In a secret session, the Amsterdam council chose former housing minister Eberhard van der Laan as the new mayor for the city.

Van der Laan, who is a lawyer and has been leading the Labour Party in the city council for years, announced his candidacy for the Amsterdam top job, after Job Cohen resigned to take over the Labour leadership for the national elections.

The council convened over the new mayor after a commission selected two candidates, van der Laan and Annemarie Jorritsma, a Liberal (VVD) former minister and at present mayor of Almere. She was the first choice of the council commission, but didn’t make in the general anonymous vote of the council last night.

Caretaker mayor Asscher and Finance Wethouder (Alderman), welcomed the new mayor. He is looking forward to working together in the city.

Generally the reactions are positive. Some regret that the opportunity is missed to appoint the first woman mayor of Amsterdam.