Joyce Sylvester, Mayor of Naarden

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Hat tip: Afro-Europe Blog

Joyce Sylvester (43) is acting mayor of the Dutch city of Naarden. She is the first black woman to serve as mayor in the Netherlands. Sylvester is born in Amsterdam and is of Surinam descent.

“Yes, I’ am a woman and I have a colour, so what? I have experienced no limitations because of that.” But during her first position as acting mayor she saw that gender and colour did matter. “You notice the signals from the organisation. You can’t escape the fact of being seen as role model.”

Listen to the full interview with Joyce Sylvester in Dutch.

Read Mayor Sylvester’s full C.V in Dutch.