Minister of State (Netherlands)

The Minister of State (Dutch: Minister van Staat) is an honorary title in the Netherlands. The title is formally granted together with the style Excellency, by the Monarch, but on the initiative of the cabinet of the Netherlands. It is given on a personal basis, for life rather than for a specified period. The title is granted for exceptional merits, generally to senior politicians at the end of their party career. Ministers of state are often former cabinet members or party leaders. Ministers of State advise the Sovereign in delicate situations, with moral authority but without formal competence.

List of current Ministers of State

Minister of State Portrait Former Position(s) Party Since Time
Ruud Lubbers Minister of Economic Affairs
Prime Minister
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees		 Christian Democratic Appeal January 31, 1995 &1000000000000001700000017 years, &1000000000000003800000038 days
Frits Korthals Altes Minister of Justice
Minister of the Interior
President of the Senate		 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy October 26, 2001 &1000000000000001000000010 years, &10000000000000135000000135 days
Jos van Kemenade Minister of Education, Culture and Science
Mayor of Eindhoven
Queen's Commissioner of North Holland		 Labour Party April 5, 2002 &100000000000000090000009 years, &10000000000000339000000339 days
Wim Kok Minister of Finance
Prime Minister		 Labour Party April 11, 2003 &100000000000000080000008 years, &10000000000000333000000333 days
Hans van den Broek State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy		 Christian Democratic Appeal February 25, 2005 &100000000000000070000007 years, &1000000000000001300000013 days
Peter Kooijmans State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Judge of the International Court of Justice		 Christian Democratic Appeal July 13, 2007 &100000000000000040000004 years, &10000000000000240000000240 days

External links