Mark Rutte is going to live in a house worth 12 million

It is a matter of days before a little plume of white smoke will flutter to indicate that Mark Rutte will become the new Secretary-General of NATO. After Prime Minister Orbán shook the hand of our outgoing Prime Minister, it is now only up to Romania to give a nod of approval. That will be a small bump, as Romania has also nominated their own president as a candidate, but given the support Rutte has received from all countries, it seems just a matter of time before ‘our Mark’ becomes the new Secretary-General of NATO.

What does that exactly mean?
He leads the NATO staff, chairs meetings of the North Atlantic Council, and acts as the spokesperson for the alliance. He coordinates NATO's policy, which will be quite a challenge in these difficult times (think of Russia and Israel).

And what will he receive for that, or in other words: what’s in it for him?

– A salary of around €250,000 to €300,000, tax-free
So that's €25,000 net per month. And furthermore, he actually doesn't have to pay anything, as his housing is also covered. Knowing Rutte, he is only working and eats at the office or at the location where he needs to be at that moment.

– Housing costs
Mark Rutte will live in an official residence on Louizalaan in Brussels, which has a value of 12 million. He can bring all his own furniture and beloved Saab without having to pay import duties, BPM, or anything else. And, of course, the maintenance of the residence is also the responsibility of NATO.

– Can Mark ride a bike?
It could be possible since his house is just ten minutes biking distance from NATO headquarters, but for security reasons, it will very likely be advised against.

– A very nice office
In his office, everything is available. There is a coffee shop, a post office, a dry cleaner, and a shoemaker. And he could even use diplomatic mail. If he writes a letter, that letter is sealed and delivered by courier.

– Generous pension
He does not have to pay tax on his salary. Only 8 percent goes to a pension fund, and NATO will add another 12 percent on top of that.

– Bonus
After his departure, he is still entitled to one year’s salary as a bonus.

In the meantime, I look back with satisfaction on the day I managed to get Mark Rutte for our column Look of the Day. Oh, and this is what I once wrote to Mark Rutte during harsh corona times.

And as a little extra, just a bit of Kiki’s 10 unnecessary ridiculous facts about Mark Rutte.