List of ministers of defence of the Netherlands

The minister of defence (Dutch: Minister van Defensie) is the head of the Ministry of Defence and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The incumbent minister is Ruben Brekelmans of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) party who has been in office since 2 July 2024. Regularly, a state secretary is assigned to the ministry who is tasked with specific portfolios. The current state secretary is Gijs Tuinman of the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB) who also has been in office since 2 July 2024.

Minister of Defence of
the Netherlands
Minister van Defensie
Flag for the minister of defence
since 2 July 2024
Ministry of Defence
StyleHis/Her Excellency
Member ofCouncil of Ministers
AppointerThe Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
PrecursorMinister of War
Minister of the Navy
Formation1 September 1928 (historic)
7 August 1948 (current)
First holderJohan Lambooij [nl] (historic)
Kees Staf (current)
Final holderHendrik van Boeijen (historic)
Abolished27 July 1941 (historic)
DeputyGijs Tuinman
as State Secretary for Defence
Salary157,287 (As of 2017)
(including €4,193 of expenses)
WebsiteMinister of Defence

History

edit

Role

edit

List of ministers of defence

edit

1928–1941

edit
Minister of Defence Term of office Party Prime Minister
(Cabinet)
  Major
Johan Lambooij
(1874–1942)
1 September 1928 –
10 August 1929
Roman Catholic
State Party
Dirk Jan de Geer
(De Geer I)
[1]
  Dr.
Laurentius Nicolaas
Deckers

(1883–1978)
10 August 1929 –
2 September 1935
[Appt]
Roman Catholic
State Party
Charles Ruijs de
Beerenbrouck

(De Beerenbrouck III)
[2]
Hendrikus Colijn
(Colijn II)
[3]
Hendrikus Colijn
(Colijn III)
[4]
  Major
Dr.
Hendrikus Colijn
(Prime Minister)
(1869–1944)
2 September 1935 –
24 June 1937
Anti-Revolutionary Party
  Captain
Dr.
Jannes van Dijk
(1871–1954)
24 June 1937 –
10 August 1939
Anti-Revolutionary Party Hendrikus Colijn
(Colijn IVV)
[5][6]
  Major general
Adriaan Dijxhoorn
(1889–1953)
10 August 1939 –
12 June 1941
Independent
Liberal

(Conservative Liberal)
Dirk Jan de Geer
(De Geer II)
[7]
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy
(Gerbrandy I)
[8]
  Hendrik van Boeijen
(also Minister of the Interior)
(1889–1947)
12 June 1941 –
27 July 1941
[Ad interim]
Christian Historical Union

Since 1948

edit
Minister of War
and Navy
Term of office Party Prime Minister
(Cabinet)
  Captain
Wim Schokking
(1900–1960)
7 August 1948 –
16 October 1950
[Res]
Christian
Historical Union
Willem Drees
(Drees–
Van Schaik
)

[9]
  Hans s'Jacob
(1906–1967)
16 October 1950 –
15 March 1951
Independent
Christian Democratic
Protestant
  Kees Staf
(1905–1973)
15 March 1951 –
13 October 1956
Christian
Historical Union
Willem Drees
(Drees III)
[10][11]
Minister of Defence Term of office Party Prime Minister
(Cabinet)
  Kees Staf
(1905–1973)
13 October 1956 –
19 May 1959
[Minister]
Christian
Historical Union
Willem Drees
(Drees III)
[12]
Louis Beel
(Beel II)
[13]
  Major general
Sidney J. van
den Bergh

(1898–1977)
19 May 1959 –
1 August 1959
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Jan de Quay
(De Quay)
[14]
  Dr.
Jan de Quay
(Prime Minister)
(1901–1985)
1 August 1959 –
4 September 1959
[Acting]
Catholic
People's Party
  Sim Visser
(1908–1983)
4 September 1959 –
24 July 1963
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
  Captain
Piet de Jong
(1915–2016)
24 July 1963 –
5 April 1967
Catholic
People's Party
Victor Marijnen
(Marijnen)
[15]
Jo Cals
(Cals)
[16]
Jelle Zijlstra
(Zijlstra)
[17]
  Lieutenant general
Willem den Toom
(1911–1998)
5 April 1967 –
6 July 1971
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Piet de Jong
(De Jong)
[18]
  Hans de Koster
(1914–1992)
6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Barend Biesheuvel
(Biesheuvel III)
[19]
  Henk Vredeling
(1924–2007)
11 May 1973 –
1 January 1977
[App]
Labour Party Joop den Uyl
(Den Uyl)
[20]
  Captain
Bram Stemerdink
(born 1936)
1 January 1977 –
19 December 1977
Labour Party
  Dr.
Roelof Kruisinga
(1922–2012)
19 December 1977 –
4 March 1978
[Res]
Christian
Historical Union
Dries van Agt
(Van Agt I)
[21]
  Jan de Koning
(1926–1994)
4 March 1978 –
8 March 1978
[Ad Interim] [Minister]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
  Willem Scholten
(1927–2005)
8 March 1978 –
25 August 1980
[App]
Christian
Historical Union
  Captain
Pieter de Geus
(1929–2004)
25 August 1980 –
11 September 1981
Christian
Historical Union
Christian
Democratic Appeal
  Hans van Mierlo
(1931–2010)
11 September 1981 –
4 November 1982
Democrats 66 Dries van Agt
(Van Agt IIIII)
[22][23]
  Dr.
Job de Ruiter
(1930–2015)
4 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers I)
[24]
  Dr.
Wim van Eekelen
(born 1931)
14 July 1986 –
6 September 1988
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers II)
[25]
  Piet Bukman
(1934–2022)
6 September 1988 –
24 September 1988
[Ad Interim] [Minister]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
  Frits Bolkestein
(born 1933)
24 September 1988 –
7 November 1989
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
  Relus ter Beek
(1944–2008)
7 November 1989 –
6 February 1991
[Note]
Labour Party Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers III)
[26]
  Jan Pronk
(born 1940)
6 February 1991 –
3 March 1991
[Acting] [Minister]
Labour Party
  Relus ter Beek
(1944–2008)
3 March 1991 –
22 August 1994
Labour Party
  Dr.
Joris Voorhoeve
(born 1945)
22 August 1994 –
3 August 1998
[Minister]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Wim Kok
(Kok I)
[27]
  Frank de Grave
(born 1955)
3 August 1998 –
22 July 2002
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Wim Kok
(Kok II)
[28]
  Benk Korthals
(born 1944)
22 July 2002 –
12 December 2002
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Jan Peter
Balkenende

(Balkenende I)
[29]
  Henk Kamp
(born 1952)
12 December 2002 –
22 February 2007
[Minister]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Jan Peter
Balkenende

(Balkenende IIIII)
[30][31]
  Eimert van
Middelkoop

(born 1949)
22 February 2007 –
14 October 2010
[Minister]
Christian Union Jan Peter
Balkenende

(Balkenende IV)
[32]
  Hans Hillen
(born 1947)
14 October 2010 –
5 November 2012
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Mark Rutte
(Rutte I)
[33]
  Commander
Jeanine Hennis-
Plasschaert

(born 1973)
5 November 2012 –
4 October 2017
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Mark Rutte
(Rutte II)
[34]
  Dr.
Klaas Dijkhoff
(born 1981)
4 October 2017 –
26 October 2017
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
  Ank Bijleveld
(born 1962)
26 October 2017 –
17 September 2021
[Res]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Mark Rutte
(Rutte III)
[35]
  Dr.
Ferdinand
Grapperhaus

(born 1959)
17 September 2021 –
24 September 2021
[Acting] [Minister]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
  Henk Kamp
(born 1952)
24 September 2021 –
10 January 2022
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
  Jonkvrouw
Kajsa Ollongren
(born 1967)
10 January 2022 –
2 July 2024
Democrats 66 Mark Rutte
(Rutte IV)
[36]
  Ruben Brekelmans
(born 1986)
2 July 2024 –
Incumbent
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dick Schoof
(Schoof)
[37]
Resigned
Acting
Ad Interim
Medical leave of absence from 6 February 1991 until 3 March 1991
Appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
Appointed as European Commissioner
Appointed as Vice-President of the Council of State
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies from 22 December 1958
Minister for Development Cooperation
Minister for Kingdom Relations
Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment until 27 May 2003
Minister without Portfolio for Housing from 23 February 2010
Minister of Justice and Security

List of state secretaries for defence

edit
State Secretary for
Defence
Portfolio(s) Term of office Party Prime Minister
(Cabinet)
  Vice admiral
Harry Moorman
(1899–1971)
Navy 1 May 1949 –
27 November 1950
Catholic
People's Party
Willem Drees
(Drees–Van Schaik
Drees I)

[9][10]
Army
Navy
Air Force
27 November 1950 –
1 June 1951
Navy 1 June 1951 –
19 May 1959
Willem Drees
(Drees IIIII)
[11][12]
Louis Beel
(Beel II)
[13]
  Wim Fockema
Andreae

(1909–1996)
Army
Air Force
1 May 1949 –
27 November 1950
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Willem Drees
(Drees–Van Schaik)
[9]
  Ferdinand
Kranenburg

(1911–1994)
Army
Air Force
1 June 1951 –
1 June 1958
[Res]
Labour Party Willem Drees
(Drees III)
[10][11]
Willem Drees
(Drees III)
[12]
  Meine van Veen
(1893–1970)
25 October 1958 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
  Lieutenant general
Michael Calmeyer
(1895–1990)
Army
Air Force
19 June 1959 –
24 July 1963
Christian
Historical Union
Jan de Quay
(De Quay)
[14]
  Captain
Piet de Jong
(1915–2016)
Navy 25 June 1959 –
24 July 1963
Catholic
People's Party
  Vice admiral
Adri van Es
(1913–1994)
Navy 14 August 1963 –
6 July 1971
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Victor Marijnen
(Marijnen) [15]
Jo Cals
(Cals) [16]
Jelle Zijlstra
(Zijlstra) [17]
Piet de Jong
(De Jong) [18]
• Human
Resources
Equipment
6 July 1971 –
16 September 1972
[Res]
Barend Biesheuvel
(Biesheuvel III) [19]
  Brigadier general
Joop Haex
(1911–2002)
Army 14 August 1963 –
14 April 1965
Christian
Historical Union
Victor Marijnen
(Marijnen)
[15]
  Major general
Willem den Toom
(1911–1998)
Air Force 25 November 1963 –
14 April 1965
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
  Gerard
Peijnenburg

(1919–2000)
Army 13 May 1965 –
5 April 1967
Independent
Christian Democratic
Catholic
Jo Cals
(Cals)
[16]
Jelle Zijlstra
(Zijlstra)
[17]
  Colonel
Jan Borghouts
(1910–1966)
Air Force 12 July 1965 –
5 February 1966
[Died]
Catholic
People's Party
Jo Cals
(Cals)
[16]
  Lieutenant general
Heije Schaper
(1906–1996)
22 June 1966 –
5 April 1967
Independent
Conservative Liberal
Jelle Zijlstra
(Zijlstra)
[17]
  Major general
Joop Haex
(1911–2002)
Army 18 April 1967 –
6 July 1971
Christian
Historical Union
Piet de Jong
(De Jong)
[18]
  Bob Duynstee
(1920–2014)
Air Force 28 April 1967 –
6 July 1971
Catholic
People's Party
  Joep
Mommersteeg

(1917–1991)
• Human
Resources
11 May 1973 –
1 March 1974
[Res]
Catholic
People's Party
Joop den Uyl
(Den Uyl)
[20]
  Brigadier general
Cees van Lent
(1922–2000)
11 March 1974 –
11 September 1981
Catholic
People's Party
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Dries van Agt
(Van Agt I)
[21]
  Captain
Bram Stemerdink
(born 1936)
Equipment
Justice
11 May 1973 –
1 January 1977
[App]
Labour Party Joop den Uyl
(Den Uyl)
[20]
  Dr.
Wim van Eekelen
(born 1931)
Equipment
Justice
20 January 1978 –
11 September 1981
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dries van Agt
(Van Agt I)
[21]
  Captain
Bram Stemerdink
(born 1936)
Equipment
Justice
11 September 1981 –
29 May 1982
[Res]
Labour Party Dries van Agt
(Van Agt II)
[22]
  Jan van
Houwelingen

(1939–2013)
• Human
Resources
14 September 1981 –
7 November 1989
Christian
Democratic Appeal
• Human
Resources
Equipment
Dries van Agt
(Van Agt III)
[23]
Equipment Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers I)
[24]
• Human
Resources
Equipment
Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers II)
[25]
  Charl Schwietert
(born 1943)
• Human
Resources
8 November 1982 –
11 November 1982
[Res]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers I)
[24]
  Willem Hoekzema
(born 1939)
19 November 1982 –
14 July 1986
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
  Baron
Berend-Jan van
Voorst tot Voorst

(1944–2023)
• Human
Resources
Equipment
Justice
7 November 1989 –
1 June 1993
[App]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Ruud Lubbers
(Lubbers III)
[26]
  Lieutenant colonel
Ton Frinking
(1931–2022)
1 June 1993 –
22 August 1994
Christian
Democratic Appeal
  Lieutenant
commander

Jan Gmelich
Meijling

(1936–2012)
• Human
Resources
Equipment
22 August 1994 –
3 August 1998
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Wim Kok
(Kok I)
[27]
  Commander
Henk van Hoof
(born 1947)
• Human
Resources
Equipment
3 August 1998 –
22 July 2002
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Wim Kok
(Kok II)
[28]
  Cees van
der Knaap

(born 1951)
Human
Resources

Military
Administration

Equipment
22 July 2002 –
18 December 2007
[App]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Jan Peter
Balkenende

(Balkenende
I
IIIII)

[29][30][31]
Jan Peter
Balkenende

(Balkenende IV)
[32]
  Lieutenant
Jack de Vries
(born 1968)
18 December 2007 –
18 May 2010
[Res]
Christian
Democratic Appeal
Vacant
  Barbara Visser
(born 1977)
Human
Resources

Military
Administration

Equipment
26 October 2017 –
31 August 2021
[App]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Mark Rutte
(Rutte III)
[35]
  Christophe
van der Maat

(born 1980)
Human
Resources

Military
Administration

Equipment
10 January 2022 –
2 July 2024
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Mark Rutte
(Rutte IV)
[36]
  Lieutenant Colonel
Gijs Tuinman
(born 1979)
Human
Resources

Military
Administration

Equipment
2 July 2024 –
Incumbent
Farmer–Citizen
Movement
Dick Schoof
(Schoof)
[37]
Resigned
Died in Office
Appointed as Minister of Defence
Appointed as Queen's Commissioner of Limburg
Appointed as Mayor of Ede
Appointed as Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Kabinet-De Geer I". DeGeerI. Parlement & Politiek.
  2. ^ "Kabinet-Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III". RuijsdeBeerenbrouckIII. Parlement & Politiek.
  3. ^ "Kabinet-Colijn II". ColijnII. Parlement & Politiek.
  4. ^ "Kabinet-Colijn III". ColijnIII. Parlement & Politiek.
  5. ^ "Kabinet-Colijn IV". ColijnIV. Parlement & Politiek.
  6. ^ "Kabinet-Colijn V". ColijnV. Parlement & Politiek.
  7. ^ "Kabinet-De Geer II". DeGeerII. Parlement & Politiek.
  8. ^ "Kabinet-Gerbrandy I / II". GerbrandyI/II. Parlement & Politiek.
  9. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Drees-Van Schaik". DreesVanSchaik. Rijksoverheid.
  10. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Drees I". DreesI. Rijksoverheid.
  11. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Drees II". DreesII. Rijksoverheid.
  12. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Drees III". DreeslII. Rijksoverheid.
  13. ^ a b "Kabinet-Beel II". BeelII. Rijksoverheid.
  14. ^ a b "Kabinet-De Quay". DeQuay. Rijksoverheid.
  15. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Marijnen". Marijnen. Rijksoverheid.
  16. ^ a b c d "Kabinet-Cals". Cals. Rijksoverheid.
  17. ^ a b c d "Kabinet-Zijlstra". Zijlstra. Rijksoverheid.
  18. ^ a b c "Kabinet-De Jong". DeJong. Rijksoverheid.
  19. ^ a b "Kabinet-Biesheuvel". Biesheuvel. Rijksoverheid.
  20. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Den Uyl". DenUyl. Rijksoverheid.
  21. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Van Agt I". VanAgtI. Rijksoverheid.
  22. ^ a b "Kabinet-Van Agt II". VanAgtII. Rijksoverheid.
  23. ^ a b "Kabinet-Van Agt III". VanAgtIII. Rijksoverheid.
  24. ^ a b c "Kabinet-Lubbers I". LubbersI. Rijksoverheid.
  25. ^ a b "Kabinet-Lubbers II". LubbersII. Rijksoverheid.
  26. ^ a b "Kabinet-Lubbers III". LubbersIII. Rijksoverheid.
  27. ^ a b "Kabinet-Kok I". KokI. Rijksoverheid.
  28. ^ a b "Kabinet-Kok II". KokII. Rijksoverheid.
  29. ^ a b "Kabinet-Balkenende I". BalkenendeI. Rijksoverheid.
  30. ^ a b "Kabinet-Balkenende II". BalkenendeII. Rijksoverheid.
  31. ^ a b "Kabinet-Balkenende III". BalkenendeIII. Rijksoverheid.
  32. ^ a b "Kabinet-Balkenende IV". BalkenendeIV. Rijksoverheid.
  33. ^ "Kabinet-Rutte-Verhagen". RutteI. Rijksoverheid.
  34. ^ "Kabinet-Rutte-Asscher". RutteII. Rijksoverheid.
  35. ^ a b "Kabinet-Rutte III". RutteIII. Rijksoverheid.
  36. ^ a b "Kabinet-Rutte IV". RutteIV. Rijksoverheid.
  37. ^ a b "Kabinet-Schoof". Schoof. Rijksoverheid.