King’s commissioner for Noord Holland Johan Remkes has announced that 29 candidates have come forward for the position of mayor of Amsterdam.

Of the 29, nine are women, with four of the candidates holding full-time public functions and and 18 in jobs in the private sector. It is not known what jobs, if any, the other seven hold.

Former GroenLinks leader Femke Halsema is thought by commentators to be the front runner, although according to insiders quoted by the NRC ‘it is by no means a done deal’.

GroenLinks is the largest party on the city council and the main party leaders are all keen to see a woman get the job.

Mayors are not chosen by direct vote in the Netherlands. The council draws up a shortlist based on open applications and then the king’s commissioner in Noord Holland will interview the candidates in May.

The full council then debates the commissioner’s findings and picks its front-runner. if all goes according to plan, the new mayor will then be formally appointed by the king, and sworn in on July 5.