NETHERLANDS | New Municipal Ombudsman took office

In September 2013, after being appointed by the City Council of Amsterdam, Arre Zuurmond took office as Municipal Ombudsman. Arre Zuurmond (54) holds a Ph.D. in public administration and has been affiliate professor at Leiden University, where he lectured on ICT and the future of public administration.

He has vast experience in research and consultancy, with a focus on tackling bureaucracy. Arre Zuurmond is Amsterdam’s third ombudsman. His predecessor, Ulco van de Pol, retired in June.

The Municipal Ombudsman Amsterdam deals with complaints about municipal organisations or persons for which the municipality is responsible. The ombudsman is appointed by the city council. He works for 7 municipalities (Amsterdam, Almere, Diemen, Landsmeer, Waterland, Weesp en Zaanstad).

Source: Office of the Municipal Ombudsman Amsterdam, The Netherlands