Hans Dijkstal

Hans Dijkstal
Parliamentary leader – People's Party for Freedom and Democracy House of Representatives
In office 30 July 1998 – 16 May 2002
Preceded by	Frits Bolkestein
Succeeded by	Gerrit Zalm
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 19 May 1998 – September 2002
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
Deputy Prime Minister
In office 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 Serving with Hans van Mierlo
Prime Minister	Wim Kok
Preceded by	Wim Kok
Succeeded by	Els Borst Annemarie Jorritsma
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 30 July 1986 – 22 August 1994
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 11 November 1982 – 3 June 1986
Personal details
Born	Henri Frans Dijkstal 28 February 1943(1943-02-28) Port Said, Egypt
Died	9 May 2010(2010-05-09) (aged 67) Wassenaar, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Spouse(s)	Anneke Dijkstal (1966–2010)
Alma mater	University of Amsterdam (B.A.)
Occupation	Politician Civil servant Corporate director
Religion	Non-religious

Henri Frans "Hans" Dijkstal (28 February 1943 – 9 May 2010) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as Minister of the Interior and Deputy Prime Minister from 22 August 1994 until 3 August 1998. He was parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives from 30 July 1998 until 16 May 2002.

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.

Politics

In 1982, he was first elected to the Dutch House of Representatives. He took over the leadership of the VVD faction from Frits Bolkestein in 1998. Dijkstal was the highest placed candidate for the VVD party in the 2002 parliamentary elections, that turned out disastrous for the party. Afterwards, he retired from active politics.

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').

Hans Dijkstal died on 9 May 2010 after a long fight against bone cancer, he was 67.

Decorations

• Officer
  • Order of Oranje-Nassau (October 30, 1998)

External links

• (Dutch) H.F. (Hans) Dijkstal (Parlement & Politiek)

Party political offices
Preceded by Frits Bolkestein	Party leader People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 1998–2002	Succeeded by Gerrit Zalm
Preceded by Frits Bolkestein	Parliamentary leader - People's Party for Freedom and Democracy House of Representatives 1998–2002	Succeeded by Gerrit Zalm
Government offices
Preceded by Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta	Minister of the Interior 1994–1998	Succeeded by Bram Peper