Christiaan "Chris" Arlman (26 February 1944 – 2 July 2008) was a Dutch politician of theLabour Party (PvdA). During 26 years he was the mayor of four different municipalities, and the chairman of two professional football clubs. He is noted for developing wellness tourism toNieuweschans, being the first mayor of a unitedPekela, for expanding the sea port ofHarlingen, and for handling major budget crises atBV Veendam andCambuur Leeuwarden.[1][2][3]
In 1963 Arlman started his career as a civil servant at theLeeuwarden municipality. In 1967 he became deputy manager of general affairs inWinterswijk.
In 1971 Arlman was appointed as manager of general affairs ofHeiloo. His last plain employee position was deputy municipality manager ofMenaldumadeel.[4]
1981–1988: Mayor of Nieuweschans and Pekela; Chairman of BV Veendam
In 1981 Arlman leaped to the positions of mayor and municipality manager ofNieuweschans.[4] From Nieuweschans, Arlman gained national publicity by developing internationalspa tourism to the tiny community.[5][6][7][8] His interest in tourism landed him in 1986 also on the position of chairman of the Danish-German-Dutch Green Coastal Road.[9][10]
In 1990 Arlman became the first mayor ofPekela, unitingOude Pekela andNieuwe Pekela. From 1 January 1992, he doubled as chairman of the professional football clubBV Veendam.[11][12][13] The seven-year chairmanship of Veendam was marked by severe budget crises, yet Arlman managed to keep the paid football going.[2][14][15]
1988–2006: Mayor of Harlingen; Chairman of SC Cambuur
In 1998, Arlman became the mayor of theCity of Harlingen. As a mayor, he pushed to widen theN31 highway, connecting Harlingen and theAfsluitdijk.[16][17][18] Arlman's term as mayor had a strong focus on the development of Harlingen's sea port.[19][20][21]
In June 2006, at his retirement as Mayor of Harlingen,[26] he was made knight in theOrder of Orange-Nassau for his contributions at expanding the harbor.[27] After retirement, Arlman replaced Else Boutkan as chairman of the Blue Peter Foundation. During 2007, he was called back from retirement to act as mayor ofBellingwedde.[28] Blue Peter folded after Arlman's death in 2008.
Christiaan Arlman was born inMeppel on 26 February 1944. He graduated from aHBS high school inSneek.
Chris Arlman married Liesbeth Landman in 1965, inSneek. The couple had three children.
On 2 July 2008, at the age of 64, Chris Arlman suffered a heart attack at the EendrachtFrisian handball association in Harlingen.[1] He was transferred to theMedical Center Leeuwarden, where he died later that day.[1]
Arlman, Chris. 2000. "De uitreiking van de Anton Wachterprijs. Geplande maar door afwezigheid van de prijswinnaar niet uitgesproken toespraak van burgemeester Chris Arlman van Harlingen. Anton Wachterprijs 21 oktober 2000." [The awarding of the Anton Wachter Prize. Scheduled but in the absence of the prize winner unspoken speech by Mayor Chris Arlman of Harlingen. Anton Wachter Prize 21 October 2000.]Vestdijkkroniek. Pages 49–50.
