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NEDERLAND / NETHERLANDS

(Koninkrijk der Nederlanden / Kingdom of the Netherlands)

NEW GOVERNMENT SINCE APRIL 04 2001
The government is formed by the PAR, PNP, PDB, DPSM, SIFOL and PNP

Neederlands is a member of the European Union

MINISTERS

Willem (Wim) Kok - Minister-President (Prime Minister)

Born : 29 September 1938 in Bergambacht

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education, he attended Nijenrode Business School. he then completed his military service and worked for a trading company for a short time. In 1961, was appoionted assistant international officer of the Netherlands Federation of Trae Unions Construction Section. He was appointed staff member for economic affairs of the same union in 1965, and, in 1967, union secretary. In 1969, was appointed secretary to the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (NVV) He was achairman of NVV from 1973 to 1985 and, after theNVV had merged with the Dutch Federation of Catholic Trade Unions, chairman of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (FNV). From 1979 to 1982, also served as chairman of the European Trade Union Confederation.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : In 1972, was appointed deputy chairman. From 1986 to 1989 and again after the 1994 election, was a member of the Lower House of the States General and leader of the parliamentary labour party (Pvda) In 1989, he was elected deputy chairman of the Socialist International. Has been deputy chairman of the Socioeconomic Council, employees' chairman on the joint Industrial Laour Council, vice-chairman of the Board of "Denederlandsche Bank", visiting lecturer at the Institute of Social Studies and advisor to the European Commission. Deputy Priminister and Minister of Finance in the third Lubbers Government from 7 November 1989 to 22 August 1994. On 22 August 1994, he was appointed Prime Minister and Minister for Genenral Affairs in the Government that bears his name.

Dr.Else (Els) Borst-Eilers - Vice-Minister-President

Born : 22 March 1932 in Amsterdam.

Education/Profession : She studied medicine at the University of Amsterdam and graduated in 1958. From 1958 to 1960, studied paediatrics and from 1960 to 1965 immunohaematology. She was awarded a doctorate in medical science in 1972, for her thesis on the subject "etiology and prevention in Rhesus antibody ". From 1965 to 1969 she worked as a lecturer in immunohaematology at the University in Utrecht. From 1969, she worked at the university Hospital in Utrecht, first as head of the blood bank and, from 1976, as medical director. From 1986 to 1994, was deputy chairperson of the Health Council and, from 1992, professor of evaluation research in clinical medicine at the University of Amsterdam. While working for the Health Council, she was responsible for reports on efficient medical treatment, choices in the care sector, and the ethical implications of modern genetics. In 1997, was appointed Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.

Political experience : Member of Democrats 66 (D66), Ms Borst was Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in the first Kok government from 22 August 1994. On 3 August 1998 she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in the second Kok government.

Note : Ms Borst has been chairperson of the Blood Transfusion Board, chair of the Central Committee on Medical Research Ethics, and member of both the Science and Technology Advisory Council and the Remmelink Committee on Euthanasia. She is a member of the Institute of Medicine in Washington, DC.

Also : Minister of Welfare, Health and Sports

Annemarie Jorritsma-Lebbink - Vice-Minister-President

Born : 01 June 1950 in Hengelo

Education/Profession : After completing her secondary education in 1967, attended the Tourism Training School in Breda, graduating in 1969. She then worked for a travel agency and an export manager.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : From 1978 to 1989, served on Bolswaard Municipal Council as a member for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). From 1982 to 1992 she was a member for the VVD of the Lower House of the States She has been secretary to the VVD's Provincial Women's Organisation, deputy member of the VVD's Advisory Council on Women, member of the Home Ownership Committee of the Steering Committee on Experimental Housing, member of the Executive Board of the Nieuwspoort Press Centre and Berie foar it Frysk (a Frisian organisation), member of the board of governors of the Thorbecke Akademie in Leeuwarden, and member of the board of the Association for High-rise Building. From 22 August 1994 was Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the first Kok government. On 3 August 1998 she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Economic Affairs in the second Kok government.

Also : Minister of Economic Affairs

Laurens-Jan Brinkhorst - Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries

Born : 18 March 1937 in Zwolle

Education/Profession : After completing his grammar school education, he went on to study Dutch law in Leiden, where he was awarded a degree in 1959. In 1961, he graduated in public law and government from Columbia University, New York, USA, and subsequently worked for Shearman and Sterling, a law firm in New York. In 1962, accepted a position at the Europe Institute of Leiden University, and was appointed director of the Institute in 1965. In the same year, he became senior lecturer in the law of international organisations. From 1967 to 1973, he held the chair of European law at Groningen University.

Party : D66 (Democraten 66)

Political experience : State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Den Uyl government from 1973 to 1977, with the European Affairs portfolio. He was a member of the Lower House of Parliament from 1977 to 1982, and leader of the parliamentary party in 1981/1982. In 1982, he was appointed head of the delegation of the Commission of the European Communities in Japan. In 1987, he took office as Director-General of Environment, Consumer Protection and Nuclear Safety, and in 1989 as Director-General of Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection at the European Commission. He served as a member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1999. Appointed Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in the second Kok government on 8 June 1999.

Note : Mr Brinkhorst has held various other posts. He has been a member of the Provincial Council of the province of Groningen for Democrats '66, a member of the advisory council of the World Resources Institute in Washington DC, a member of the board of governors of the Netherlands Institute for Economics, extraordinary professor of international environmental law at Leiden University, a member of the board of directors of the Salzburg Seminar and the International Institute of Sustainable Development, and visiting professor of international environmental law at the University of Lausanne.

Franciscus Hendrikus Gerardus (Frank) de Grave - Minister of Defense

Born : 27 June 1955 in Amsterdam

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education in Assen, studied law at the University of Groningen. Graduated in 1979, having majored in constitutional and administrative law and public finance. He then did his military service with the Royal Netherlands Army. Student at the University of Groningen, he sat on the board of the Faculty of Law. Member of the University Council and the Faculty Council. Employed by the AMRO bank in Amsterdam from 1980 to 1982, where he was deputy secretary to the Board of Management.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : He was also a member of the executive committee of the youth section of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), of which he was international secretary from 1977 to 1978 and national chairman from 1978 to 1980. Worked for the VVD group in the Provincial Council of Drenthe from 1977 to 1981. 1982 became a member for the VVD of both the Amsterdam Municipal Council and the Lower House of the States General. Councillor until 1986 and member of parliament until 1990. Member of the Lower House's Permanent Committee on Defence from 1982 to 1986. In the early 1990s, he represented the municipality of Amsterdam in the Amsterdam Regional Forum, of which he was deputy chairman for a while. From 16 January until 31 May 1994, he was acting burgomaster of Amsterdam. Appointed State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the first Kok government on 2 July 1996. Appointed Minister of Defence in the second Kok government on 3 August 1998.

Eva Léonie (Eveline) Herfkens - Minister of Development Cooperation

Born : 09 January 1952 in The Hague

Education/Profession : After completing her secondary education, she studied law and economics at the University of Leiden, where she received a law degree in 1975.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : From 1976 to 1981 she worked as a policy officer in the field of development cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was followed by a period as a member of the Lower House of the States General between 1981 and 1990. From 1985 to 1990 she served as committee member and treasurer of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA) and from 1986 to 1989 she was a member of the Economic Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and joint organiser of the North-South campaign. 1990 to 1996 as Executive Director of the World Bank in Washington, DC and from 1996 on as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and permanent representative of the Netherlands at the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva. Has served on the council of the Labour Party (PvdA), and has been chair of the Evert Vermeer Foundation, which works in the field of development cooperation, chair of the Dutch Fair Trade Organisation, and a member of the Development Committee of the Netherlands Council of Churches. On 3 August 1998 Ms Herfkens was appointed Minister for Development Cooperation in the second Kok government.

Louis Marie Lucien Henri Alphonse (Loek) Hermans - Minister of Education, Culture and Science

Born : 23 April 1951 in Heerlen

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education, he studied politics at the University of Nijmegen, specialising in public administration. He graduated in 1976. Between 1972 and 1976 he lectured at Gelderland College of Public Administration. Has been a member of the general assembly of the Rivierenland Purification Board and of the Council of Benelux, chairman of the board of the Theater van het Oosten, the police committee of the Union of Dutch Local Authorities (VNG), the consultative council of force managers in the Friesland regional police force and the Home Copy Association, which administers the levy on blank video tapes and audiocassettes, a board member of the Ombudsman Foundation, a member of the Advisory Committee on Post and Telecommunications, and chairman of the Information Technology Expertise Centre, the Property Assessment Board, the Betuwe Line Committee, the Committee on the Future of Student Finance and the Dutch AIDS Fund. In addition, he has served on the boards of numerous companies.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : From 1972 to 1973, he was political deputy chairman of the independent liberal youth organisation JOVD and from 1974 to 1978 represented the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) on the Municipal and Regional Councils of Nijmegen. Between 1977 and 1990 he was a member of the Lower House of the States General, where he was chairman of the parliamentary select committee on the redesign of the Dutch passport. In 1990, appointed burgomaster of Zwolle and from 1994 on served as the Queen's Commissioner in Friesland. On 3 August 1998 Mr Hermans was appointed Minister of Education, Culture and Science in the second Kok government.

Dr.Gerrit Zalm - Minister of Finance

Born : 06 May 1952 in Enkhuizen

Education/Profession : Having obtained his HBS-A (grammar school arts subjects) certificate, he studied economics at Amsterdam Free University, passing the doctoral examinations in 1975. From 1990, he was also professor of economics policy at Amsterdam Free University. He has also been a member of the board of the "Westfries Gasthuis" in Hoorn.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : 1975 appointed to the staff of the Economics Affairs section of the Budget Preparation Division of the Ministry of Finance. Appointed head of the section in 1977 and of the whole division in 1978. In late 1980, appointed head of the Central Review Secretariat and in 1981 deputy director for Budgetary Affairs and head of the Budget Preparation Division. 1983 appointed deputy director for General Economics Policy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, becoming director eighteen months later. In that capacity he was a member of the Economic Policy Committee of the European Communities. Appointed Minister of Finance in the Kok government on 22 August 1994. On 3 August 1998 he was re-appointed Minister of Finance in the second Kok government.

Jozias Johannes (Jozias) van Aartsen - Minister of Foreign Affairs

Born : 25 December 1947 in The Hague

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education, studied law for a number of years at the Free University of Amsterdam. Mr Van Aartsen has been a supervisory director of the RCC (the former Government Computer Centre) and the publishers SDU, and a member of the board of the Information Technology Expertise Centre. He has also chaired the board of the Stella Youth Theatre Centre, and has been editor of the journal Liberaal Reveil and chairman of the board of the National Institute for Arts Education.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : He worked for the parliamentary party of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 1970 to 1974 and was director of the Prof. B.M. Teldersstichting, the VVD's research organisation, until 1979. 1979 was employed by the Ministry of the Interior. He was head of the secretary-general's office until 1983, deputy secretary-general until 1985 and secretary-general until 1994. From July 1994, was chairman of the council of the Board of Secretaries-General. Mr Van Aartsen was Minister of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in the first Kok government from 22 August 1994. On 3 August 1998 he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in the second Kok government.

Klass George de Vries - Minister of Home Affairs

Born : 28 April 1943 in Hoensbroek

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education at the Grotius College in Heerlen, he studied for a year in the United States at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1962 he enrolled at the University of Utrecht, graduating in 1968 with a degree in law. In 1968, joined the staff of the Ministry of Justice. From 1971 to 1973 he was a lecturer in constitutional and administrative law at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : Between 1970 and 1972 he represented the Labour Party (PvdA) on Delft Municipal Council and in 1973 became a member of the Lower House of the States General. His parliamentary posts have included being a member of the presidium of the Lower House, chairman of the Parliamentary Defence Committee and secretary of his parliamentary party (the PvdA). Between 1986 and 1988, was chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Building Subsidies. He has also been a member of the North Atlantic Assembly. On 3 August 1998 was appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the second Kok government. On 24 March 2000 he succeeded dr, A. Peper, as Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations.

Note : In 1988, was appointed head of the Union of Dutch Local Authorities (VNG) and on 1 April 1996 chairman of the Socioeconomic Council (SER).

Dr.Johannes Pieter (Jan) Pronk - Minister of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment

Born : 16 March 1940 in Gravenhage

Education/Profession : Having completed his secondary education, studied economics at the School of Economics in Rotterdam, graduating in 1964. From 1965 to 1971 he lectured at the School of Economics' Development Programming Centre and the Netherlands Economic Institute in Rotterdam. He was extraordinary professor of the theory and practice of international development policy at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague from 1979 to 1980 and in 1989 he occupied the Den Uyl Chair (endowed by the Wiardi Beckman Foundation) at the University of Amsterdam.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : Member of the Lower House of Parliament for the Labour Party (PvdA) from 1971 to 1973, from 1978 to 1980 and from 1986 to 1989. From 11 May 1973 to 19 December 1977, was Minister for Development Cooperation in the Den Uyl government. From 1980 to 1985 he was deputy secretary-general of UNCTAD and from 1985 to 1986 assistant secretary-general of the United Nations. From 1986 to 1989 he was first deputy chairman of the Labour Party. Appointed Minister for Development Cooperation in the third Lubbers government on 7 November 1989 and, for the third time, in the first Kok government on 22 August 1994.On 3 August 1998 he was appointed Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the second Kok government.

Albert Hendrik (Benk) Korthals - Minister of Justice

Born : 05 October 1944 in Voorschoten

Education/Profession : After leaving secondary school and completing his military service with the Royal Netherlands Navy, he attended the University of Leiden, where he graduated in law in 1973.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : From 1974 to 1998 maintained a legal practice in Rotterdam, in addition to which he was from 1982 to 1998 a member of the Lower House of the States General. He was also a member of the council of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and chairman of the party's umbrella committee for local party organisations in the Rotterdam area. Member of the board of the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies and chairman of the Association for Legal Aid to Conscripts. On 3 August 1998 appointed Minister of Justice in the second Kok government.

Dr.Wilhelmus Adrianus Franciscus Gabriël (Willem) Vermeend - Minister of Social Affairs and Employment

Born : 21 December 1948 in Zuilen

Education/Profession : After obtaining his secondary teaching certificate in economics in 1972, graduated in tax law at the University of Groningen in 1974. In 1983 he obtained a doctorate at the University of Leiden for his thesis "Fiscal investment facilities: a study of the operation of accelerated depreciation, investment allowances and the Investment Account Act". From 1975 to 1984 lectured in tax law at Leiden University and worked at Leiden law centre. He was also a tax columnist for the Volkskrant and wrote for the Haagse Post. Mr Vermeend has been part-time professor of tax law at the University of Groningen and professor of European tax law at the University of Limburg at Maastricht.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : From 1984 to 1994 was a member of the Lower House of the States General for the Labour Party (PvdA). He was also a member of the Interparliamentary Benelux Consultative Council. He has also been a member of the PvdA executive committee. From 22 August 1994 was State Secretary for Finance in the first Kok government. On 3 August 1998 he was appointed to the same post in the second Kok government. On 24 March 2000 he succeeded mr. K.G. de Vries as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment.

Note : Member of the advisory council for the journals Belastingmagazine and Ondernemingszaken and a member of the advisory councils of Mars BV and Business Creation Result BV.

Tine (Tineke) Netelenbos - Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management

Born : 15 February 1944 in Wormerveer

Education/Profession : In 1966, she graduated with a teaching diploma from the College of Higher Education (HBO) N XX, K & O in Amsterdam. From 1966 to 1972 she taught at Lower Vocational Education (LBO) and Intermediate Vocational Education (MBO) high schools; from 1972 to 1977 she gave classes in the care, nurturing and up-bringing of children for the Groene Kruis (Green Cross), and from 1980 to 1981 she was a management instructor for the Provinciale Vrouwenraad Noord-Holland (Women's Council). Also a member of the Netherlands - American Amity Trust.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : From 1973 to 1976, was a member of Board of the PvdA, (Dutch Labour Party) for the Harlemmermeer district; from 1976 to 1977 and from 1997 to 1981 she was chair person of the Noord-Holland Regional Board of the PvdA. In addition, she was a member of the party executive from 1981 to 1987, and from 1985 to 1987 she held the position of undersecretary and member of the executive committee and from 1987 to 1994 she was a member of the Lower House of the States General. From 22 August, 1994, was State Secretary for Education, Culture and the Sciences in the First Kok Cabinet. On 3 August 1998, she was appointed as Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the Second Kok Cabinet.

Roger Henri Ludovic Maria (Roger) van Boxtel - Minister of Urban Policy and Integration of Ethnic Minorities

Born : 08 February 1954 in Tilburg

Education/Profession : On leaving secondary school, studied medicine and then Dutch law at the University of Amsterdam, graduating in 1981. He worked as a sports writer on the Volkskrant, then as an official with the municipality of Amsterdam, dealing with appeals against administrative decisions, and from 1981 to 1986 as a policy officer with the Union of Dutch Local Authorities (VNG). From 1986 he was employed as a management consultant with Verlinden Wezeman, Ernst & Whitney in Oosterbeek and from 1989 to 1994 as a management consultant and interim manager with Anderson Elffers Felix in Utrecht.

Party : D66 (Democraten 66)

Political experience : He has occupied various positions within his party, Democrats 66 (D66), and in other bodies, including that of political secretary in Amsterdam and member of the national executive. On 3 August 1998 was appointed Minister for Urban Policy and Integration of Ethnic Minorities in the second Kok government.

Note : In 1994 became a member of the Lower House of the States General. He has also been vice-chairman of the POA, a non-profit body concerned with the care of asylum seekers, chairman of the supervisory board of the "Tot en Met" organisation in Amsterdam, which is concerned with residential provision for the elderly and disabled, and a member of the board of the Hollandia theatre company.

State Secretaries

Geesje Hendrika (Geke) Faber - State Secretary for Agriculture

Born : 05 August 1952 in Graveland

Education/Profession : After completing her secondary education, she studied psychology for some years and is currently studying law. From 1974 to 1980 edited the house journal of a major construction company.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : Between 1978 and 1991 she belonged to and for some time chaired the Labour Party (PvdA) group in the Provincial Council of Friesland. She has also been vice-chair and chair of the women's section of the PvdA, in which capacity she was also a member of the party's executive committee and general governing body. From 1990 to 1998 was burgomaster of Zeewolde. On 3 August 1998 Ms Faber was appointed State Secretary for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in the second Kok government.

Note : Her other activities have included chairing the Weststellingwerf Youth and Social Work Organisation, sitting on the board of the National Women's Council and Beileroord psychiatric hospital, chairing the Association for the Redistribution of Paid and Unpaid Work and the Central Netherlands Training and Careers Advisory Centre (Compaz), and serving as a member of the Labour Affairs Board, a Crown-appointed member of the board of the Social Insurance Bank and a member of the board of the Alfred Mozer Foundation.

Frederick (Rick) van der Ploeg - State Secretary for Culture

Born : 28 April 1956 in Rotterdam

Education/Profession : After leaving secondary school, he attended the University of Sussex (where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977) and then Kings College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a doctorate in economics in 1981. From 1979 to 1983 worked as a research officer at the University of Cambridge, after which he lectured at the London School of Economics until 1988. Between 1985 and 1991 he also held the post of research professor of quantitative economics at the University of Tilburg and professor of economics at the European University Institute in Florence. In 1991 he was appointed professor of economics at the University of Amsterdam. Also been visiting professor at universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria. His other activities have included being a columnist, a research fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London, a member of the Council of the European Economic Association, the board of the "Mug met de gouden tand" theatre company and the supervisory board of the Pakhoed group, and consultant to the Advisory Council on Government Policy (WRR), the European Commission and the OECD.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : Member of the board of the Wiardi Beckman Foundation and sat in the party executive of the Labour Party (PvdA) from 1992 on. From 1994 to 1998 he was a member of the Lower House of the States General. On 3 August 1998 appointed State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the second Kok government

Hendrikus Andreas Lambertus (Henk) van Hoof - State Secretary for Defense

Born : 9 November 1947 in Nijmegen.

Education/Profession : After leaving secondary school, he attended the Dutch Royal Naval College (KIM) in Den Helder from 1965 to 1968 and then served as paymaster on a number of vessels, including HNLMS De Ruyter and HNLMS Poolster, and at the 'Willemsoord' naval barracks. In 1975, after working for a time in the Navy's Social and Medical Service, he was appointed lecturer in business administration at the KIM, where he later also lectured in personnel management. From 1978 to 1981 he was secretary of the Naval Officers' Association (now the Royal Naval Officers' Association). In 1981, having achieved the rank of lieutenant commander, he was granted an honourable discharge from the navy. In the same year, became an official of the Association of Senior Personnel, where he negotiated and coordinated collective labour agreements. From 1990 to 1991 he was the Association's head of trade union affairs.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : From 1991 onwards, he represented the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the Lower House of the States General. In 1992 he was vice-chairman of the Buurmeijer Committee on the social security system. He has also chaired the Permanent Committee on Petitions and sat on the Permanent Committees on Defence and Social Affairs, as well as filling positions within his party at regional and local level. Appointed State Secretary for Defence in the second Kok government on 3 August 1998.

Gerrit Ybema - State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade

Born : 29 October 1945 in Schettens

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary schooling, he worked for a time with an insurance company before going on to study economics at the University of Groningen. He specialised in international economic relations and graduated in 1977. This was followed by a period of employment with the municipality of Enschede and the province of Friesland, where he worked in the financial planning field. In 1986 he became policy adviser to the Provincial Executive, while at the same time chairing the Democrats 66 (D66) group in Leeuwarden Municipal Council.

Party : D66 (Democraten 66)

Political experience : From 1989 to 1998 was a D66 representative in the Lower House of the States General. His other positions have included being a member of the Second World Centre Advisory Council and serving on the board of the Albania-Netherlands Association. On 3 August 1998 was appointed State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the second Kok government.

Karin Yvonne Irene Jansen (Karin) Adelmund - State Secretary for Education

Born : 18 March 1949 in Rotterdam

Education/Profession : Graduated from the University of Amsterdam in 1979 with a social science degree. From 1978 to 1985, chaired the Women's Union, part of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (NVV). The NVV was later absorbed into the Federation of Netherlands Trade Unions (FNV) and between 1985 and 1994 she sat on the board of the FNV, eventually becoming its deputy chairperson.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : In 1994 she became a member of the Lower House of the States General, and in 1997 deputy chair of the Labour Party (PvdA). Also sat on the Socioeconomic Council (SER), the Joint Industrial Labour Council, the board of the foundation that organises the Willem Drees lectures, the supervisory board of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Committee on Nature and the Environment, and has chaired the NES theatres association in Amsterdam. On 3 August 1998 appointed State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the second Kok government.

Wouter Jacob Bos - State Secretary for Financial Affairs

Born : 14 July 1963 in Vlaardingen

Education/Profession : Having obtained his high school in Zeist, he studied politics and economics at Amsterdam Free University, passing the doctoral exams in 1988. Since 1988 was working in different positions at Shell : successive as Management Consultant, Policy advisor, General Affairs Manager, Staff Planning and Development Manager, and Consultant New Markets.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : 1998 Member of Parliament for the PvdA (social democratic). His main portfolio was economic affairs and finance. Notably the new, so called, tax revision 2001, from his predecessor State Secretary for Finance, Willem Vermeend, was part of his most important activities. Appointed as State Secretary for Finance in the second Kok government on 24 March 2000.

Dr.Dirk Anne (Dick) Benschop - State Secretary for Foreign Affairs (European Affairs)

Born : 05 November 1957 in Driebergen-Rijsenburg

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education in Doorn, he went on to study history at the Free University of Amsterdam, graduating in 1984. During this period he was a student representative on the subfaculty and faculty councils and chairman of the university's Students Council. He was also a student assistant (in 1979/1980 in modern history and in 1982 in international relations). During the 1984/1985 school year he taught history at a secondary school. Later secretary of the foundation that organises the Dr J.M. den Uyl lecturesand has served on the boards of Cosmic Illusion Production and the "Ons Huis" housing association in Amsterdam, of which he was also a supervisory director.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : From 1986 to 1992 he was employed by the parliamentary party of the PvdA, firstly as personal assistant to Dr J.M. den Uyl and W. Kok, and later as secretary to M.A.M. Wöltgens. This led to a post as director of the PvdA party offices. In 1994 he became an independent consultant and in 1996 he was appointed Media Commissioner, responsible for financial supervision of the industry. Also secretary of the foundation that organises the Dr J.M. den Uyl lecturesand has served on the boards of Cosmic Illusion Production and the "Ons Huis" housing association in Amsterdam, of which he was also a supervisory director. On 3 August 1998 appointed State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the second Kok government.

Anne Margo (Margo) Vliegenthart - State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports

Born : 18 July 1958 in Utrecht

Education/Profession : After completing her secondary schooling, she read psychology for some years at the University of Utrecht.

Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party)

Political experience : From 1981 to 1983 she chaired the PvdA Young Socialists organisation and was a member of the party executive. This was followed by a period working on welfare policy for the PvdA parliamentary party. In 1987 she became a member of the Lower House of the States General. She has also been a member of the executive of the women's section of the PvdA. On 3 August 1998 Ms Vliegenthart was appointed State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport in the second Kok government.

Note : Ms Vliegenthart has been a board member of "De Haven" women's shelter, the National Centre for Victims of Sexual Violence in Utrecht and the Youth Services Organisation for The Hague and surrounding district.

Johannes Wijnandus (Johan) Remkes - State Secretary for Housing

Born : 15 July 1951 in Oostenbroek

Education/Profession : After leaving school he read economics for some years at the University of Groningen. From 1975 to 1977 was chairman of the independent liberal youth organisation JOVD.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : From 1978 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) group in the Municipal Council of Groningen and from 1978 to 1993 he was a member of Groningen Provincial Council. Between 1982 and 1993 he was also a member of the Provincial Executive, in which capacity he sat on various supervisory boards in the energy sector. From 1993 to 1998, was a member of the Lower House of the States General. On 3 August 1998 Mr Remkes was appointed State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the second Kok government.

Note : He has also been chairman of the National Coordinating Committee on the Delta Works, a member of the Water Supply Council, chairman of the M-50 Evaluation Committee (political youth work) and a member of the Public Works Council subcommittee on infrastructure funding.

Neeltje Adriana (Ella) Kalsbeek-Jasperse - State Secretary for Justice

Born : 05 January 1955 in Middelburg

Education/Profession : After completing her secondary education in Middelburg, she studied Dutch criminal and civil law at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and graduated in 1977. From 1976 to 1977 she taught Dutch law at a secondary school. From 1977 to 1983, she worked as a policy officer for the council for the harmonisation of welfare policy. Worked for the Legal Advice Centre in Dordrecht from 1974 to 1976.

Party : LP (Libertarische Partij / Libertarian Party)

Political experience : From 1983 to 1988 she worked as a policy officer for the Labour Party. Parliamentary party, and in 1988 she was appointed to the staff of its executive committee. Has been a member of the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament since 1989. She chaired the temporary committee for the evaluation of investigation methods, appointed to investigate whether the police and the criminal justice authorities were actually employing the methods set out in response to the Van Traa Parliamentary Inquiry, and whether they were proving effective. Secretary and then chair of the governing body of the orthodox Protestant Church in Rotterdam-Delfshaven from 1977 to 1980, and from 1979 to 1984 member and later chair of the Church's committee of delegates responsible for work among students in the Rotterdam classis. From 1984 to 1989 she was a member of the committee of delegates of the general synod of the Reformed Churches responsible for pastoral work among students. From 1980 to 1984, she was a member of the PSVG, an organisation providing information and education on sexuality and relationships. From 1989 to 1991, she chaired the discussion group on the state and the individual set up by the Dr Wiardi Beckman Institute, the Labour Party research institute. She also served on the executive board of the Association for Legislative Policy from 1992 to 1996. Appointed State Secretary for Justice in the second Kok government on 2 January 2001. She succeeds M.J. Cohen.

Dr.Gijsbert Marius (Gijs) de Vries - State Secretary for Kingdom Affairs

Born : 22 February 1956 in New York; USA

Education/Profession : He studied at the University of Leiden and graduated with a degree in politics in 1981. For the next three years he was attached to the Faculty of Law at the University of Leiden.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : In 1984 he became a member of the European Parliament, representing the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Between 1989 and 1992 he was chairman of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Canada. In July 1994, he became chairman of the Liberal and Democratic group within the European Parliament. In 1977-1978, chaired the independent liberal youth organisation JOVD, from 1978 to 1980 he chaired the Liberal Youth Movement of the European Community (LYMEC) and between 1981 and 1984 he served as a municipal councillor in Leiden. On 3 August 1998 Mr De Vries was appointed State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the second Kok government.

Note : Among the other bodies on which he has sat are the Political Institutions Committee of Amnesty International, the board of the European Union Baroque Orchestra, the supervisory board of the Intercai telematics consultancy, the advisory committee of the Amsterdam-Serajevo City Link organisation and the advisory committee of the Anti-Racism Information Centre. In addition, Mr De Vries has been chairman of the Netherlands Atlantic Association and was co-founder of the Transatlantic Policy Network.

Anna Elisabeth (Annelies) Verstand-Bogaert - State Secretary for Social Affairs (Equal opportunity)

Born : 08 October 1949 in Oostburg.

Education/Profession : After training to work in the tourist industry, she went on to read Dutch law at the University of Nijmegen, where she specialised in administrative law, graduating in 1978. From 1980 to 1984 she was employed as a legal adviser to the public by the municipality of Nijmegen and from 1985 to 1988 as a legal officer with the accountancy and advice centre of the Gelderland Farmers Union.

Party : D66 (Democraten 66)

Political experience : Ms Verstand represented Democrats 66 (D66) in Elst Municipal Council, where she chaired the municipality's equal rights committee, and in Arnhem Regional Council. In 1988 she was appointed burgomaster of Heteren and in 1994 became burgomaster of Zutphen. Her other positions have included that of vice-chair of the Netherlands Association of Burgomasters, deputy member of the European Union's Committee of the Regions and member of the executive of the IJsselstreek regional police force. On 3 August 1998 Ms Verstand was appointed State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the second Kok government.

Johannes Franciscus (Hans) Hoogervorst - State Secretary for Social Affairs (Social Security)

Born : 19 April 1956 in Haarlem

Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education, he studied history at the University of Amsterdam, graduating in 1981. He then went on to obtain a Master of Arts degree in international relations at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC in 1983. From 1983 to 1986 worked as an international banking officer with the National Bank of Washington (Washington, DC) and from 1986 to 1987 as a policy officer for international monetary affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Finance.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : From 1988 to 1994 he was a policy assistant to the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) group in the Lower House of the States General and from 1994 to 1998 a member of the House. On 3 August 1998 Mr Hoogervorst was appointed State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the second Kok government.

Jeanne Monique(Monique) de Vries - State Secretary for Transportation and Public Works

Born : 16 August 1947 in The Hague

Education/Profession : After graduating from grammar school, having focused on the humanities, she went on to study Italian (with the emphasis on language) at the University of Leiden and graduated from there in 1973. From 1970 to 1975 she was a student assistant and research assistant in the Italian Department at the University of Leiden. From 1973 to 1990, worked as a free lance translator and interpreter. Further to this she taught Italian from 1976 to 1979 at the National Institute for Education and the Sciences and from 1977 to 1994, at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She held the position, amongst others, of chair person of the Board of the Lokatel Foundation, Radio The Hague Nine Four, and was chair person of the Board of Governors of the C. Pleyier School.

Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy)

Political experience : Was national chair person of the Women's Organization of the VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) member of the Board of Governors of the Professor B. M. Telder Foundation and from 1990 to 1994 she was a member of the Municipal Council of the Hague. From 1994 to 1998 she was a member of the Lower House of the States General. On August 3 1998, Ms J. M. de Vries was appointed as State Secretary of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the Second Kok Cabinet.

Photos : Roel Rozenburg

ALSO SEE

Chiefs of State and Heads of Government Foreign Affairs World Parliaments Federated States and Provinces Political Weekly Factbook International Organizations

	Geesje Hendrika (Geke) Faber - State Secretary for Agriculture Born : 05 August 1952 in Graveland Education/Profession : After completing her secondary education, she studied psychology for some years and is currently studying law. From 1974 to 1980 edited the house journal of a major construction company. Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party) Political experience : Between 1978 and 1991 she belonged to and for some time chaired the Labour Party (PvdA) group in the Provincial Council of Friesland. She has also been vice-chair and chair of the women's section of the PvdA, in which capacity she was also a member of the party's executive committee and general governing body. From 1990 to 1998 was burgomaster of Zeewolde. On 3 August 1998 Ms Faber was appointed State Secretary for Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries in the second Kok government. Note : Her other activities have included chairing the Weststellingwerf Youth and Social Work Organisation, sitting on the board of the National Women's Council and Beileroord psychiatric hospital, chairing the Association for the Redistribution of Paid and Unpaid Work and the Central Netherlands Training and Careers Advisory Centre (Compaz), and serving as a member of the Labour Affairs Board, a Crown-appointed member of the board of the Social Insurance Bank and a member of the board of the Alfred Mozer Foundation.
	Frederick (Rick) van der Ploeg - State Secretary for Culture Born : 28 April 1956 in Rotterdam Education/Profession : After leaving secondary school, he attended the University of Sussex (where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in 1977) and then Kings College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a doctorate in economics in 1981. From 1979 to 1983 worked as a research officer at the University of Cambridge, after which he lectured at the London School of Economics until 1988. Between 1985 and 1991 he also held the post of research professor of quantitative economics at the University of Tilburg and professor of economics at the European University Institute in Florence. In 1991 he was appointed professor of economics at the University of Amsterdam. Also been visiting professor at universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, the Czech Republic, Italy and Austria. His other activities have included being a columnist, a research fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London, a member of the Council of the European Economic Association, the board of the "Mug met de gouden tand" theatre company and the supervisory board of the Pakhoed group, and consultant to the Advisory Council on Government Policy (WRR), the European Commission and the OECD. Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party) Political experience : Member of the board of the Wiardi Beckman Foundation and sat in the party executive of the Labour Party (PvdA) from 1992 on. From 1994 to 1998 he was a member of the Lower House of the States General. On 3 August 1998 appointed State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the second Kok government
	Hendrikus Andreas Lambertus (Henk) van Hoof - State Secretary for Defense Born : 9 November 1947 in Nijmegen. Education/Profession : After leaving secondary school, he attended the Dutch Royal Naval College (KIM) in Den Helder from 1965 to 1968 and then served as paymaster on a number of vessels, including HNLMS De Ruyter and HNLMS Poolster, and at the 'Willemsoord' naval barracks. In 1975, after working for a time in the Navy's Social and Medical Service, he was appointed lecturer in business administration at the KIM, where he later also lectured in personnel management. From 1978 to 1981 he was secretary of the Naval Officers' Association (now the Royal Naval Officers' Association). In 1981, having achieved the rank of lieutenant commander, he was granted an honourable discharge from the navy. In the same year, became an official of the Association of Senior Personnel, where he negotiated and coordinated collective labour agreements. From 1990 to 1991 he was the Association's head of trade union affairs. Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) Political experience : From 1991 onwards, he represented the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the Lower House of the States General. In 1992 he was vice-chairman of the Buurmeijer Committee on the social security system. He has also chaired the Permanent Committee on Petitions and sat on the Permanent Committees on Defence and Social Affairs, as well as filling positions within his party at regional and local level. Appointed State Secretary for Defence in the second Kok government on 3 August 1998.
	Gerrit Ybema - State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Foreign Trade Born : 29 October 1945 in Schettens Education/Profession : After completing his secondary schooling, he worked for a time with an insurance company before going on to study economics at the University of Groningen. He specialised in international economic relations and graduated in 1977. This was followed by a period of employment with the municipality of Enschede and the province of Friesland, where he worked in the financial planning field. In 1986 he became policy adviser to the Provincial Executive, while at the same time chairing the Democrats 66 (D66) group in Leeuwarden Municipal Council. Party : D66 (Democraten 66) Political experience : From 1989 to 1998 was a D66 representative in the Lower House of the States General. His other positions have included being a member of the Second World Centre Advisory Council and serving on the board of the Albania-Netherlands Association. On 3 August 1998 was appointed State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the second Kok government.
	Karin Yvonne Irene Jansen (Karin) Adelmund - State Secretary for Education Born : 18 March 1949 in Rotterdam Education/Profession : Graduated from the University of Amsterdam in 1979 with a social science degree. From 1978 to 1985, chaired the Women's Union, part of the Netherlands Federation of Trade Unions (NVV). The NVV was later absorbed into the Federation of Netherlands Trade Unions (FNV) and between 1985 and 1994 she sat on the board of the FNV, eventually becoming its deputy chairperson. Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party) Political experience : In 1994 she became a member of the Lower House of the States General, and in 1997 deputy chair of the Labour Party (PvdA). Also sat on the Socioeconomic Council (SER), the Joint Industrial Labour Council, the board of the foundation that organises the Willem Drees lectures, the supervisory board of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Committee on Nature and the Environment, and has chaired the NES theatres association in Amsterdam. On 3 August 1998 appointed State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science in the second Kok government.
	Wouter Jacob Bos - State Secretary for Financial Affairs Born : 14 July 1963 in Vlaardingen Education/Profession : Having obtained his high school in Zeist, he studied politics and economics at Amsterdam Free University, passing the doctoral exams in 1988. Since 1988 was working in different positions at Shell : successive as Management Consultant, Policy advisor, General Affairs Manager, Staff Planning and Development Manager, and Consultant New Markets. Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party) Political experience : 1998 Member of Parliament for the PvdA (social democratic). His main portfolio was economic affairs and finance. Notably the new, so called, tax revision 2001, from his predecessor State Secretary for Finance, Willem Vermeend, was part of his most important activities. Appointed as State Secretary for Finance in the second Kok government on 24 March 2000.
	Dr.Dirk Anne (Dick) Benschop - State Secretary for Foreign Affairs (European Affairs) Born : 05 November 1957 in Driebergen-Rijsenburg Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education in Doorn, he went on to study history at the Free University of Amsterdam, graduating in 1984. During this period he was a student representative on the subfaculty and faculty councils and chairman of the university's Students Council. He was also a student assistant (in 1979/1980 in modern history and in 1982 in international relations). During the 1984/1985 school year he taught history at a secondary school. Later secretary of the foundation that organises the Dr J.M. den Uyl lecturesand has served on the boards of Cosmic Illusion Production and the "Ons Huis" housing association in Amsterdam, of which he was also a supervisory director. Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party) Political experience : From 1986 to 1992 he was employed by the parliamentary party of the PvdA, firstly as personal assistant to Dr J.M. den Uyl and W. Kok, and later as secretary to M.A.M. Wöltgens. This led to a post as director of the PvdA party offices. In 1994 he became an independent consultant and in 1996 he was appointed Media Commissioner, responsible for financial supervision of the industry. Also secretary of the foundation that organises the Dr J.M. den Uyl lecturesand has served on the boards of Cosmic Illusion Production and the "Ons Huis" housing association in Amsterdam, of which he was also a supervisory director. On 3 August 1998 appointed State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the second Kok government.
	Anne Margo (Margo) Vliegenthart - State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sports Born : 18 July 1958 in Utrecht Education/Profession : After completing her secondary schooling, she read psychology for some years at the University of Utrecht. Party : PvdA (Partij van de Arbeid / Labour Party) Political experience : From 1981 to 1983 she chaired the PvdA Young Socialists organisation and was a member of the party executive. This was followed by a period working on welfare policy for the PvdA parliamentary party. In 1987 she became a member of the Lower House of the States General. She has also been a member of the executive of the women's section of the PvdA. On 3 August 1998 Ms Vliegenthart was appointed State Secretary for Health, Welfare and Sport in the second Kok government. Note : Ms Vliegenthart has been a board member of "De Haven" women's shelter, the National Centre for Victims of Sexual Violence in Utrecht and the Youth Services Organisation for The Hague and surrounding district.
	Johannes Wijnandus (Johan) Remkes - State Secretary for Housing Born : 15 July 1951 in Oostenbroek Education/Profession : After leaving school he read economics for some years at the University of Groningen. From 1975 to 1977 was chairman of the independent liberal youth organisation JOVD. Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) Political experience : From 1978 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) group in the Municipal Council of Groningen and from 1978 to 1993 he was a member of Groningen Provincial Council. Between 1982 and 1993 he was also a member of the Provincial Executive, in which capacity he sat on various supervisory boards in the energy sector. From 1993 to 1998, was a member of the Lower House of the States General. On 3 August 1998 Mr Remkes was appointed State Secretary for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the second Kok government. Note : He has also been chairman of the National Coordinating Committee on the Delta Works, a member of the Water Supply Council, chairman of the M-50 Evaluation Committee (political youth work) and a member of the Public Works Council subcommittee on infrastructure funding.
	Neeltje Adriana (Ella) Kalsbeek-Jasperse - State Secretary for Justice Born : 05 January 1955 in Middelburg Education/Profession : After completing her secondary education in Middelburg, she studied Dutch criminal and civil law at the Erasmus University, Rotterdam, and graduated in 1977. From 1976 to 1977 she taught Dutch law at a secondary school. From 1977 to 1983, she worked as a policy officer for the council for the harmonisation of welfare policy. Worked for the Legal Advice Centre in Dordrecht from 1974 to 1976. Party : LP (Libertarische Partij / Libertarian Party) Political experience : From 1983 to 1988 she worked as a policy officer for the Labour Party. Parliamentary party, and in 1988 she was appointed to the staff of its executive committee. Has been a member of the Lower House of the Dutch Parliament since 1989. She chaired the temporary committee for the evaluation of investigation methods, appointed to investigate whether the police and the criminal justice authorities were actually employing the methods set out in response to the Van Traa Parliamentary Inquiry, and whether they were proving effective. Secretary and then chair of the governing body of the orthodox Protestant Church in Rotterdam-Delfshaven from 1977 to 1980, and from 1979 to 1984 member and later chair of the Church's committee of delegates responsible for work among students in the Rotterdam classis. From 1984 to 1989 she was a member of the committee of delegates of the general synod of the Reformed Churches responsible for pastoral work among students. From 1980 to 1984, she was a member of the PSVG, an organisation providing information and education on sexuality and relationships. From 1989 to 1991, she chaired the discussion group on the state and the individual set up by the Dr Wiardi Beckman Institute, the Labour Party research institute. She also served on the executive board of the Association for Legislative Policy from 1992 to 1996. Appointed State Secretary for Justice in the second Kok government on 2 January 2001. She succeeds M.J. Cohen.
	Dr.Gijsbert Marius (Gijs) de Vries - State Secretary for Kingdom Affairs Born : 22 February 1956 in New York; USA Education/Profession : He studied at the University of Leiden and graduated with a degree in politics in 1981. For the next three years he was attached to the Faculty of Law at the University of Leiden. Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) Political experience : In 1984 he became a member of the European Parliament, representing the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). Between 1989 and 1992 he was chairman of the European Parliament delegation for relations with Canada. In July 1994, he became chairman of the Liberal and Democratic group within the European Parliament. In 1977-1978, chaired the independent liberal youth organisation JOVD, from 1978 to 1980 he chaired the Liberal Youth Movement of the European Community (LYMEC) and between 1981 and 1984 he served as a municipal councillor in Leiden. On 3 August 1998 Mr De Vries was appointed State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations in the second Kok government. Note : Among the other bodies on which he has sat are the Political Institutions Committee of Amnesty International, the board of the European Union Baroque Orchestra, the supervisory board of the Intercai telematics consultancy, the advisory committee of the Amsterdam-Serajevo City Link organisation and the advisory committee of the Anti-Racism Information Centre. In addition, Mr De Vries has been chairman of the Netherlands Atlantic Association and was co-founder of the Transatlantic Policy Network.
	Anna Elisabeth (Annelies) Verstand-Bogaert - State Secretary for Social Affairs (Equal opportunity) Born : 08 October 1949 in Oostburg. Education/Profession : After training to work in the tourist industry, she went on to read Dutch law at the University of Nijmegen, where she specialised in administrative law, graduating in 1978. From 1980 to 1984 she was employed as a legal adviser to the public by the municipality of Nijmegen and from 1985 to 1988 as a legal officer with the accountancy and advice centre of the Gelderland Farmers Union. Party : D66 (Democraten 66) Political experience : Ms Verstand represented Democrats 66 (D66) in Elst Municipal Council, where she chaired the municipality's equal rights committee, and in Arnhem Regional Council. In 1988 she was appointed burgomaster of Heteren and in 1994 became burgomaster of Zutphen. Her other positions have included that of vice-chair of the Netherlands Association of Burgomasters, deputy member of the European Union's Committee of the Regions and member of the executive of the IJsselstreek regional police force. On 3 August 1998 Ms Verstand was appointed State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the second Kok government.
	Johannes Franciscus (Hans) Hoogervorst - State Secretary for Social Affairs (Social Security) Born : 19 April 1956 in Haarlem Education/Profession : After completing his secondary education, he studied history at the University of Amsterdam, graduating in 1981. He then went on to obtain a Master of Arts degree in international relations at the Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC in 1983. From 1983 to 1986 worked as an international banking officer with the National Bank of Washington (Washington, DC) and from 1986 to 1987 as a policy officer for international monetary affairs at the Dutch Ministry of Finance. Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) Political experience : From 1988 to 1994 he was a policy assistant to the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) group in the Lower House of the States General and from 1994 to 1998 a member of the House. On 3 August 1998 Mr Hoogervorst was appointed State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the second Kok government.
	Jeanne Monique(Monique) de Vries - State Secretary for Transportation and Public Works Born : 16 August 1947 in The Hague Education/Profession : After graduating from grammar school, having focused on the humanities, she went on to study Italian (with the emphasis on language) at the University of Leiden and graduated from there in 1973. From 1970 to 1975 she was a student assistant and research assistant in the Italian Department at the University of Leiden. From 1973 to 1990, worked as a free lance translator and interpreter. Further to this she taught Italian from 1976 to 1979 at the National Institute for Education and the Sciences and from 1977 to 1994, at the Royal Conservatory of Music. She held the position, amongst others, of chair person of the Board of the Lokatel Foundation, Radio The Hague Nine Four, and was chair person of the Board of Governors of the C. Pleyier School. Party : VVD (Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie / People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) Political experience : Was national chair person of the Women's Organization of the VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy) member of the Board of Governors of the Professor B. M. Telder Foundation and from 1990 to 1994 she was a member of the Municipal Council of the Hague. From 1994 to 1998 she was a member of the Lower House of the States General. On August 3 1998, Ms J. M. de Vries was appointed as State Secretary of Transport, Public Works and Water Management in the Second Kok Cabinet.