Why did you choose the UvA? 

'The choice for the UvA was really a choice for Amsterdam. Coming from a 'village' (Wassenaar), the big city was very exciting: real life. It's also the step from high school to university that makes this phase memorable. Your mind opens up. You learn to think academically, and you get to do that all day long. Friendships are also important during this period. I met people back then who I still count among my best friends.'

What made an impression on you during your studies? 

'I remember the philosophy of science lectures by Kees Schuyt. He connected great philosophers with current developments and scientific insights. I thought at the time: how wonderful that there is so much to learn. You learn to look at the world and understand things you hadn’t seen before.' 

What drives you? 

'Equal opportunities. Everyone should have the chance to develop themselves, but not everyone starts from the same place. That means you have to invest unequally to create equal opportunities.'

'Take poverty, for example: 1 in 5 children in Amsterdam still grows up in poverty. In neighborhoods where poverty is high, parents struggle to make ends meet. Sometimes they work multiple jobs and live in poor housing with little outdoor space. The gap widens because these areas often suffer from a much greater shortage of teachers. In Amsterdam Nieuw-West, the teacher shortage is almost 30%; in the city centre, it's only 8%. That means 1 in 3 children in Nieuw-West doesn't have a permanent teacher, leading to lower-quality education. On top of the disadvantages these children already face, this means fewer chances to develop themselves.'

How do you want to make an impact? 

'In everything I do, both within my portfolio and beyond, I ask myself: how does this measure or step make opportunities in the city more fairly distributed?' 

'We want to preserve what makes Amsterdam unique: freedom. It’s a city that offers many opportunities and space to be yourself. But that’s under pressure from high housing prices, the city's growth and tourism. This limits people and leads to survival of the fittest. As a city government, you have to counterbalance this. It’s about freedom for all people. One person’s freedom should not limit another’s.'

'You have to acknowledge that inequality exists and that you need to invest more in certain neighborhoods to create equal outcomes. For example, Amsterdam gives more support to schools in Nieuw-West: teachers receive a higher allowance and are given more priority in the housing market. We’re doing everything we can to give the teachers there – and thus the students – equal opportunities. That also means investing more in the neighborhood: in housing for young people and in the safety of the area.'

What advice would you give to today’s students? 

'Enjoy this time! It’s a wonderful period. Enrich yourself with knowledge and friendships in this beautiful city. Don’t be afraid to have doubts: saying out loud that you don’t understand something has often been the foundation of great wisdom.'

'Also, realise that studying is a privilege. It’s a privilege to acquire knowledge. So think carefully about what you're going to do with it for society.'