List of ministers of defence of the Netherlands

Minister of Defence of the Netherlands
Minister van Defensie
Ministry of Defence
Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Incumbent Ank Bijleveld since 26 October 2017
Ministry of Defence
Style	His/Her Excellency
Member of	Council of Ministers
Appointer	Mark Rutte as Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Formation	16 February 1798 (1798-02-16)
First holder	Gerrit Jan Pijman (as Agent of War)
Deputy	Barbara Visser as State Secretary for Defence
Salary	€157,287 (As of 2017) (including €4,193 of expenses)
Website	Template:En icon Minister of Defence

The Minister of Defence (Dutch: Minister van Defensie) is the head of the Ministry of Defence and a member of the Cabinet of the Netherlands. The current Minister of Defence is Ank Bijleveld.

List of Ministers of Defence

For full list, see List of Ministers of Defence of the Netherlands. Template:Nl icon

Minister of Defence			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Major Johan Lambooij (1874–1942)	1 September 1928 – 10 August 1929	Roman-Catholic State Party	Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer I)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Dr. Laurentius Nicolaas Deckers (1883–1978)	10 August 1929 – 2 September 1935	Roman-Catholic State Party	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (De Beerenbrouck III)
Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn II • III)
style="background:Template:Anti Revolutionary Party/meta/color;"|		Major Dr. Hendrikus Colijn (Prime Minister) (1869–1944)	2 September 1935 – 24 June 1937	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn III)
style="background:Template:Anti Revolutionary Party/meta/color;"|		Captain Dr. Jannes van Dijk (1871–1954)	24 June 1937 – 10 August 1939	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn IV • V)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Adriaan Dijxhoorn (1889–1953)	10 August 1939 – 12 June 1941	Independent	Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer II)
Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy I)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Hendrik van Boeijen (1889–1947)	12 June 1941 – 27 July 1941	Christian Historical Union	Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy I)
		Minister of War	Minister of the Navy	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|	Van Boeijen Furstner v.L.d. Jeude De Quay	Hendrik van Boeijen (1889–1947)	Lieutenant admiral Johan Furstner (1887–1970)	27 July 1941 – 15 September 1942	Christian Historical Union (v.Boeijen) Independent (Furstner)	Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy II)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Jonkheer Otto van Lidth de Jeude (1881–1952)		15 September 1942 – 23 February 1945	Liberal State Party (v.L.d.Jeude) Independent (Furstner)
style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"|		Jim de Booy (1885–1969)		23 February 1945 – 4 April 1945	Independent	Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy III)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Major Dr. Jan de Quay (1901–1985)	Lieutenant commander Jim de Booy (1885–1969)	4 April 1945 – 24 June 1945	Catholic People's Party (De Quay) Independent (De Booy)
style="background:Template:Anti Revolutionary Party/meta/color;"|		Major Jo Meynen (1901–1980)		24 June 1945 – 3 July 1946	Anti-Revolutionary Party (Meynen) Independent (De Booy)	Willem Schermerhorn (Schermerhorn-Drees)
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|	Fiévez	Colonel Alexander Fiévez (1902–1949)	Colonel Alexander Fiévez (Ad interim) (1902–1949)	3 July 1946 – 7 August 1946	Catholic People's Party (Fiévez) Independent (S.v.Leeuwen)	Louis Beel (Beel I)
Rear admiral Jules Schagen van Leeuwen (1896–1976)			7 August 1946 – 24 November 1947 [Res]
Colonel Alexander Fiévez (Ad interim) (1902–1949)			25 November 1947 – 7 August 1948
Minister of War and the Navy			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Captain Wim Schokking (1900–1960)	7 August 1948 – 16 October 1950 [Res]	Christian Historical Union	Willem Drees (Drees-Van Schaik)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Captain Hans s'Jacob (1906–1967)	16 October 1950 – 15 March 1951	Christian Historical Union
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Kees Staf (1905–1973)	15 March 1951 – 13 October 1956	Christian Historical Union	Willem Drees (Drees I • II)
Minister of Defence			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Kees Staf (1905–1973)	13 October 1956 – 19 May 1959	Christian Historical Union	Willem Drees (Drees III)
Louis Beel (Beel II)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Major general Sidney J. van den Bergh (1898–1977)	19 May 1959 – 1 August 1959 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Jan de Quay (De Quay)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Major Dr. Jan de Quay (Prime Minister) (1901–1985)	1 August 1959 – 4 September 1959 [Ad interim]	Catholic People's Party
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Sergeant Sim Visser (1908–1983)	4 September 1959 – 24 July 1963	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Captain Piet de Jong (1915–2016)	24 July 1963 – 5 April 1967	Catholic People's Party	Victor Marijnen (Marijnen)
Jo Cals (Cals)
Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Willem den Toom (1911–1998)	5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Piet de Jong (De Jong)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Hans de Koster (1914–1992)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II)
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Netherlands)/meta/color;"|		Henk Vredeling (1924–2007)	11 May 1973 – 1 January 1977 [Appt]	Labour Party	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl)
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Netherlands)/meta/color;"|		Captain Bram Stemerdink (born 1936)	1 January 1977 – 19 December 1977	Labour Party
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Dr. Roelof Kruisinga (1922–2012)	19 December 1977 – 4 March 1978 [Res]	Christian Historical Union	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I)
style="background:Template:Anti Revolutionary Party/meta/color;"|		Jan de Koning (Minister for Development Cooperation) (1926–1994)	4 March 1978 – 8 March 1978 [Ad interim]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Willem Scholten (1927–2005)	8 March 1978 – 25 August 1980 [Appt]	Christian Historical Union
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Captain Pieter de Geus (1929–2004)	25 August 1980 – 11 September 1981	Christian Historical Union
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|				Christian Democratic Appeal
style="background:Template:Democrats 66/meta/color;"|		Hans van Mierlo (1931–2010)	11 September 1981 – 4 November 1982	Democrats 66	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II • III)
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Dr. Job de Ruiter (1930–2015)	4 November 1982 – 14 July 1986	Christian Democratic Appeal	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Dr. Wim van Eekelen (born 1931)	14 July 1986 – 6 September 1988 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers II)
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Piet Bukman (Minister for Development Cooperation) (born 1934)	6 September 1988 – 24 September 1988 [Ad interim]	Christian Democratic Appeal
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Frits Bolkestein (born 1933)	24 September 1988 – 7 November 1989	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Netherlands)/meta/color;"|		Relus ter Beek (1944–2008)	7 November 1989 – 22 August 1994	Labour Party	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Dr. Joris Voorhoeve (also Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs) (born 1945)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Wim Kok (Kok I)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Frank de Grave (born 1955)	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Wim Kok (Kok II)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Benk Korthals (born 1944)	22 July 2002 – 12 December 2002 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Henk Kamp (also Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment 2002–2003) (born 1952)	12 December 2002 – 22 February 2007	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende II • III)
style="background:Template:ChristianUnion/meta/color;"|		Eimert van Middelkoop (also Minister for Housing, Communities and Integration 2010) (born 1949)	22 February 2007 – 14 October 2010	Christian Union	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV)
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Hans Hillen (born 1947)	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012	Christian Democratic Appeal	Mark Rutte (Rutte I)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert (born 1973)	5 November 2012 – 4 October 2017 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Mark Rutte (Rutte II)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Dr. Klaas Dijkhoff (born 1981)	4 October 2017 – 26 October 2017	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Ank Bijleveld (born 1962)	26 October 2017 – Incumbent	Christian Democratic Appeal	Mark Rutte (Rutte III)

^Res Resigned.

^{Ad interim} Ad interim.

^Appt Appointment: Henk Vredeling appointed European Commissioner; Willem Scholten appointed Vice President of the Council of State.

Living former Ministers of Defence

Minister of Defence	Term	Age
Bram Stemerdink	1977	(1936-03-06) 6 March 1936
Wim van Eekelen	1986–1988	(1931-02-05) 5 February 1931
Piet Bukman	1988	(1934-02-07) 7 February 1934
Frits Bolkestein	1988–1989	(1933-04-04) 4 April 1933
Joris Voorhoeve	1994–1998	(1945-12-22) 22 December 1945
Frank de Grave	1998–2002	(1955-06-27) 27 June 1955
Benk Korthals	2002	(1944-10-05) 5 October 1944
Henk Kamp	2002–2007	(1952-07-23) 23 July 1952
Eimert van Middelkoop	2007–2010	(1949-02-14) 14 February 1949
Hans Hillen	2010–2012	(1947-06-17) 17 June 1947
Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert	2012–2017	(1973-04-07) 7 April 1973
Klaas Dijkhoff	2017	(1981-01-13) 13 January 1981

List of State Secretaries for Defence

State Secretary for Defence			Portfolio	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Michael Calmeyer (1895–1990)	Army and Air Force	19 June 1959 – 24 July 1963	Christian Historical Union	Jan de Quay (De Quay)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Captain Piet de Jong (1915–2016)	Navy	25 June 1959 – 24 July 1963	Catholic People's Party
rowspan=4 style="background:Template:Anti Revolutionary Party/meta/color;"|		Vice admiral Adri van Es (1913–1994)	Navy	14 August 1963 – 6 July 1971	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Victor Marijnen (Marijnen)
Jo Cals (Cals)
Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra)
Piet de Jong (De Jong)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Joop Haex (1911–2002)	Army	14 August 1963 – 14 April 1965	Christian Historical Union	Victor Marijnen (Marijnen)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Willem den Toom (1911–1998)	Air Force	25 November 1963 – 14 April 1965	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant Gerard Peijnenburg (1919–2000)	Army	13 May 1965 – 5 April 1967	Independent	Jo Cals (Cals)
Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Colonel Jan Borghouts (1910–1966)	Air Force	12 July 1965 – 5 February 1966 [Died]	Catholic People's Party	Jo Cals (Cals)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Independent (politician)/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Heije Schaper (1906–1996)		22 June 1966 – 5 April 1967	Independent
Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra)
style="background:Template:Christian Historical Union/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant general Joop Haex (1911–2002)	Army	18 April 1967 – 6 July 1971	Christian Historical Union	Piet de Jong (De Jong)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Bob Duynstee (1920–2014)	Air Force	28 April 1967 – 6 July 1971	Catholic People's Party
style="background:Template:Anti Revolutionary Party/meta/color;"|		Vice admiral Adri van Es (1913–1994)	Personnel Affairs and Equipment Policy	14 July 1971 – 16 September 1972 [Res]	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Joep Mommersteeg (1917–1991)	Personnel Affairs	11 May 1973 – 1 March 1974 [Res]	Catholic People's Party	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl)
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Brigadier general Cees van Lent (1922–2000)		11 March 1974 – 19 December 1977	Catholic People's Party
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Netherlands)/meta/color;"|		Captain Bram Stemerdink (born 1936)	Equipment Policy and Legal Affairs	11 May 1973 – 1 January 1977 [Appt]	Labour Party
style="background:Template:Catholic People's Party/meta/color;"|		Brigadier general Cees van Lent (1922–2000)	Personnel Affairs	28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Catholic People's Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I)
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|					Christian Democratic Appeal
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Dr. Wim van Eekelen (born 1931)	Equipment Policy and Legal Affairs	20 January 1978 – 11 September 1981	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Netherlands)/meta/color;"|		Captain Bram Stemerdink (born 1936)	Equipment Policy	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 [Res]	Labour Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II)
rowspan=3 style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Second lieutenant Jan van Houwelingen (1939–2013)	Personnel Affairs (1981–1982) Equipment Policy (1982–1986) Personnel Affairs and Equipment Policy (1986–1989)	14 September 1981 – 7 November 1989	Christian Democratic Appeal
Dries van Agt (Van Agt III)
Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I • II)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Charl Schwietert (born 1943)	Personnel Affairs	8 November 1982 – 11 November 1982 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Willem Hoekzema (born 1939)		19 November 1982 – 14 July 1986	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Baron Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst (born 1944)	Equipment Policy and Legal Affairs	7 November 1989 – 1 June 1993 [Appt]	Christian Democratic Appeal	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III)
style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant colonel Ton Frinking (born 1931)		1 June 1993 – 22 August 1994	Christian Democratic Appeal
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant commander Jan Gmelich Meijling (1936–2012)	Personnel Affairs, Equipment Policy, Re-organisation	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Wim Kok (Kok I)
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Lieutenant commander Henk van Hoof (born 1947)	Personnel Affairs, Equipment Policy, Joint Operations	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Wim Kok (Kok II)
rowspan=2 style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|		Sergeant Cees van der Knaap (born 1951)	Personnel Affairs and Equipment Policy	22 July 2002 – 18 December 2007 [Appt]	Christian Democratic Appeal	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I • II • III)
Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV)
	style="background:Template:Christian Democratic Appeal/meta/color;"|			Jack de Vries (born 1968)	18 December 2007 – 18 May 2010 [Res]	Christian Democratic Appeal
	Vacant
style="background:Template:People's Party for Freedom and Democracy/meta/color;"|		Barbara Visser (born 1977)	Personnel Affairs and Equipment Policy	26 October 2017 – Incumbent	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Mark Rutte (Rutte III)

^Res Resigned.

^Died Died in office.

^Appt Appointment: Bram Stemerdink appointed Minister of Defence; Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst appointed Queen's Commissioners of Limburg; Cees van der Knaap appointed Mayor of Ede.

Living former State Secretaries for Defence

State Secretary for Defence	Term	Age
Bram Stemerdink	1973–1977 1981–1982	(1936-03-06) 6 March 1936
Wim van Eekelen	1978–1981	(1931-02-05) 5 February 1931
Charl Schwietert	1982	(1943-01-01) 1 January 1943
Willem Hoekzema	1982–1986	(1939-07-21) 21 July 1939
Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst	1989–1993	(1944-02-07) 7 February 1944
Ton Frinking	1993–1994	(1931-02-01) 1 February 1931
Henk van Hoof	1998–2002	(1947-11-09) 9 November 1947
Cees van der Knaap	2002–2007	(1951-01-27) 27 January 1951
Jack de Vries	2007–2010	(1968-07-25) 25 July 1968

See also

• Ministry of Defence