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Amsterdam council response to calls for Halsema’s dismissal

◆2 sources

Most parties in Amsterdam’s city council, excluding JA21 and Forum for Democracy, called on members of parliament to stop seeking Mayor Femke Halsema’s dismissal. Their response followed a motion by PVV parliamentarian Marjolein Faber asking the government to propose Halsema’s dismissal by the Crown, on the grounds that her conduct was not neutral.

The council parties said Halsema had acted under the Constitution and laws, and that the city council, rather than parliament, should assess whether she performs her duties properly. They said parliamentary motions seeking a mayor’s resignation put the independent office of mayor under pressure. JA21 did not join the response; its councillor Sytze Rijpkema said parliament could consider such motions because Amsterdam is the capital and the mayor’s actions can have national effects.

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Technology & Computing

Amsterdam leasehold IT system crisis

5 sources

Amsterdam’s replacement of its Hermes leasehold system with the NISE system has been delayed again and will not be completed in 2026. Hermes, which records leasehold rights and calculates and collects ground rent, has lost much of its technical support since October and can no longer be updated, increasing operational and security risks. The municipality is taking measures to keep it operating, including bringing in external support and reinforcing the project team, but Alderman Alexander Scholtes said he could not guarantee that residents would not be affected. Officials had identified early in the year that the transition could not proceed and that Hermes faced major risks, but Scholtes said he did not receive the external investigation’s findings until 19 October. He apologised after the city council had been told of delays in March but not of the acute risks, which were also omitted from an August progress report. During an urgent council debate, Scholtes disclosed that the problems could cost €20 million to €40 million. The municipality is examining options for NISE, including restarting it or building on usable work already completed, while maintaining Hermes remains necessary.