Several possible candidates for the job of Rotterdam mayor do not want to be considered for the position because it does not pay enough, says Thursday’s Volkskrant.

The remark came from Jan Franssen, queen’s commissioner for the province of South Holland. The mayor of Rotterdam earns just under €140,00 a year.
Labour MP Pierre Heijnen told the paper Franssen is sending the wrong signal. ‘Mayors of large cities and queen’s commissioners receive a decent salary,’ he said.
Under the so-called ‘Balkenende norm’ no public servant should earn more than prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, who is paid €171,000 a year.