Pieter van Woensel (politician)
Encyclopedia
Pieter Theodoor van Woensel (born in Breda
, Netherlands
15 September 1970) is a politician and former Wethouder
(alderman) in the Netherlands.
. In Groningen he became concerned with the foundation of a new regional political party that would stand up for the interests of students, Student en Stad. In the 1994 elections, this party won one seat in the Groningen municipal council. Pieter van Woensel becomes the first half-assistant to the party's first councillor, Marcel Beukeboom. After two years, as agreed beforehand, he followed Beukeboom as city councillor for a period of two years.
(VVD). In 2002, he was elected for the VVD to the Hague municipal council, and a year later became its Fractievoorzitter (parliamentary leader). In 2004, van Woensel became Bas Verkerk's successor on his departure, taking over the economic affairs and employment portfolio. In April 2006, he was given the transport, business, suburbs, and environment portfolio. At the beginning of 2007 it was revealed that, under him, the construction of RandstadRail
- with its budget of €12 million - had actually cost €451 million. He took political flak for this error and resigned his aldermanship in February 2007.
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
, Netherlands
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...
15 September 1970) is a politician and former Wethouder
College van Burgemeester en Wethouders
The college van burgemeester en wethouders is the executive board of a municipality in the Netherlands. This local government body plays a central role in municipal politics in the Netherlands. It consists of the mayor and the members of the municipal executive...
(alderman) in the Netherlands.
Early career
He followed the HBO course in training-authorities management at the Thorbecke Academy in Leeuwarden between 1990 and 1994. He studied legal administration at the state University of GroningenUniversity of Groningen
The University of Groningen , located in the city of Groningen, was founded in 1614. It is one of the oldest universities in the Netherlands as well as one of its largest. Since its inception more than 100,000 students have graduated...
. In Groningen he became concerned with the foundation of a new regional political party that would stand up for the interests of students, Student en Stad. In the 1994 elections, this party won one seat in the Groningen municipal council. Pieter van Woensel becomes the first half-assistant to the party's first councillor, Marcel Beukeboom. After two years, as agreed beforehand, he followed Beukeboom as city councillor for a period of two years.
The Hague
In 1998, van Woensel was elected to the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG). Van Woensel became an active member of the local People's Party for Freedom and DemocracyPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy
The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is a conservative-liberal political party located in the Netherlands. The VVD supports private enterprise in the Netherlands and is often perceived as an economic liberal party in contrast to the social-liberal Democrats 66 alongside which it sits in...
(VVD). In 2002, he was elected for the VVD to the Hague municipal council, and a year later became its Fractievoorzitter (parliamentary leader). In 2004, van Woensel became Bas Verkerk's successor on his departure, taking over the economic affairs and employment portfolio. In April 2006, he was given the transport, business, suburbs, and environment portfolio. At the beginning of 2007 it was revealed that, under him, the construction of RandstadRail
RandstadRail
RandstadRail network in the southern part of the Randstad conurbation in the west of the Netherlands, connecting The Hague, Zoetermeer and Rotterdam, consists of a metro-like line between The Hague and Rotterdam and two light rail lines between The Hague and Zoetermeer...
- with its budget of €12 million - had actually cost €451 million. He took political flak for this error and resigned his aldermanship in February 2007.