DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

13 October 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Election 2025
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Election 2025
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Video: Amsterdammers send a message to their sick mayor

May 29, 2017

Filmmaker Cláudio de Oliveira Marques has produced a short film of promises made by Amsterdammers to mayor Eberhard van der Laan, who revealed earlier this year that he is seriously ill with lung cancer.

The film was made by city film maker WeFilm and the entire team gave their services for free. ‘His human and realistic governing should be an example for many other politicians,’ WeFilm say on their website.

In the short film, celebrities, footballers, ordinary Amsterdammers and homeless people make a pledge to the mayor. ‘I promise I won’t come into contact with the police again,’ says one market trader. ‘I promise this city will stay as tolerant as it always has been,’ said a transvestite in bright blue eye shadow.

The mayor was not involved in the making of the film but was made aware that it was being put together. ‘I hope, if he watches it, that he will realise he is loved,’ De Oliveira Marques said. ‘And that perhaps it will give him the energy to remain our mayor for a little while longer.’

Unfortunately, we have been forced to disable comments on this item because of the large number which broke our guidelines.

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Uncategorized
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Dutch intervene in Chinese-owned chip firm over security fears
Antisemitic chanting and 29 arrests at Amsterdam far right demo
Sky-high airport prices putting budget travellers off Schiphol
Abducted woman returns home, police investigate drug link
Oranje show finishing power to take big step to World Cup finals
NewsHomeEconomyElection 2025Art and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you with up-to-date news about this month's Dutch general election.

Our thanks to everyone who donates regularly to Dutch News. It costs money to produce our daily news service, our original features and daily newsletters, and we could not do it without you.

If you have not yet made a donation, or did so a while ago, you can do so via these links

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now