Former minister and deputy prime minister Carola Schouten has been nominated to become the next mayor of Rotterdam.

ChristenUnie member Schouten will be the first female mayor the city has ever had and will be succeeding Ahmed Aboutaleb who is quitting the post after 15 years.

The prospective mayor, who has lived in Rotterdam for the last 30 years, is a candidate “who fits the profile for this city,” city councillor Ruud van der Velden said.

“We were looking for someone who would be open to anyone and who is accessible, stands with people and is someone who Rotterdammers recognise as one of their own. Schouten has a talent for bringing people together, including when there are great tensions in our city,” he told broadcaster NOS.

Schouten pipped 26 candidates to the post, including former minister Hugo de Jonge (CDA), who was health and education alderman in the city between 2010 and 2017.

De Jonge congratulated Schouten on X, saying “Fair is fair, I would have liked the job. But the city is in good hands with Carola”.

Schouten is expected to be sworn in as mayor on October 10.