Steven van Weyenberg

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Steven van Weyenberg
Van Weyenberg in 2013
Minister of Finance
Assumed office
12 January 2024
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byRob Jetten (acting)
State Secretary for Culture and Media
In office
6 December 2023 – 12 January 2024
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byRobbert Dijkgraaf (acting)
Succeeded byFleur Gräper
State Secretary for Infrastructure
and Water Management
In office
10 August 2021 – 10 January 2022
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byStientje van Veldhoven
Succeeded byVivianne Heijnen
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
18 January 2022 – 5 December 2023
In office
20 September 2012 – 2 September 2021
Personal details
Born
Steven Peter Robert Albert van Weyenberg

(1973-03-21) 21 March 1973 (age 51)
Ghent, Belgium
NationalityDutch
Political partyDemocrats 66
SpouseSandra Quik
Residence(s)The Hague, Netherlands
Alma materUniversity of Amsterdam
OccupationPolitician, civil servant

Steven Peter Robert Albert van Weyenberg (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈsteːvə(ɱ) vɑɱ ˈʋɛiə(m)ˌbɛr(ə)x]; born 21 March 1973) is a Belgian-born Dutch politician of the social-liberal Democrats 66 (D66) party. He served on the House of Representatives and occupied several ministerial posts.

Career[edit]

Van Weyenberg studied economics and international relations, and he worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment.[1][2]

He joined D66 in 1994 and held a seat in the House of Representatives between 2012 and 2023, focusing on finance and social affairs.[3][4][5] He assisted his party during negotiations as part of the formation of the third Rutte cabinet, working on reforms of the tax system. These included changes to the home mortgage interest deduction, an increase in the value-added tax rate, and the creation of new environmental taxes. As a member of parliament, Van Weyenberg proposed to abolish government benefits in favor of a single allowance following the childcare benefits scandal, in which citizens had been falsely accused of fraud by the Tax and Customs Administration.[6] He temporarily left the House of Representatives to serve as State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management in the demissionary third Rutte cabinet from 10 August 2021 until 10 January 2022.[7] He succeeded Stientje van Veldhoven, who had stepped down to move to another job. When an investigation found that pollution from the Tata Steel IJmuiden factory had resulted in adverse health effects for neighbors, Van Weyenberg said the factory would not have a future without major changes.[6]

Following his return to the parliament, he worked with GroenLinks–PvdA and the Christian Union on a set of measures to increase purchasing power amongst a high inflation rate. In August 2023, ahead of a November general election, he announced he would not seek another term.[6] He again filled a vacancy in the demissionary fourth Rutte cabinet starting 6 December 2023, becoming State Secretary for Culture and Media. He switched that position for Minister of Finance on 12 January 2024 to succeed Sigrid Kaag.[1][8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Van Weyenberg minister van Financiën, Gräper staatssecretaris van Cultuur" [Van Weyenberg Minister of Finance, Gräper State Secretary for Culture and Media]. NOS (in Dutch). 10 January 2024. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Drs. S.P.R.A. (Steven) van Weyenberg". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Van Weyenberg (D66) volgt Kaag op als demissionair minister van Financiën" [Van Weyenberg (D66) succeeds Kaag as demissionary Minister of Finance]. NU.nl (in Dutch). 10 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Drie staatssecretarissen doen per direct afstand van hun Kamerzetel". Het Parool (in Dutch). 2 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  5. ^ Frölke, Steven; Verkerk, Jorit (10 January 2024). "Van Weyenberg volgt Kaag op als minister van Financiën, Gräper nieuwe staatssecretaris voor Cultuur" [Van Weyenberg succeeds Kaag as Minister of Finance, Gräper new State Secretary for Culture and Media]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b c Rutten, Rik (10 January 2024). "Van Weyenberg op Financiën, Haagse stoelendans gaat door" [Van Weyenberg on finances, musical chairs continues in The Hague]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  7. ^ "Drie nieuwe bewindslieden beëdigd in demissionair kabinet". NOS (in Dutch). 10 August 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Steven van Weyenberg". Government of the Netherlands. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Finance
2024–present
Incumbent
Preceded by State Secretary for Culture and Media
2023–2024
Succeeded by