Joop Atsma

Joop Atsma
Joop Atsma in 2010
Member of the Senate
In office 9 June 2015 – 12 June 2023
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
State Secretary for Infrastructure and the Environment
In office 14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	Tineke Huizinga as State Secretary for Transport and Water Management
Succeeded by	Wilma Mansveld
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 19 May 1998 – 14 October 2010
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
Personal details
Born	Johannes Jan Atsma (1956-07-06) 6 July 1956 Surhuisterveen, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political affiliations	Anti-Revolutionary Party (until 1980)
Spouse	Tea van der Schaaf ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	1 son and 1 daughter
Residence(s)	Surhuisterveen, Netherlands
Alma mater	University of Groningen (Bachelor of Arts)
Occupation	Politician · Journalist · Editor · Columnist · Author · Sport administrator

Johannes Jan "Joop" Atsma (born 6 July 1956) is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and sport administrator. He was a member of the Senate since between 9 June 2015 and 12 June 2023.

Biography

Joop Atsma is the son of dairy farmer Pieter Atsma and Tjitske van der Meer. After secondary school, he began to study history to the University of Groningen, but he did not complete his studies.

In 1978 he began his career as a journalist, he worked for the Netherlands Broadcasting Foundation (NOS), Friesch Dagblad, News of the North and Omrop Fryslân.

From 1989 worked at the KNWU Straatsma, first as an amateur cycling section president and later as chairman. In the Olympic Games in Seoul (1988) Barcelona (1992) Atlanta (1996) and Sydney (2000) Atsma was chef d'equipe of cycling. In 2009, Joop Atsma appointed chairman of the Road Committee of the International cycling body UCI. This committee is responsible for such regulation of wegsport, admitting teams, fixture lists and qualification criteria for World Championships and Olympic Games. Atsma 178ste during the meeting of the International Cycling Union in Lugano in 2009 again elected to the Board of the Union Cycliste Internationale. From 1994 to 2006 he was chairman of the Royal Dutch Cycling Union.

Atsma began his political career as a member of the Provincial States of Friesland. In 1998, Atsma was elected to the House. He took his oath in the West Frisian language. In parliament he was involved with sports, agriculture, food, media and mining. He was also chairman of the Standing Committee for Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality and vice chair of the standing committee on Health, Welfare and Sports. On 14 October 2010 Atsma was appointed State Secretary for Infrastructure and Environment in the government-Rutte. Because of this appointment Atsma at that date resigned all paid and unpaid (side) functions and took distance from relevant business and financial interests.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	7 December 2012

External links

Official

• (in Dutch) J.J. (Joop) Atsma Parlement & Politiek
• (in Dutch) J.J. Atsma (CDA) Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal