Albert de Hoop gained prominence as mayor of the Dutch isle of Ameland by opting for sustainability.
This Wadden island is well on its way to becoming self-sufficient under Mr De Hoop’s administration. It will become one of the so-called ‘Substainable Islands’, named after the eponymous European project Ameland participates in. The island aims to be self-sufficient in terms of water and energy by the year 2020. Moreover, Ameland’s pristine beach attracted media attention when the Keep Holland Foundation labelled it the cleanest Dutch beach in 2007.