Sjoerd Vening Meinesz

Sjoerd Anne Vening Meinesz came from Friesland. He was born in Harlingen on 20 February 1833, and his mother died four days after his birth. He studied law in Amsterdam and Leiden and then went into journalism. From 1860 to 1866 he was editor-in-chief of the Algemeen Handelsblad, one of the country's leading newspapers.

A forbidden marriage

In 1866 he joined Amsterdam's city council and in 1869 he became alderman for finance. In 1872 he had to step down as alderman because he married Cornelia den Tex, the daughter of mayor Cornelis den Tex. He then sat in the House of Representatives, and in 1881 became mayor of Rotterdam, a post he held for ten years.

Back in Amsterdam

On 15 October 1891 he became mayor of Amsterdam, the city where his father-in-law had held the same office. He governed with a firm hand. His years were a time of growth. On 1 May 1896 Amsterdam annexed a large part of the neighbouring municipality of Nieuwer-Amstel. The area around the Museumplein and the Concertgebouw, until then outside the city, became part of Amsterdam.

A high point came on 6 September 1898, when the young Queen Wilhelmina was inaugurated in the Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square. She walked under a canopy from the Royal Palace to the church, and the city was packed. In 1901 Vening Meinesz chaired the committee that organised the National Gift for her wedding.

The end of his term was less festive. Vening Meinesz resigned in 1901 because the Minister of the Interior gave him too little backing for his police policy. He left on 1 April 1901.

A famous son

Vening Meinesz remained a member of the Senate until his death. He died in Leusden on 26 December 1909. His son Felix Vening Meinesz became a world-famous geophysicist who devised a way to measure gravity at sea and did so aboard submarines. In Slotermeer you will find the Burgemeester Vening Meineszlaan.