Jan van Zanen

Jan van Zanen is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) who has served as the Mayor of The Hague since 2020. He previously held the office of Mayor of Utrecht from 2014 to 2020 and was the Mayor of Amstelveen from 2005 to 2014. A lawyer by training, his career has been defined by administrative leadership in major Dutch municipalities and active involvement in national and international municipal associations.

Early life and education

Jan van Zanen was born on 16 October 1961 in Vlaardingen, a city in the province of South Holland. He completed his secondary education at the Johan de Witt Gymnasium in Dordrecht. He subsequently studied Dutch law at Leiden University, where he was an active member of the student association Leidsch Studenten Corps. During his studies, he served as chairman of the JOVD, the youth organization of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. After graduating, he began his professional career as a lawyer at the Rotterdam-based firm Stibbe.

Political career

Van Zanen's political career began in local government. He served as an alderman in the municipality of Oegstgeest from 1994 to 1998. His administrative capabilities led to his appointment as the Mayor of Amstelveen in 2005, succeeding Jan van der Heijden. During his tenure in Amstelveen, he focused on urban development and international community integration, given the city's significant expatriate population. He also held prominent roles in the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), serving as its vice-president and chairing several of its committees. His work with the VNG involved close collaboration with national institutions like the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and engagement with European networks such as Eurocities.

Mayor of Utrecht

On 1 December 2014, Van Zanen was appointed Mayor of Utrecht, succeeding Aleid Wolfsen. His tenure in Utrecht was marked by significant urban growth and major infrastructure projects, most notably the redevelopment of the area around Utrecht Centraal railway station. He played a key role in promoting the city's knowledge economy, fostering partnerships with institutions like Utrecht University and the Utrecht University of Applied Sciences. He also emphasized cultural policy, supporting events like the Netherlands Film Festival and the Early Music Festival. His leadership during events such as the 2017 Utrecht attack was widely noted for its calm and decisive coordination with the Dutch police and emergency services.

Mayor of The Hague

Van Zanen was appointed Mayor of The Hague by the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands and began his term on 1 July 2020, following Pauline Krikke. As mayor of the International City of Peace and Justice, his role involves hosting numerous international institutions, including the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. He is deeply involved in diplomatic affairs, regularly engaging with embassies, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and organizations like Europol. Key local priorities include managing urban density, sustainability initiatives in districts like Scheveningen, and security for major events. He also serves as the chair of the supervisory board of the Hague Conference on Private International Law.

Personal life

Jan van Zanen is married to Marijke van Zanen, and the couple has three children. He is known to be an avid sailor and a supporter of the football club Feyenoord. His interests include history and architecture, often reflected in his commitment to urban heritage conservation in the cities he has led. He maintains a residence in The Hague while remaining engaged with national cultural and sporting life.

Category:1961 births Category:Living people Category:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy politicians Category:Mayors of places in the Netherlands Category:Mayors of The Hague Category:Mayors of Utrecht Category:Alumni of Leiden University