Last year, the Ministry of the Interior started an investigation into why it is so difficult for some municipalities to find a mayor. The number of applicants has been declining for years and in 2023 the average number of applicants fell to a low point. An average of eighteen candidates applied for each vacancy. In some municipalities in the country the procedure was stopped because there were too few suitable applicants. Like in Bunschoten.
Utrecht mayoral posts are in demand, with many applications for vacancies
