After graduating from the secondary school Baudartius College in Zutphen in 1967, Jorritsma attended the School for Tourist Training (School voor Toeristische Vorming) in Breda. She also followed a French teacher training course (which she did not complete) and various politically oriented courses.[3]
Jorritsma remained in active in national politics, in February 2003 she was appointed as acting Mayor of Delfzijl, taking office on 11 February 2003. In August 2003 she was nominated as Mayor of Almere, she resigned as acting Mayor of Delfzijl the same day she was installed as Mayor of Almere, serving from 16 August 2003 until 9 September 2015. Jorritsma also became active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (PricewaterhouseCoopers, Equens, Alliander, Association of Participation Companies and Recruit Global Staffing). Jorritsma also served as chairwoman of the executive board of the Association of Municipalities from 1 May 2008 until 3 June 2015. Jorritsma was elected as a Member of the Senate after the Senate election of 2015, taking office on 9 June 2015 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Infrastructure and Water Management. Jorritsma was selected as Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the Senate following the resignation of Loek Hermans, taking office on 24 November 2015.[citation needed]
Bold also signifies the President
Brackets () signifies a temporary absent member Italics signifies a temporary member <> signifies a member who prematurely left this Senate