.sk/bratislava-twin-towns |title=''Bratislava City – Twin Towns'' |publisher=Bratislava-City.sk |access-date=2008-10-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728183628/http://www.bratislava-city.sk/bratislava-twin-towns |archive-date=2013-07-28 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|ZAF}} [[Durban]], South Africa 1991<ref name="Durban">{{cite web|url=http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/government/international_and_government_relations/sc |title=Durban Official Website: Sister Cities Home Page |publisher=[http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/e_colophon/copyright eThekwini Municipal Communications Department] |access-date=2009-02-19 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514030604/http://www.durban.gov.za/durban/government/international_and_government_relations/sc |archive-date=May 14, 2013 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|CZE}} [[Prague]], Czech Republic 1991<ref name="Prague">{{cite web| author =www.praha-mesto.cz| title =Partner cities| url =http://magistrat.praha-mesto.cz/72647_Partnerska-mesta| access-date = 2008-10-09}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Buenos Aires]], Argentina 1990
{{div col end}}

===Sister ports===
{| cellpadding="10"
|- style="vertical-align:top;"
|
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Kobe]], Japan 1967<ref>[http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/17/020/en/international/worldmap.htm City of Kobe] – "Sister City, Friendly City, Friendship & Cooperation City". Retrieved February 15, 2007. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224061625/http://www.city.kobe.jp/cityoffice/17/020/en/international/worldmap.htm |date=December 24, 2008 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|USA}} [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]] [[United States|USA]] 1969 <sup>[[Government and politics of Seattle#Sister ports|Seattle List]]</sup>
* {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Busan]], South Korea 1987<ref>http://www.busanport.com/service?id=en_sister_01</ref>
* {{flagicon|JPN}} [[Tokyo]], Japan 1989
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

{{Dutch decentral government}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Government of Rotterdam| ]]