Hans Dijkstal
Henri Frans "Hans" Dijkstal (28 February 1943 – 9 May 2010) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and financial adviser.[1]
Hans Dijkstal | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hans Dijkstal in 1985 | |
| Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives | |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 23 May 2002 | |
| Preceded by | Frits Bolkestein |
| Succeeded by | Gerrit Zalm |
| Parliamentary group | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | |
| In office 30 July 1998 – 16 May 2002 | |
| Deputy | See list
|
| Preceded by | Frits Bolkestein |
| Succeeded by | Gerrit Zalm |
| Deputy Prime Minister | |
| In office 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 | |
| Prime Minister | Wim Kok |
| Preceded by | Wim Kok |
| Succeeded by | Els Borst Annemarie Jorritsma |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 | |
| Prime Minister | Wim Kok |
| Preceded by | Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta |
| Succeeded by | Bram Peper as Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 19 May 1998 – 1 September 2002 | |
| In office 30 July 1986 – 22 August 1994 | |
| In office 11 November 1982 – 3 June 1986 | |
| Parliamentary group | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Henri Frans Dijkstal 28 February 1943 Port Said, Egypt |
| Died | 9 May 2010 (aged 67) Wassenaar, Netherlands |
| Cause of death | Bone cancer |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1966) |
| Spouse(s) | Anneke Dijkstal
( m. 1966; |
| Children | 2 daughters and 1 son |
| Alma mater | University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Law) |
| Occupation | Politician · Financial adviser · Management consultant · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Teacher · Critic · Political pundit · Lobbyist · Activist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  |
| Branch/service | Royal Netherlands Air Force |
| Years of service | 1965–1967 (Conscription) 1967–1973 (Reserve) |
| Rank |  |
| Unit | Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen |
| Battles/wars | Cold War |
Dijkstal applied at the University of Amsterdam in March 1961 majoring in Law and obtaining an Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1964. Dijkstal was conscripted in the Royal Netherlands Air Force serving as a Lieutenant and was stationed at the Air Operations Control Station Nieuw-Milligen as an air traffic controller from April 1965 until May 1967. Dijkstal worked as a financial adviser, management consultant and civics teacher in Wassenaar from August 1967 until November 1982. Dijkstal served on the Municipal Council of Wassenaar from May 1974 until April 1986 and served as an Alderman in Wassenaar from March 1978 until July 1983.
Dijkstal became a Member of the House of Representatives after Wim van Eekelen was appointed as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Lubbers I after the election of 1982, serving from 11 November 1982 until 3 June 1986. Dijkstal returned as a Member of the House of Representatives after Ed Nijpels was appointed as Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the Cabinet Lubbers II after the election of 1986, taking office on 30 July 1986 serving as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for Petitions and the Citizen Initiatives and spokesperson for Minorities and Welfare. After the election of 1994 Dijkstal was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior in the Cabinet Kok I, taking office on 22 August 1994. After the election of 1998 Dijkstal returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 19 May 1998. Following the cabinet formation of 1998 Dijkstal per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post in the new cabinet, he was seen by the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy leadership as the favorite son to succeed Frits Bolkenstein as the next Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. In July 1998 the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader of the Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives Bolkenstein announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy leadership approached Dijkstal as his successor, Dijkstal accepted and became the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader, taking office on 30 July 1998. For the election of 2002 Dijkstal served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate). The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy suffered a big loss, losing 14 seats and now had 24 seats in the House of Representatives. On May 16, 2002 Dijkstal announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader taking responsibility for the defeat but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher until his resignation on 1 September 2002.
Dijkstal retired from national politics and 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 (Institute for Multiparty Democracy, International Institute of Social History, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Public Pension Funds APB and the Anne Frank Foundation) and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government (Council for Public Administration, Cadastre Agency and the Netherlands Film Fund) and as an advocate, lobbyist and activist for Social justice and Democracy.
Dijkstal was known for his abilities as a consensus builder and manager. Dijkstal continued to comment on political affairs until his death from bone cancer at the age of 67.[2]
Biography
Early life
Dijkstal was born in Port Said, Egypt, where his father and grandfather worked in shipping. He was able to speak fluent Arabic before moving to the Netherlands at age five. He made a career as financial advisor, taught management courses, and was council member for the city of Wassenaar and an alderman.
Politics
In 1982 he was first elected to the House of Representatives. He took over the leadership of the VVD faction from Frits Bolkestein in 1998. For the Dutch general election of 2002 he was the lijsttrekker (top candidate), Dijkstal and Ad Melkert the Party leader of the Labour Party were the front runners to become the next Prime Minister, but the unexpected arrival of Pim Fortuyn of Livable Netherlands (LN) and later the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF), turned the polls. Fortuyn blamed the problems in the country on the Purple cabinets (in which both Dijkstal and Melkert served as ministers). Fortuyn depicted Dijkstal and Melkert as two bureaucrats who didn't understand the feelings and problems among the population. After a heated campaign a mere days before the election, Fortuyn was assassinated in Hilversum. The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy suffered a big defeat in the election losing fourteen seats, Dijkstal accepted responsibility for the defeat and sequentially left national politics. He resigned as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives on 16 May 2002 and gave up his seat in the House of Representatives on 1 September 2002. But when his former party started taking a heavy stance on 'allochtonen' (immigrants and their children) he teamed up with former politicians from a wide range of other parties in protest, to strive for a more tolerant society, under the name "Een Land Een Samenleving" ('One Country One Society').[3][4]
Family
On 29 July 1966 he married Anneke Dijkstal and became the father of two daughters.[5]
Decorations
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 30 October 1998 | |
References
- (in Dutch) VVD'er Hans Dijkstal (67) overleden, NOS, 10 May 2010
- (in Dutch) Hans Dijkstal (67) overleden, Volkskrant, 10 May 2010
- (in Dutch) VVD trekt ten strijde tegen Fortuyn, Volkskrant, 18 March 2002
- (in Dutch) Het vrolijke, beminnelijke oliemannetje van Paars Archived 2012-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, NRC Handelsblad, 11 May 2002
- (in Dutch) Hans Dijkstal, Nova TV, 25 March 2004
- (in Dutch) Gesprek over de nieuwe Startrek-film Archived 2013-10-29 at the Wayback Machine, NOS, 4 May 2009
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hans Dijkstal. |
- Official
- (in Dutch) H.F. (Hans) Dijkstal Parlement & Politiek
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