Martin Zijlstra

Marten "Martin" Zijlstra (22 July 1944 – 10 December 2014) was a Dutch politician. He started his political career as member of the States of Groningen, serving between 1974 and 1978. Starting in 1977 he served as Mayor of Termunten for thirteen years. He was a member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands between 1989 and 2002 for the Labour Party and focused on interior affairs and defence policy. After his time as Representative he served two stints as acting mayor in Oldambt and Schiermonnikoog.

Career Zijlstra was born in Eenrum. He received his primary and secondary education in the village and then studied further at the Hogere Burgerschool in the city of Groningen. He served as non-commissioned officer at the Meteorological Service of the Royal Netherlands Air Force between 1961 and 1968. After his time with the armed forces he studied Dutch law at the University of Groningen between 1969 and 1977. While he was studying he worked at Akzo Zout Chemie between 1968 and 1973. Afterwards he worked four years at the municipality of Delfzijl. He served until 23 May 2002. In the same year he left the House of Representatives he served for one month in the municipal council of Delfzijl. And in 2011–2012 he served several months as mayor of Schiermonnikoog after the previous mayor stepped down. Zijlstra was also chairman of the , the Dutch institute for military veterans, between March 2003 and February 2011. He was characterized as a real inhabitant of the province of Groningen.