Michel Bezuijen will remain mayor of Zoetermeer
Michel Bezuijen (60) will remain mayor of Zoetermeer for the next few years. On Thursday, September 24, he was sworn in for a second term by Wouter Kolff, the King’s Commissioner for the province of South Holland. His new term begins on October 1. Bezuijen has been mayor of this municipality since 2020.
Bezuijen began his term as mayor of Zoetermeer in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, he focused on building relationships with residents, associations, and community organizations. He is known among residents and business owners as a committed and approachable bridge-builder, with a strong sense of pride in his city. During his first term, Mayor Bezuijen addressed, among other things, the structural challenges facing Zoetermeer as a growth center, such as those related to public order and safety. He is committed to broadly addressing the challenges of New Towns at all levels for the benefit of Zoetermeer’s residents.
Background
The mayor had an extensive career in politics and public administration before becoming mayor of Zoetermeer. For example, from 1998 to 2013, he was active in local politics in Haarlemmermeer, first as a council member and later as an alderman. Between 2013 and 2020, Bezuijen served as mayor of the municipality of Rijswijk. Bezuijen studied public administration at Leiden University. Afterward, he worked for the Crisis Research Team (COT) at Leiden University and the municipality of Amsterdam, among other positions.
