Former D66 leader Alexander Pechtold is to become the new mayor of Delft, replacing Marja van Bijsterveldt in September.

Pechtold (59) is currently head of the driving licence authority CBR. He was mayor of Wageningen from 2003 to 2005, before entering national politics as home affairs minister in 2005.

Pechtold was born in Delft, is divorced and has two children.

Former health and housing minister Hugo de Jonge also has a new role. He has been acting king’s commissioner in Zeeland since 2024, and that appointment is now to be made permanent.

De Jonge (47) had previously applied for the position of mayor of Rotterdam, a post that eventually went to Carola Schouten, who was farm minister in the previous government.