Jan Geersing
Born(1940-07-30)30 July 1940
Leutingewolde, Netherlands
Died17 February 2021(2021-02-17) (aged 80)
Zuidhorn, Netherlands
NationalityDutch
Occupation(s)politician, educator
school administrator

Jan Geersing (30 July 1940 – 17 February 2021) was a Dutch politician of the Reformed Political League and later Christian Union,[1][2][3] who served as a member of the Friesland Parliament and as Mayor of Ferwerderadeel.

Early life and career in education

Jan Geersing was born in the village of Leutingewolde, Drenthe to a mother from Friesland and a father from Drenthe. He spoke West Frisian and Dutch from early childhood and studied Latin and Ancient Greek at the University of Groningen. In the early 1960s, he was a teacher of classical languages at Grotius College Heerlen, the only Protestant high school in Limburg, Netherlands. In 1966, he became a teacher of classical languages at of the Leeuwarden Christian Gymnasium, Christelijk Gymnasium Beyers Naudé. In 1981, he became its vice principal.[4]

Political career

Counselor and Friesland Parliament Member

Geersing became politically active, initially alongside his career in education. He was chairman of the council in Ferwerderadeel. He also became chairman of the Reformed Political League (GPV) Friesland Provincial Contact Council, the body that connected local and provincial politics.

In 1978 and 1982, he was ranked 5th and 6th respectively on the provincial state elections list of the GPV in Friesland. In the 1978 elections, Gerrit Gerritsma, until then the only GPV Provincial Council Member in Friesland, was not re-elected. In 1982 the GPV member Pieter Cnossen became a one-man faction in the States. After Cnossen stepped down prematurely in 1984, the GPV candidates who had been above Geersing on the list renounced becoming parliament members, paving the way for Geersing to become a Member of the Provincial Council of Friesland.[5][6]

Mayor of Ferwerderadeel

On August 1, 1988, Geersing became the Mayor of Ferwerderadeel. At that time there was only one additional GPV mayor in the Netherlands[7] (Bert Groen, who was the mayor of Bunschoten). In Ferwerderadeel, Geersing became the first GPV mayor after 80 years of mayors of the Christian Democratic Appeal and its predecessors.[8] While being mayor of Ferwerderadeel, Geersing was also a longtime chairman of the Fryske Akademy[1][2][4] member of the Elfstedentocht Commission,[9] and chairman of the regional garbage processing plant. In 1998, the chain of office and hammer of the mayor were stolen were by an angry houseboat owner.[10] In 2000, Geersing and his peers in Groningen and Friesland prepared for brothels leaving the cities and entering rural space.[11] In August 2001 he retired as mayor of Ferwerderadeel.

Later life, recognition and death

Geersing was awarded a royal decoration and a pin of merit of the municipality of Ferwerderadiel.[1][2]

In his retirement, Geesink edited Code: HC1, a book by Sijbren van der Velde on Dutch World War II resistance.[12]

Geersing died in Zuidhorn on 17 February 2021, aged 80.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Tierant, Tim. "Oud-burgemeester Geersing van Ferwerderadiel overleden" [Former mayor Geersing of Ferwerderadiel died]. Leeuwarder Courant. p. 26 – via De Krant van Toen.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "In memoriam: oud-burgemeester Jan Geersing (Ferwerderadiel)" [In memoriam: former mayor Jan Geersing (Ferwerderadiel)]. Weekblad Actief.
  3. ↑ "Oud-burgemeester Geersing (Ferwerderadiel) overleden". Friesch Dagblad. 26 February 2021. p. 18. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via De Krant van Toen.
  4. 1 2 "Ferwerderadeel krijgt GPV-burgemeester" [Ferwerderadeel gets a GPV mayor]. Reformatorisch Dagblad (in Dutch). 21 July 1988. p. 4. Retrieved 9 April 2021 – via Digibron.
  5. ↑ Veenhof, Herman (13 February 1987). "Het veldwerk van een Statenlid; Drs. Jan Geersing vindt behoud Fries heel belangrijk" [The fieldwork of a Provincial Council Member; Drs. Jan Geersing considers the preservation of Frisian very important"]. Nederlands Dagblad. p. 6. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via Delpher.
  6. ↑ Houtman, Wim; Veenhof, Herman (20 March 1987). "Positie kleine christelijke partijen wordt 'interessant'" [Position of small Christian parties becomes 'interesting']. Nederlands Dagblad. p. 8. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via Delpher.
  7. ↑ "Personalia". Trouw. Vol. 46, no. 13425. 21 July 1988. p. 2. Retrieved 10 April 2021 – via Delpher.
  8. ↑ "Drs. Jan Geersing geïnstalleerd in Ferwerderadeel; Kritiek uit raad op procedure: 'Het Haagse mandje is goed lek'". Leeuwarder Courant. 5 August 1988. p. 13. Retrieved 11 April 2021 – via Delpher.
  9. ↑ Akinci, Orkun (4 January 1997). "Na elf jaar wordt vandaag opnieuw de Elfstedentocht verreden" [After eleven years, the Elfstedentocht will be held again today]. NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  10. ↑ "Friese burgemeester weigert nieuwe hamer". Reformatorisch Dagblad. 2 September 1998. p. 9 – via Digibron.
  11. ↑ "Wachten op de eerste rechtszaak; Noordelijke gemeenten creatief in bordeelbeleid". Reformatorisch Dagblad. 29 September 2000. p. 11.
  12. ↑ "'De boel moat wol draaiende bliuwe'". Nieuwsblad van Noordoost Friesland. p. 5 – via De Krant van Toen.
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