Amsterdam mayor Job Cohen chosen second best mayor of the world

The mayor of Amsterdam, Job Cohen, has been chosen as number two of the world's best mayors. The contest was won by John So, the mayor of Melbourne, Australia.

Mayor Cohen was particularly praised for his policy after the assassination of the filmmaker Theo van Gogh, a few years ago, by a muslim radical. This murder caused tensions between muslims and other Amsterdammers, which Job Cohen addressed with calm and diplomacy.
Since the murder, the mayor has sought to bring together the capital’s immigrant communities to facilitate dialogue against extremism, both by and directed at Muslim immigrants, in order to maintain its famous reputation for tolerance and liberal attitudes.

In 2005 Job Cohen was the only Dutchman in a list of 'European Heroes', published by the magazine Time.

See also the City Mayors website.