Peter Heijkoop has served as Mayor of the Municipality of Leiden since 2024. Prior to this, he held the position of alderman and deputy mayor of Dordrecht from 2016 to 2024, where he was responsible for Employment and Income, Care and Welfare, the Labour Market, and Education.

As Mayor of Leiden, he proudly presides over a city held in high esteem across the globe for its scientific excellence and pioneering spirit. Mayor Heijkoop is a passionate ambassador for Leiden’s rich legacy as a city of knowledge and discovery and holds deep admiration for the groundbreaking work taking place at Leiden University, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), and the Leiden Bio Science Park. He takes particular pride in the revolutionary research and innovations being developed in Leiden—life-changing medicines and next-generation vaccines that are making a profound impact on global health.

At landmark events such as the Dutch Medicine Days 2025 at Corpus Oegstgeest, Mayor Heijkoop showcases Leiden as not only a historic seat of learning, but also as a dynamic innovation hub at the forefront of the Dutch and international life sciences sector.

Peter Heijkoop believes that Leiden’s world-class academic institutions and bioscience ecosystem play a pivotal role in addressing the major societal challenges of our time—through the power of knowledge, innovation, and collaboration