Rotterdam mayor Carola Schouten (Christian Union - pictured on the left) met her Antwerp counterpart Els van Doesburg (Flemish nationalist N-VA) at Antwerp city hall to discuss issues facing both cities including drug-related violence. Drug-related attacks are often carried out by young perpetrators, not infrequently from the Netherlands.
Carola Schouten is no political novice. Until last spring, she was deputy prime minister in the Dutch government and responsible for agriculture and pensions. She has been mayor of the city of Rotterdam for a year now. Her administrative experience at the highest level is standing her in good stead, she says.
Els van Doesburg may not yet have that much political experience but is keen to learn from her colleague in Rotterdam. The cooperation between the two cities that already exists can be deepened further, she says. Antwerp and Rotterdam may be economic rival ports, but in terms of security, they can strengthen each other. The mayors get along very well. Els van Doesburg: “I was pleasantly surprised that we think alike on many issues. We can also do a lot together, especially when it comes to security.”
Rotterdammers being a nuisance south of the border
One of the problems both cities are struggling with is the fall-out from drug-related violence. In both Antwerp and Rotterdam firebombs are regularly used in attacks. The police have already been able to arrest many of the perpetrators. Attackers are mostly young people, including in Antwerp many young Dutch nationals, often from Rotterdam.
Mayor Schouten is aware of the problem and wants to do something about it: “We must ensure that young people do not fall for the lure of quick money and run the risk of a criminal record and imprisonment.”
Cooperation has paid off
Schouten and Van Doesburg's predecessors are Ahmed Aboutaleb (PvdA – Dutch Labour Party) and Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist N-VA). Despite their different political backgrounds, the two found common ground in the fight against drug-trafficking. Together they even travelled to countries in South America where cocaine originates. This seems to be bearing fruit, as large shipments are regularly intercepted in ships bound for Antwerp or Rotterdam.
Their successors do not yet have any concrete plans for joint travel. However, they are not ruling it out. If it is necessary to increase security in Antwerp and Rotterdam, they are certainly willing to do so. “But it won't be a pleasure trip to Ibiza,” they say.