Taroudant - Moroccan-born Ahmed Aboutaleb, Mayor of Rotterdam, Holland's second largest city, has been named by the editors of Elsevier, Dutch weekly news magazine, the Dutchman of the Year for 2014.
The magazine announced the nomination of Aboutaleb on Tuesday at City Hall in Rotterdam.
According to the editors of Elsevier, the Moroccan born politician, of the left-leaning Labour Party, is “the face of the city that was often in the news for exceptionally positive reasons, even internationally.”
Chief Editor of Elsevier Arendo Joustra said that Aboutaleb, 53, behaved this year “as a mayor like a mayor is supposed to be”
The Rotterdam city council described Aboutaleb as "an inspiration to all Rotterdam residents."
The Moroccan-born politician has served his second home positively.
'' With structures like the Central Station and the Market Hall, Rotterdam this year attracted worldwide attention and changed the city's reputation positively,” says the magazine
The Magazine praised the effort of Aboutaleb in making the city appears this year in “good lists” after it “figured for years on wrong lists.”
The photo of Aboutaleb on the cover of Elsevier, the Netherlands' most popular news magazine, was shared widely on twitter with statements that praise the man’s positive impact on the city of Rotterdam.