Paul Smeulders | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Smeulders in 2020 | |
| Member of theHouse of Representatives | |
| In office 6 June 2018 – 30 March 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Voortman |
| Alderman ofArnhem | |
| Assumed office 2022 | |
| Alderman ofHelmond | |
| In office 2014–2018 | |
| Member of theProvincial Council of North Brabant | |
| In office 2011–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Smeulders (1987-07-15)15 July 1987 (age 38) Helmond, Netherlands |
| Political party | GroenLinks |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician |
Paul Smeulders (Dutch pronunciation:[pʌulˈsmøːldərs]; born 15 July 1987) is a Dutch politician ofGroenLinks.
Born inHelmond, Smeulders studied public administration successively at theAvans University of Applied Sciences andTilburg University between 2004 and 2010. He worked as a public affairs adviser atVereniging Natuurmonumenten, and he became a member of theProvincial Council of North Brabant in 2011, serving as GroenLinks'sparliamentary leader.[1] Smeulders left the council in 2014 to becomealderman for finances, sustainability, and land in Helmond.[1][2]
He did not secure a seat in theHouse of Representatives in the2017 general election, but he was appointed to the body in June 2018 to succeedLinda Voortman.[3] Smeulders lost his bid forre-election in 2021, bringing his membership of the House to an end on 30 March.[4][5] He was appointed alderman for finances, housing, and refugees inArnhem the following year after having formed the municipality'sexecutive as(in)formateur.[2][6] He announced in 2024 that Arnhem would house 1,700asylum seekers for the next 30 years – 980 more than required by the national government – and he signaled that refugees were welcome.[7]
