Mayor Jeroen Dijsselbloem (56) of the municipality of Eindhoven used to be a ‘rascal at school’, in his own words. He regularly had to report to the headmaster when he was expelled from class. He even stayed there for a year because he was too busy with other things. When he visits his old secondary school in Eindhoven, all kinds of memories come to mind.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem is back on the old nest. He was born here in Eindhoven. Here he spent much of his childhood. The brand new mayor is now getting acquainted with the city again. This week he also officially registered as a resident of Eindhoven.
The Eckart College played a major role in the phase in which he started to discover life. “Budding loves were here too,” he says with a smile. 37 years later, he briefly returns. By bike. The official car with driver is not for him. “I only do that if I have to be a little further away. The fastest way is by bicycle. You meet people along the way. You chat and people greet you.”
As he walks through the hallways of his old school, he points to a door. “This used to be the room of the rector and deputy principal. If you were sent out, you had to report here.”
“Jeroen was incredible. He could do anything.”
Dijsselbloem knows all about this. He also regularly had to visit the rector. “I was sometimes a rascal. I was very busy. Sometimes very stubborn. Then I got into a discussion with the teachers. I’ve been kicked out for talking too much in class. Sitting still all day was not my strength.”
In the cafeteria, a boy accosts him. “How do you feel about my having a 4.1 in history?” Then Dijsselbloem’s paternal side emerges for a moment. “Work harder, boy,” he says resolutely.
Yet Dijsselbloem himself did not always work hard to get high marks. His time went to the school theater and school cabaret. He sang, wrote lyrics and played types. Former teacher Jos van den Broek ran the student cabaret. “He was incredible. He could do everything. I was looking for those kinds of people.”
“It feels like coming home. Very familiar.”
Former teacher Wim Bressers led the school theater and goes one step further. According to him, a great actor has been lost to Dijsselbloem. “But I suspect that he has used these qualities he developed here multiple times in his career.” Dijsselbloem confirms this. “I was never afraid to be on stage. You already learn that.”
Dijsselbloem’s passion led to him staying put and having to do another year.” It took me seven years to complete the pre-university education. I was so busy with student cabaret. I had a cabaret group with a number of boys. We’ve been performing for about three years. It was quite a distraction from school work.”
Then he gets back on his bike. A normal bicycle, by the way, not an electric one. “It’s an old brikkie, but it still works very well.” While whistling, he goes to his next appointment. “It feels like coming home. Very familiar.”
Waiting for privacy settings…
