Mayor Van der Laan has resigned all his duties effective immediately, he did so by means of a farewell letter. He was diagnosed with severe lung cancer a little while back but decided to stay on for as long as possible. Just recently he and our King conquered the hearts of our readers with this picture:
Here’s the translation of this letter. I did my best, but it will never be as impactful as the original. That ‘little while’ is poosje in Dutch.
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Dear Amsterdammers,
In January, I wrote to you that I had received bad news from my doctors, but that for a ‘little while’, I hoped to stay on as your mayor. For the past eight months, I have done so with a lot of fun. Your support has helped me greatly.
This ‘little while’ has come to an end as today I received from my doctors the message that they can not treat me any longer. I have reported myself sick to Remkes; the Commissioner of the King. For the time being my duties will be taken over by deputy-Mayor Kajsa Ollongren.
It was a great privilege to be the mayor of the most beautiful and dearest city in the world. Thank you for your trust, for your involvement and for all the support and contradiction I received from you over the past seven years.
Take care of our city and of each other.
Farewell,
Eberhard van der Laan
No words, the ending has many of us cutting onions – what a mayor…
