He was an incredibly popular mayor, and he suddenly passed away from cancer. Almost up until the very end, he remained dedicated to the city he loved so much. Dying in the line of duty, they call it. Eberhard van der Laan was beloved, but sometimes also feared. He could be tough when something didn’t sit right with him or when people were, in his eyes, talking nonsense. In a letter to the people of Amsterdam, he wrote: “Be good to our city and to each other.”
Especially in these times, when we sometimes lose sight of one another and shout from within our own bubbles, that’s an important reminder. Let’s take care of each other and listen to one another.
Oh, and the poster is from Amsterdam-East, and the door from Amsterdam-North. That’s fitting because Eberhard was the mayor for all Amsterdam citizens.