Mayor of Almere (the Netherlands), President of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities, and Chair of the Municipal Alliance for Peace in the Middle East (MAP)

Annemarie Jorritsma started her political career as a Council member (1978-1989) in the city of Bolsward (the Netherlands) and served as a member of Parliament from 1982-1994. She then became Minister for Transport, Public Works and Water management and in 1998  Vice Prime-Minister and Minister of Economic Affairs. From 2002–2003 she was Member of Parliament again, before becoming the Mayor of first Delfzijl and then Almere.

Soon she was elected member of the Board of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG). As per 2008 she is the President of the VNG and the Chair of the Municipal Alliance for Peace in the Middle East (MAP).