1. Gerardus Bernardus Maria "Gerd" Leers was born on 12 July 1951 and is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal party.
12 Facts About Gerd Leers
1. 2.
Gerd Leers is the acting Mayor of Brunssum since 1 January 2018.
3.
On 4 September 1990 Leers became a Member of the House of Representatives.
4.
Gerd Leers was a member of the permanent parliamentary commission for transport and water management.
5.
The political peak in his House of Representatives period was the Betuwe route, of which Gerd Leers was a strong proponent.
6.
Gerd Leers became Mayor of Maastricht on 1 February 2002 after Karl Dittrich withdrew his candidacy.
7.
Gerd Leers was a proponent for amnesty for declined asylum seekers.
8.
In late 2004 Gerd Leers was chosen as best mayor of the Netherlands.
9.
Gerd Leers gained attention for his attitude with respect to the policy on soft drugs.
10.
Gerd Leers criticised the tolerance policy that permits consumption and sale of marihuana and hashish, but prohibits its growing.
11.
Gerd Leers argued for legal production under government supervision, which would supposedly improve quality and therefore the public health.
12.
Gerd Leers proposed the construction of a "weed boulevard" on the south side of Maastricht, so that drugs tourists would no longer cause trouble in the city centre.