Ahmed Aboutaleb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ahmed Aboutaleb
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Aboutaleb in 2019
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| Mayor of Rotterdam | |
| In office 5 January 2009 – 1 October 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Ivo Opstelten |
| Succeeded by | Carola Schouten |
| State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment |
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| In office 22 February 2007 – 12 December 2008 |
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| Prime Minister | Jan Peter Balkenende |
| Preceded by | Henk van Hoof |
| Succeeded by | Jetta Klijnsma |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 August 1961 Beni Sidel, Morocco |
| Nationality | Dutch, Moroccan |
| Political party | Labour Party (from 2003) |
| Children | 3 daughters and 1 son |
| Residences | Kralingen, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | The Hague University of Applied Sciences |
| Occupation | Politician · Civil servant · Journalist · Electrical engineer · Nonprofit director · Political pundit · Author · Columnist · Poet |
Ahmed Aboutaleb (Arabic: أحمد أبو طالب; born 29 August 1961) is a Dutch politician. He was born in Morocco and later moved to the Netherlands. From 2009 to 2024, he served as the Mayor of Rotterdam, a very important city in the Netherlands. He is a member of the Labour Party (PvdA). In early 2024, he announced he would step down from his role as mayor.
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Early Life and Education
Ahmed Aboutaleb was born on 29 August 1961 in a small village called Beni Sidel in Morocco. His father was an imam, a religious leader. When he was 15 years old, in 1976, he moved to the Netherlands with his mother and brothers.
Even as a child, Ahmed loved to learn. He once said, "I wanted to learn, I wanted to know everything." He studied electrical engineering and Telecommunication at different schools. He earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree from The Hague University of Applied Sciences.
Starting His Career
After finishing his studies, Ahmed Aboutaleb worked as a reporter for TV and radio news channels. He also worked in public relations for the Dutch health ministry.
In 1998, he became the director of an organization called Forum. This group focused on multiculturalism in the Netherlands, which means how different cultures live together. He also worked for the city government of Amsterdam. In 2003, he joined the Labour Party.
His Political Journey
In January 2004, Ahmed Aboutaleb became an alderman in Amsterdam. An alderman is like a city council member who helps manage different parts of the city. He was responsible for things like education and public spaces.
Becoming a State Secretary
Later, he became a State Secretary for Social Affairs. A State Secretary is a high-ranking government official who helps a minister with their duties. He worked on important issues related to social welfare and employment.
Mayor of Rotterdam
On 31 October 2008, Ahmed Aboutaleb was chosen to be the Mayor of Rotterdam. In the Netherlands, mayors are appointed, not directly elected by the public. He officially started his role on 5 January 2009.
Ahmed Aboutaleb was the first mayor of a large city in the Netherlands who came from an immigrant background and was also of the Muslim faith. He has dual citizenship, meaning he is a citizen of both the Netherlands and Morocco.
In 2021, he received the World Mayor award from the City Mayors Foundation. This award recognizes mayors who have shown great leadership. He was appointed for a third term as mayor that same year.
In January 2024, Ahmed Aboutaleb announced that he would step down as mayor later in the year. He officially left office on 10 October 2024.
A Love for Poetry
Ahmed Aboutaleb is also a big fan of poetry, especially Arabic poetry. In June 2010, he shared some of the poems he had translated from Arabic during an international poetry festival in Rotterdam.
See also
In Spanish: Ahmed Aboutaleb para niños
