Dutch ministries
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are eleven ministries of the Netherlands, all with their own minister, there are also several ministers without portfolio and about as many state secretaries. The ministries are:
- Ministry of General Affairs, dealing with the coordination of government policy;
- Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations occupied with a range of tasks including the police, the civil service and the constitution. Most ministries broke off from this ministry, when portfolios like social affairs, education and agriculture became more important; the term "Kingdom Relations" refers to relations between the Netherlands and the other parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
- Ministry of Security and Justice occupied with legislation, law enforcement and immigration;
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs which Minister of Foreign Affairs and a junior Minister for European Affairs and International Cooperation;
- Ministry of Defence, which coordinates the military of the Netherlands;
- Ministry of Finance responsible for taxation, the national budget and monetary affairs;
- Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation, which has the task of ensuring sustainable economic growth. It is the result of a merger of the old Ministry of Economic Affairs with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in 2010. In addition to the Minister, it has a state secretary known internationally as Minister for Foreign Trade and Agriculture;
- Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, which coordinates social security and employment;
- Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, traditionally led by a minister and two state secretaries one of whom is typically occupied with culture and the Netherlands Public Broadcasting;
- Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport;
- Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, which deals with planning, use of land, infrastructure and water management. It is the result of a merger of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management with the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in 2010.
