Dutch cabinet nominates Milo Schoenmaker as Groningen safety committee chair

The Dutch cabinet has approved the nomination of Milo Schoenmaker as chair of the Advisory Committee on Safety in Groningen (ACVG), where he has served as interim chair since March 2026. His appointment will take effect by royal decree for a four-year term.

The nomination was made by the Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. Schoenmaker has held the interim role since March; the government says the nomination will keep him with the committee for a longer period.

Schoenmaker was mayor of Bussum from 2003 to 2012 and of Gouda from 2012 to 2019, after serving as an alderman in Haarlemmermeer. From 2019 to 2025, he chaired the board of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). He has also served as vice-chair of the Council for Public Administration, an advisory body to the government and parliament.

Alongside his ACVG role, Schoenmaker is preparing advice on the future of asylum and migration policy at the request of the Ministry of Justice and Security, working with ABDTOPConsult. That assignment is due to conclude at the end of 2026.