1 hour Ago
A Promise She Had to Keep
The abseil wasn't a random stunt. Schouten had made a public pledge earlier this year that if voter turnout in Rotterdam's March municipal elections rose compared to the previous cycle, she would take the plunge from the towering structure. Turnout did climb, moving from 38.9 percent in 2022 to 40.7 percent this time around, so she kept her word.
There was a similar wager on the national stage. Prime Minister Rob Jetten had promised to join her on the descent if turnout nationwide also improved, and it did, rising from 51 percent to 53.7 percent. However, Jetten confirmed earlier this week that he would not be taking part after all, with officials citing a packed schedule that left no room for the jump.
Nerves, Trust, and a Cheering Crowd
Once she touched the ground safely, Schouten met with the reporters and onlookers who had gathered to watch. She admitted the whole experience had left her buzzing with adrenaline and said the support she received throughout made a real difference, describing the guidance from her team as reassuring and calming during a genuinely nerve-wracking moment.
She didn't shy away from admitting how frightened she felt, especially early on. According to her, the toughest part came at the very start, stepping off the platform positioned 100 meters above the ground. She explained that forcing your body to step off a ledge like that goes against every instinct, and that the hardest part was simply trusting that the rope would hold her weight once she committed to the movement.
Down below, the crowd erupted into applause and cheers the moment she came into view. Schouten later said she'd been so locked into concentrating on her own movements that she couldn't quite recall the exact instant she'd heard them, though she believed it happened right as she went over the edge. She said the reaction from the crowd felt warm and encouraging, and it stayed with her afterwards.
The Euromast itself stands 185 meters tall, making the mayor's fear-facing descent all the more dramatic given the height involved.
