Wouter Koolmees

Dutch politician
Wouter Koolmees
Koolmees in 2010
Minister of Social Affairs and Employment
In office
26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byLodewijk Asscher
Succeeded byKarien van Gennip
Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office
1 November 2019 – 14 May 2020
Serving with Hugo de Jonge
Carola Schouten
Prime MinisterMark Rutte
Preceded byKajsa Ollongren
Succeeded byKajsa Ollongren
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
17 June 2010 – 26 October 2017
Personal details
Born (1977-03-20) 20 March 1977 (age 47)
Capelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands
Political partyDemocrats 66 (since 2002)
Residence(s)Rotterdam, Netherlands
Alma materUtrecht University
(Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics)
OccupationPolitician · Civil servant · Economist · Accountant · Financial analyst · Researcher
WebsiteMinister of Social Affairs and Employment

Wouter Koolmees (born 20 March 1977) is a Dutch economist and politician and of the Democrats 66 (D66) party who served as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Third Rutte cabinet from 2017 to 2022. He also served as second Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2019 to 2020 during Kajsa Ollongren's medical leave of absence.[1] He is also the CEO of Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Early life and education

Koolmees studied economics at Utrecht University.

Career in the civil service

Before entering politics, he worked for several employers, including as a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance.

Career in national politics

Koolmees was a member of the House of Representatives from 17 June 2010[2] until his ministerial appointment on 26 October 2017; as a parliamentarian, he focused on matters of finance, transport and water supply.

Following the 2017 general election, Koolmees represented his party's interests alongside then-party leader Alexander Pechtold at the negotiating table with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) to form Mark Rutte's third cabinet. On 26 October 2017, he assumed office as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, succeeding Lodewijk Asscher.

Following the 2021 national elections, Koolmees and Tamara van Ark of the VVD were chosen to lead their parties' negotiations on a coalition agreement.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Cijferaar Wouter Koolmees (D66) minister van Sociale Zaken" (in Dutch). NOS. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  2. ^ Reed Stevenson and Harro ten Wolde (June 9, 2010), Dutch vote in election dominated by austerity theme Reuters.
  3. ^ Eline Schaart and William Adkins (March 25, 202), Coronavirus outbreak, resignations interrupt Dutch coalition talks Politico Europe.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wouter Koolmees.
Official
  • (in Dutch) Drs. W. (Wouter) Koolmees Parlement & Politiek
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Social Affairs
and Employment

2017–present
Incumbent
Preceded by Deputy Prime Minister
2019–2020
Served alongside:
Hugo de Jonge
Carola Schouten
Succeeded by
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House of Representatives
23 March 2017 – 31 March 2021
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
(VVD – 32)
Party for Freedom
(PVV – 20)
Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA – 19)
Democrats 66
(D66 – 19)
GroenLinks
(GL – 14)
Socialist Party
(SP – 14)
Labour Party
(PvdA – 9)
Christian Union
(CU – 5)
Party for the Animals
(PvdD – 4)
50PLUS
(50+ – 3)
Reformed Political Party
(SGP – 3)
DENK
(DENK – 3)
Forum for Democracy
(FVD – 2)
Member Krol
(Indep. – 1)
Member Van Kooten-Arissen
(Indep. – 1)
 Bold  indicates the parliamentary leader (first mentioned) and the Speaker;  (Brackets)  indicate a temporarily absent member;
 Italics  indicate a temporary member;  ‹Guillemets›  indicate a member who has left the House of Representatives
See also: Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2015–2019 · 2019–2023
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House of Representatives
20 September 2012 – 23 March 2017
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
(VVD – 40)
Labour Party
(PvdA – 35)
Socialist Party
(SP – 15)
Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA – 13)
Party for Freedom
(PVV – 12)
Democrats 66
(D66 – 12)
Christian Union
(CU – 5)
GroenLinks
(GL – 4)
Reformed Political Party
(SGP – 3)
Party for the Animals
(PvdD – 2)
50PLUS
(50+ – 1)
Bontes/Van Klaveren Group
(Indep. – 2)
Kuzu/Öztürk Group
(Indep. – 2)
Member Van Vliet
(Indep. – 1)
Member Klein
(Indep. – 1)
  • Klein
Member Houwers
(Indep. – 1)
Member Monasch
(Indep. – 1)
 Abc  signifies the parliamentary leader (first mentioned) and the Speaker;  (Abc)  signifies a temporarily absent member;
 Abc  signifies a temporary member;  ‹Abc›  signifies a member who prematurely left the House of Representatives
See also: Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2011–2015 · 2015–2019
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House of Representatives, 17 June 2010 – 19 September 2012
People's Party for Freedom
and Democracy (31)
Labour Party (30)
Christian Democratic
Appeal (21)
Party for Freedom (20)
Socialist Party (15)
Democrats 66 (10)
GroenLinks (10)
Christian Union (5)
Reformed Political Party (2)
Party for the Animals (2)
Independents (4)
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Third Rutte cabinet (2017–2022)
Ministers
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Interior and Kingdom Relations
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Justice and Security
Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
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