VVD senator Pauline Krikke is set to be appointed as the new mayor of The Hague, replacing Jozias van Aartsen who will leave the job in March.

Krikke, 55, served as mayor of Arnhem from 2001 to 2013. Before that, she was an alderman in Amsterdam. She is currently a senator for the right-wing Liberal VVD, having stood down as director of Amsterdam’s maritime museum after a conflict with the board.

‘The Hague is known for the parliamentary complex, the embassies and the Council of State, but I see more than half a million locals and I would be happy to be their mayor,’ she told local broadcaster Omroep West.

Eleven people, including two women, had applied for the job after Van Aartsen announced he is leaving early.

The city council voted on Monday night to make Krikke’s candidacy official. Her name will now be put forward to king Willem-Alexander, who technically makes the appointments.