Ahmed Aboutaleb

Mayor of Rotterdam | The Netherlands

Ahmed Aboutaleb has been Mayor of Rotterdam since 2009 and is a strong advocate of the values enshrined in the Dutch constitution: freedom of religion, freedom of expression and the principle of non-discrimination. In his view, becoming a Dutch citizen brings with it the responsibility to respect and uphold these values and to take part in building We Society. The more people participate, the stronger and more resilient society will be, both in good times and bad. Ahmed regularly goes on neighbourhood walks through Rotterdam to talk to residents about their concerns and wants to stand up for those people who get into trouble because of the laws and regulations. The mayor wants them to be listened to better and receive better help.