Bidding Farewell to Mayor Richard Korteland After Nearly Eight Years of Service
Mayor Richard Korteland bid farewell to the city of Meppel after almost eight years of dedicated service. The Drenthe Commissioner of the King, Jetta Klijnsma, shared warm words for Korteland during his farewell ceremony. She mentioned how Meppel had to adjust to the rather punctual mayor, who introduced a new motto in the city hall: ‘just do it’. This motto reflected Korteland’s punctual and decisive way of working.
Several speakers highlighted Korteland’s contributions to Meppel, including his efforts in lobbying for the Zwolle region and resolving transportation issues in Meppel. Described as always wearing a tie, well-dressed, slightly formal, and very keen on following the correct procedures, Korteland was known for his attention to detail. Wethouder Klaas de Vries shared a humorous anecdote about Korteland ordering a white sandwich ‘with a meatball and a side of peanut sauce separately’. It turned out, he just wanted a ‘Dikke Sjonnie met saté’!
Marco Out, the Mayor of Assen, praised Korteland for his fearless and autonomous nature. Out noted that Korteland is the third mayor in the southwest of Drenthe to move on to new opportunities, with Korteland becoming the mayor of Almelo. While acknowledging the inevitability of Korteland’s departure, Out emphasized that his successor will have big shoes to fill.
Expressing his gratitude, Korteland thanked the city council for their support and the opportunity to lead debates based on substance. He also expressed his appreciation for Meppel, describing it as a beautiful city to serve as mayor. He encouraged the residents to continue celebrating the city’s wonderful events and thanked them for allowing him to be their mayor.
As Mayor Korteland moves on to new challenges in Almelo, Meppel reflects on his legacy and the impact he has had on the city during his tenure. His dedication to public service and commitment to improving the community will be remembered as Meppel welcomes a new leader to continue the progress made under Korteland’s leadership.