Leen Verbeek
Encyclopedia
Leendert Verbeek (born March 5, 1954 in Leiderdorp
) is a Dutch
politician
and former civil servant and social worker. He is a member of the Labour Party
(Partij van de Arbeid). He has served as mayor of Purmerend
from April 2003 till November 2008. On November 1, 2008 he has become Queen's Commissioner
of the province of Flevoland
.
in the USA he attended the Academy for Educational Labour in Baarn
. He then started to work as a young people's worker in Leiden.
Ten years later Verbeek started his political career through political institutions, ending up as an alderman
in Houten
(1989-1996). He was appointed mayor of Purmerend
. In between he was director of a self created company.
On December 18, 2007 it was announced that Verbeek was a candidate for mayor of Eindhoven along with Rob van Gijzel
. A referendum
was held on January 23, 2008, in which Verbeek scored 33% of the votes, but because the required number of voters was not met, the referendum was nullified and the decision was made in-house, which resulted in Rob van Gijzel being appointed mayor of Eindhoven. Verbeek was replaced by Fons Hertog as mayor of Purmerend in November 2008, as Verbeek has become the Queen's Commissioner for the province of Flevoland.
Leiderdorp
Leiderdorp is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland near the city of Leiden. It had a population of 26,182 in 2004....
) is a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and former civil servant and social worker. He is a member of the Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
(Partij van de Arbeid). He has served as mayor of Purmerend
Purmerend
Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population...
from April 2003 till November 2008. On November 1, 2008 he has become Queen's Commissioner
Queen's Commissioner
The Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, who is chairman of both the Provinciale Staten and the Gedeputeerde Staten , but only has a right to vote in the latter...
of the province of Flevoland
Flevoland
Flevoland is a province of the Netherlands. Located in the centre of the country, at the location of the former Zuiderzee, the province was established on January 1, 1986; the twelfth province of the country, with Lelystad as its capital...
.
Biography
Verbeek spent his early years in Eindhoven. After the mulo (current-day vmbo) and a year of high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
in the USA he attended the Academy for Educational Labour in Baarn
Baarn
Baarn is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht.-The municipality Baarn :The municipality of Baarn consists of the following towns: Baarn, Eembrugge, Lage Vuursche.- The town Baarn :...
. He then started to work as a young people's worker in Leiden.
Ten years later Verbeek started his political career through political institutions, ending up as an alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
in Houten
Houten
Houten is a municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. The expected population in 2015 will be 50,000. The municipality consists of the following towns:* Houten * 't Goy * Schalkwijk...
(1989-1996). He was appointed mayor of Purmerend
Purmerend
Purmerend is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.The city is surrounded by polders, such as the Purmer, Beemster and the Wormer. The city became the trade center of the region but the population grew relatively slow. Only after 1960 did the population...
. In between he was director of a self created company.
On December 18, 2007 it was announced that Verbeek was a candidate for mayor of Eindhoven along with Rob van Gijzel
Rob van Gijzel
Rob van Gijzel is a Dutch politician. He is a former Member of Parliament and is the incumbent mayor of Eindhoven ....
. A referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
was held on January 23, 2008, in which Verbeek scored 33% of the votes, but because the required number of voters was not met, the referendum was nullified and the decision was made in-house, which resulted in Rob van Gijzel being appointed mayor of Eindhoven. Verbeek was replaced by Fons Hertog as mayor of Purmerend in November 2008, as Verbeek has become the Queen's Commissioner for the province of Flevoland.