Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands arrives earlier morning at his office for regular duties, with him is his chief of staff.
For those who may not know, Netherlands is an economic powerhouse ranked 16th in the world in terms of GDP. By all standards the country is rich YET the prime minister is NEVER driven in convoys.
In this shot video by the Dutch national Broadcaster, Prime Mister Rutter is seen arriving at his office and later in the evening going home on a bicycle. In the video the premier seen getting help to fix a minor technical hitch in his black mamba bicycle.
Even when he is on a state visit he always tries to maintain the tradition like in this video taken when he visited Israel.
In 2012, the Prime Minister Mark Rutte shocked the Iranian delegation when he arrived at work with a bicycle. Later the head of Iranian the police Sardar Esmail Ahmadi Moghadam, who was in the delegation told a local TV in Tehran how the Iranian delegation were ashamed when they saw a minister of a European country driving to his office on bicycle .
Watch the video the police boss narrating to Iranians how the Dutch prime minister rides a bicycle to work.
In Kenya, a poor country by all standards, not only are ministers driven around in big fuel guzzlers, they are often escorted by chase cars of more than two vehicles.
While the country is engaged in the discussion on the public wages, little is being asked on our penchant for using excessive state resources to carry out duties which would be lighter without such resources.
Kenya Today Team says
GOOD!
Anonymous says
good pa ksi tao sa knila
Khadga Rai says
Well, that is his great thought, personality and an example to all. Dutch government is said to have managed 20 cars for its prime minister. My hats off to the Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
coco says
…while romanian vice PM uses a full-on police convoy to go home at night from a restaurant – the motobike leading the convoy fell into a ditch due to bad weather and dim lighting…yeah he died
Anonymous says
It is very shameful and sad indeed. I am Romanian and things have to change. That’s why people are in the streets, they are fed up with all the corruption and abuse of power. I really hope this time around things will be different.
Bawar says
I’m Muhammad Bawar from Afghanistan,and i am living in Nederlands. And people are so polite and Also when i see something like this that prime Minister going to work by cycle. This something secret that you can see them country success,I love him a lot and respect him too. I love to send letter to Mr,Mark but i don’t
have addresse.
Best regards
Thanks.
bernadette says
The adress of Mark Rutte is:
Dienst Publiek en Communicatie (DPC) / Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid (WRR), Buitenhof 34, Den Haag
070 356 4249
Evelyn pincaro says
Amazed at what a president can do for his country. A humble strong and wise one indeed
Masud/ZM says
Politicians talk much,” we are for people”, but the Prime minister of The Netherlands proofs it by doing. Let there be light – let them internalize what Mark Rutte means it.
Joe M. Bellido says
Prime Minister Mark Rutte was blessed, not only by fame, but by God’s glorified PEACE in his heart and mind. Only those “NON-CORRUPT AND ABUSIVE OFFICIALS” can do such thing without fear. God bless PM Rutte..(from Philippines)
Richard Loh says
I have the highest respect for the Prime Minister of the Netherlands for LEADING BY EXAMPLE. He is truly a leader who practises what he preaches. The people of the Netherlands are indeed very fortunate to have such a pragmatic leader leading the country to peace and prosperity.
Anonymous says
Yes, African leaders should try to learn some of these things that could make our continent a better place to live. Most of our leaders lack humility and are very selfish. You see for a country like Kenya and Uganda, these leaders are not only moving in convoys, but also neglect the majority people. No descent infrastructure for those who walk and ride bicycles, for example. Are they really so invisible to them? I would expect them to atleast provide these facilities, even if they did not use them. The Dutch PM has always been my hero and I am trying my best to push the cycling agenda in Africa, beginning with Uganda. Great piece!
Liz dantes says
I have the highest respect for your Prime Minister. May his tribe increase.
Anonymous says
I’m Rajeshwaran from India
I’m greatly impressed by the act and I wonder whether a PM could do this. Really I wish to salute him by heart and wish to meet him once in a lifetime….. Hail the Man.
Japneet says
All this people saying orhers should leanr ummm if barack obama did this he would be dead if the indian prime minister did this he would be dead its a cultural thing were his life isnt in damger for some reason its shocking god bless him but anybwere else the prim minster would be killed
danquah randy says
am randy (aka)original from Ghana AHAFO NKASEIM am very glad for this dutch pm he was sent from above to help his people and this should be an act for African leaders expecialy Ghana our president johh dramani mahama is the worst prez ever had on earth his agenda is to creat loot and share fire burn u mahama learn from dis pm and live long africa leaders say no to corruption
Mark Rutte says
A fine propaganda lie. I bumped once into him in The Hague, and I can assure you, he is surrounded by hardcore security, even the very few occasions he takes a bicycle for a photoshoot. Indeed, even this bicycle session was just PR. Come to The Hague & see for yourself. :-D
peter says
?? Of course there is security. But i guess not much people in the world ‘bumped’ into their PM or president.
(bullet proof bicycle? )
SULMAN says
I AM IN PERSON A GREAT VOCAL OF USING BICYCLE. I MYSELF USE CYCLE FOR DAILY COMMUTE OF ABOUT 4 KM ON ROUTE BETWEEN OFFICE TO HOME IN UAE.
I AM GREATLY IMPRESSED BY PRIME MINISTER OF NETHERLAD, AND WISH WE WOULD HAVE SUCH HONEST AND GOD FEARING LEADERS IN FUTUER. SUCH LEADERS INDEED CAN NOURISH THE FUTUER OF NATIONS TO HEALTHY AND LEADING NATIONS…