Hans van Baalen

Hans van Baalen
Member of the European Parliament for the Netherlands
Incumbent
Assumed office July 14, 2009
Member of the House of Representatives
In office January 30, 2003 – July 14, 2009
Member of the House of Representatives
In office September 28, 1999 – May 23, 2002
Personal details
Born	Johannes Cornelis van Baalen June 17, 1960 (1960-06-17) Rotterdam, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Spouse(s)	Ineke Sybesma
Residence	The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University (J.D., LL.M)
Occupation	Politician Civil servant Management consultant Journalist Army Officer
Religion	Reformed Protestant
Website	Official site
Military service
Allegiance	The Netherlands
Service/branch	Royal Netherlands Army (National Reserve Corps)
Years of service	1986-
Rank	Colonel

Johannes Cornelis "Hans" van Baalen (born June 17, 1960) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He has been a Member of the European Parliament for the Netherlands since July 14, 2009. He was a Member of the House of Representatives from September 28, 1999 until May 23, 2002 and from January 30, 2003 until July 14, 2009. He has been the President of the Liberal International since 2009.

Biography

Early life

Van Baalen was born in Rotterdam and went to high school in Krimpen aan den IJssel. He then studied law at Leiden University, where he was a member of the Minerva fraternity and the 'Pro Patria' student guard.

Politics

Van Baalen has been a member of the VVD since 1986. He was international secretary for the VVD party bureau from 1993 to 1998 and was an MP from 1999 until 2002. He was again made an MP in 2003. Before his political career he worked as a journalist and also with the public relations department of Deloitte Consulting. In the Dutch House of Representatives, Van Baalen was a member of the Foreign Affairs commission, European Affairs commission and the Defense commission. Since the elections of 2009, he is a member of European Parliament and faction leader of the Dutch VVD Delegation, and is generally seen as one of the party's "heavy-weights."

External links

• (Dutch) Mr.Drs. J.C. (Hans) van Baalen (Parlement & Politiek)

Political offices
Preceded by John Alderdice	President of the Liberal International 2009-	Succeeded by Incumbent