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Eberhard van der Laan, Popular Mayor of Amsterdam, Dies at 62 Eberhard van der Laan, Popular Mayor of Amsterdam, Dies at 62
(2 days later)
Eberhard van der Laan, the popular and progressive-minded mayor of Amsterdam who stepped down last month because of failing health, died on Thursday. He was 62.Eberhard van der Laan, the popular and progressive-minded mayor of Amsterdam who stepped down last month because of failing health, died on Thursday. He was 62.
His death, after a long struggle with lung cancer, was announced by the Amsterdam Municipality, which Mr. Van der Laan led for seven years. It was unclear where he died.His death, after a long struggle with lung cancer, was announced by the Amsterdam Municipality, which Mr. Van der Laan led for seven years. It was unclear where he died.
A heavy smoker who had also been treated for prostate cancer, Mr. van der Laan announced he had lung cancer in January, telling city residents that there was “little reason for optimism.”A heavy smoker who had also been treated for prostate cancer, Mr. van der Laan announced he had lung cancer in January, telling city residents that there was “little reason for optimism.”
“Amsterdam weeps for its dear mayor and all of the Netherlands mourns,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.“Amsterdam weeps for its dear mayor and all of the Netherlands mourns,” Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.
A lawyer and a member of the center-left Labor Party, Mr. van der Laan was a government minister for housing and integration for two years before being appointed mayor in July 2010.A lawyer and a member of the center-left Labor Party, Mr. van der Laan was a government minister for housing and integration for two years before being appointed mayor in July 2010.
He made headlines in April 2013 when he said he was too busy to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia during a visit to the city by Mr. Putin.He made headlines in April 2013 when he said he was too busy to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia during a visit to the city by Mr. Putin.
The move was widely seen as a snub over Russian legislation banning what it called gay-rights “propaganda.” Rainbow flags, symbols of the gay-rights movement, flew at half-staff around Amsterdam during the visit.The move was widely seen as a snub over Russian legislation banning what it called gay-rights “propaganda.” Rainbow flags, symbols of the gay-rights movement, flew at half-staff around Amsterdam during the visit.
Soon after taking office, Mr. Van der Laan won respect for personally reaching out to parents of children abused by a pedophile in an Amsterdam day care center. He displayed a tough side by cracking down on youth crime and antisocial behavior.Soon after taking office, Mr. Van der Laan won respect for personally reaching out to parents of children abused by a pedophile in an Amsterdam day care center. He displayed a tough side by cracking down on youth crime and antisocial behavior.
This year, in an effort to weed out human traffickers in the city’s renowned red-light district, he backed a proposal to empower prostitutes by allowing them to set up an official cooperative in which they could have a say about their work conditions. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam.This year, in an effort to weed out human traffickers in the city’s renowned red-light district, he backed a proposal to empower prostitutes by allowing them to set up an official cooperative in which they could have a say about their work conditions. Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam.
In 2014 he ordered that the city begin changing the appearance of the Netherlands holiday character Black Pete over the next four years so that it would no longer be racially offensive. Black Pete, featured in the city’s winter holiday pageant, had historically been a golden-earringed caricature of an African.In 2014 he ordered that the city begin changing the appearance of the Netherlands holiday character Black Pete over the next four years so that it would no longer be racially offensive. Black Pete, featured in the city’s winter holiday pageant, had historically been a golden-earringed caricature of an African.
In a Facebook post, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands hailed Mr. Van der Laan as “a driven mayor with a heart for his city and a fiery belief in a society to which everybody belongs.”In a Facebook post, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands hailed Mr. Van der Laan as “a driven mayor with a heart for his city and a fiery belief in a society to which everybody belongs.”
Mr. Van der Laan was born on June 28, 1955, in Leiden and studied law at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In 1992 he was a founder of the law firm Kennedy Van der Laan.Mr. Van der Laan was born on June 28, 1955, in Leiden and studied law at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In 1992 he was a founder of the law firm Kennedy Van der Laan.
He is survived by his wife, Femke, and five children.He is survived by his wife, Femke, and five children.
He announced he was stepping down in an open letter to Amsterdam residents in September. In closing the letter he wrote: “Take good care of our city and of each other. Farewell.” He announced he was stepping down in an open letter to Amsterdam residents in September. In closing the letter, he wrote: “Take good care of our city and of each other. Farewell.”
In a video, dismayed city residents made promises to Mr. van der Laan about how they would take care of their city.
After the announcement, hundreds of people gathered outside his official residence, a historic canal-side mansion, and applauded him.