List of ministers of education of the Netherlands explained

Post:	Minister of Education, Culture and Science
Body:	the Netherlands
Native Name:	Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap
Flag:	Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Flagsize:	250x250px
Flagcaption:	Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Insignia:	Logo ministerie OCW.svg
Insigniasize:	250x250px
Insigniacaption:	Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Incumbent:	Eppo Bruins
Incumbentsince:
Department:	Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Style:	His/Her Excellency
Member Of:	Council of Ministers
Appointer:	The Monarch
Appointer Qualified:	on advice of the Prime Minister
First:	Theodorus van Kooten as Secretary of National Education
Deputy:	Mariëlle Paul as State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Equal Opportunities
Salary:	€157,287 (including €4,193 of expenses)
Website:	Minister of Education, Culture and Science

The minister of education, culture and science (Dutch; Flemish: Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap) is the head of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The current minister of education, culture and science is Eppo Bruins of New Social Contract (NSC) who has been in office since 2 July 2024.^[1] The minister of education, culture and science is often assigned a state secretary who is tasked with specific portfolios, currently Mariëlle Paul of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).^[2] In the past, there have been ministers without portfolio assigned to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

List of ministers of education

Ministers of Education, Arts and Sciences (1918–1965)

Name	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
Dr. Johannes Theodoor de Visser (1857–1932)	25 September 1918 – 4 August 1925		Christian Historical Union	Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I, II ^[3] ^[4]
Victor Henri Rutgers (1877–1945)	4 August 1925 – 8 March 1926		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Colijn I ^[5]
Marius Waszink (1881–1943)	8 March 1926 – 10 August 1929		Roman Catholic State Party	De Geer I ^[6]
Jan Terpstra (1888–1952)	10 August 1929 – 26 May 1933		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III ^[7]
Henri Marchant (1869–1956)	26 May 1933 – 18 May 1935		Free-thinking Democratic League	Colijn II ^[8]
Dr. Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941)	18 May 1935 – 25 July 1939		Christian Historical Union	Colijn II ^[8]
Dr. Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941)	18 May 1935 – 25 July 1939	Colijn III, IV ^[9] ^[10]	Christian Historical Union
Dr. Bep Schrieke (1890–1945)	25 July 1939 – 10 August 1939		Independent Liberal	Colijn V ^[11]
Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956)	10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945		Free-thinking Democratic League	De Geer II ^[12]
Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956)	10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945	Gerbrandy I, II, III ^[13] ^[14]	Free-thinking Democratic League
Dr. Gerard van der Leeuw (1898–1981)	25 June 1945 – 3 July 1946		Social Democratic Workers' Party	Schermerhorn–Drees ^[15]
Dr. Gerard van der Leeuw (1898–1981)	25 June 1945 – 3 July 1946		Labour Party	Schermerhorn–Drees ^[15]
Dr. Jos Gielen (1898–1981)	3 July 1946 – 7 August 1948		Catholic People's Party	Beel I ^[16]
Dr. Theo Rutten (1899–1980)	7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952		Catholic People's Party	Drees–Van Schaik ^[17]
Dr. Theo Rutten (1899–1980)	7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952	Drees I ^[18]	Catholic People's Party
Jo Cals (1914–1971)	2 September 1952 – 7 November 1961		Catholic People's Party	Drees II, III ^[19] ^[20]
		Beel II ^[21]
		De Quay ^[22]
Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	7 November 1961 – 4 February 1962			Catholic People's Party
Jo Cals (1914–1971)	4 February 1962 – 23 April 1963			Catholic People's Party
Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	23 April 1963 – 24 July 1963			Catholic People's Party
Theo Bot (1911–1984)	24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965		Catholic People's Party	Marijnen ^[23]

Ministers of Education and Sciences (1965–1994)

Name	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
Dr. Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1916–2004)	14 April 1965 – 5 April 1967		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Cals ^[24]
Dr. Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1916–2004)	14 April 1965 – 5 April 1967	Zijlstra ^[25]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999)	5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971		Catholic People's Party	De Jong ^[26]
Chris van Veen (1922–2009)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973		Christian Historical Union	Biesheuvel I, II ^[27]
Dr. Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977		Labour Party	Den Uyl ^[28]
Dr. Arie Pais (1930–2022)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Van Agt I ^[29]
Dr. Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982		Labour Party	Van Agt II ^[30]
Wim Deetman (born 1945)	29 May 1982 – 14 September 1989		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt III ^[31]
		Lubbers I ^[32]
		Lubbers II ^[33]
Gerrit Braks (1933–2017)	14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989	Lubbers II ^[33]		Christian Democratic Appeal
Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945)	7 November 1989 – 22 August 1994		Labour Party	Lubbers III ^[34]

Ministers of Education, Culture and Science (since 1994)

Name	Term of office		Cabinet
Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	Labour Party	Kok I ^[35]
Loek Hermans (born 1951)	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Kok II ^[36]
Maria van der Hoeven (born 1949)	22 July 2002 – 22 February 2007	Christian Democratic Appeal	Balkenende I, II, III ^[37] ^[38] ^[39]
Dr. Ronald Plasterk (born 1957)	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010	Labour Party	Balkenende IV ^[40]
André Rouvoet (born 1962)	23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010	Christian Union	Balkenende IV ^[40]
Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012	Christian Democratic Appeal	Rutte I ^[41]
Dr. Jet Bussemaker (born 1961)	5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017	Labour Party	Rutte II ^[42]
Ingrid van Engelshoven (born 1966)	26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022	Democrats 66	Rutte III ^[43]
Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960)	10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024	Democrats 66	Rutte IV ^[44]
Eppo Bruins (born 1969)	10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024	New Social Contract	Schoof

List of ministers without portfolio

Portrait	Name	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Jonkheer Mauk de Brauw (1925–1984)	• Higher Education • Science Policy	6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972		Democratic Socialists '70	Biesheuvel I
	Chris van Veen (1922–2009)		21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973		Christian Historical Union	Biesheuvel I
	Chris van Veen (1922–2009)		21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973	Biesheuvel II	Christian Historical Union
	Boy Trip (1921–1990)	• Science Policy	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977		Political Party of Radicals	Den Uyl
	Rinus Peijnenburg (1928–1979)	• Science Policy	19 December 1977 – 1 April 1979		Catholic People's Party	Van Agt I
	Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003)		1 April 1979 – 3 May 1979		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Dr. Ton van Trier (1926–1983)		3 May 1979 – 11 September 1981		Independent Catholic
					Catholic People's Party
					Christian Democratic Appeal
Not in use (1981–2017)
	Arie Slob (born 1961)		26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022		Christian Union	Rutte III
	Dennis Wiersma (born 1986)		10 January 2022 – 22 June 2023		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte IV
	Mariëlle Paul (born 1966)		21 July 2023 – 2 July 2024		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte IV
Not in use (since 2024)

List of state secretaries of education

State Secretaries of Education, Arts and Sciences (1950–1965)

Name	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
Jo Cals (1914–1971)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	15 March 1950 – 2 September 1952		Catholic People's Party	Drees–Van Schaik
Jo Cals (1914–1971)		15 March 1950 – 2 September 1952	Drees I	Catholic People's Party
Dr. Anna de Waal (1906–1981)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Youth Care	2 February 1953 – 16 March 1957		Catholic People's Party	Drees II
Dr. Anna de Waal (1906–1981)		2 February 1953 – 16 March 1957	Drees III	Catholic People's Party
René Höppener (1903–1983)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959	Drees III		Catholic People's Party
René Höppener (1903–1983)		12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959	Beel II		Catholic People's Party
Gerard Stubenrouch (1918–1962)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education	16 June 1959 – 22 April 1962		Catholic People's Party	De Quay
Dr. Harry Janssen (1910–1982)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education	4 June 1962 – 24 July 1963		Catholic People's Party
Ynso Scholten (1918–1984)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	16 June 1959 – 24 July 1963		Christian Historical Union
Hans Grosheide (1930–2022)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	3 September 1963 – 14 April 1965		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Marijnen
Louis van de Laar (1921–2004)	• Social Services • Youth Care • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	24 October 1963 – 14 April 1965		Catholic People's Party	Marijnen

State Secretaries of Education and Sciences (1965–1994)

Name	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
Hans Grosheide (1930-2022)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	14 April 1965 – 6 July 1971		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Cals
			Zijlstra
			De Jong
Kees Schelfhout (1918–1983)	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	28 July 1971 – 11 May 1973		Catholic People's Party	Biesheuvel I, II
Dr. Ger Klein (1925–1998)	• Higher education	11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977		Labour Party	Den Uyl
Dr. Antoon Veerman (1916–1993)	• Secondary Education • Special Education	11 May 1973 – 1 September 1975		Anti-Revolutionary Party
Klaas de Jong (1926–2011)	• Secondary Education • Special Education	1 September 1975 – 19 December 1977		Anti-Revolutionary Party
Klaas de Jong (1926–2011)		19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Van Agt I	Anti-Revolutionary Party
Ad Hermes (1929–2002)	• Primary Education	9 January 1978 – 29 May 1982	Van Agt I		Catholic People's Party
	• Primary Education	9 January 1978 – 29 May 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt II
	• Primary Education • Special Education	29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982	Van Agt III	Christian Democratic Appeal
Wim Deetman (born 1945)	• Secondary Education • Adult Education	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt II
Nell Ginjaar-Maas (1931–2012)	• Secondary Education • Adult Education	5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Lubbers I
Nell Ginjaar-Maas (1931–2012)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Adult Education	14 July 1986 – 7 November 1989	Lubbers II	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Gerard van Leijenhorst (1928–2001)	• Primary Education	8 November 1982 – 14 July 1986		Christian Democratic Appeal	Lubbers I
Jacques Wallage (born 1946)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	7 November 1989 – 9 June 1993		Labour Party	Lubbers III
Dr. Roel in 't Veld (born 1942)	• Secondary Education • Higher education • Science Policy	9 June 1993 – 19 June 1993		Labour Party
Dr. Job Cohen (born 1947)	• Higher education • Science Policy	2 July 1993 – 22 August 1994		Labour Party

State Secretaries of Education, Culture and Science (since 1994)

Portrait	Name	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Tineke Netelenbos (born 1944)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998		Labour Party	Kok I
	Aad Nuis (1933–2007)	• Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998		Democrats 66	Kok I
	Karin Adelmund (1949–2005)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002		Labour Party	Kok II
	Dr. Rick van der Ploeg (born 1956)	• Media • Culture • Art	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002		Labour Party	Kok II
	Annette Nijs (born 1961)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy	22 July 2002 – 9 June 2004		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Balkenende I
	Annette Nijs (born 1961)		22 July 2002 – 9 June 2004	Balkenende II	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Mark Rutte (born 1967)		17 June 2004 – 27 June 2006			People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Bruno Bruins (born 1963)		29 June 2006 – 3 July 2006			People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Bruno Bruins (born 1963)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy	3 July 2006 – 22 February 2007	Balkenende III		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Cees van Leeuwen (born 1951)	• Media • Culture • Art	22 July 2002 – 27 May 2003		Pim Fortuyn List	Balkenende I
	Medy van der Laan (born 1968)	• Media • Culture • Art	27 May 2003 – 3 July 2006		Democrats 66	Balkenende II
	Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	• Secondary Education	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010		Christian Democratic Appeal	Balkenende IV
	Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	• Higher Education • Secondary Education • Science • Media • Culture • Art • Emancipation	23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010		Christian Democratic Appeal
	Sharon Dijksma (born 1971)	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010		Labour Party
	Halbe Zijlstra (born 1969)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy • Culture • Art	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte I
	Sander Dekker (born 1975)	• Higher Education • Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art	5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte II
Vacant
	Dr. Gunay Uslu (born 1972)	• Culture • Media • Art	10 January 2022 – 1 December 2023		Democrats 66	Rutte IV
	Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960)		1 December 2023 – 6 December 2023		Democrats 66
	Steven van Weyenberg (born 1973)		6 December 2023 – 12 January 2024		Democrats 66
	Fleur Gräper (born 1974)		12 January 2024 – 2 July 2024		Democrats 66
	Mariëlle Paul (born 1966)		2 July 2024 – Incumbent		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Schoof ^[45]

List of ministers of social work

Ministers of Social Work (1952–1965)

Name	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977)	2 September 1952 – 9 September 1952		Catholic People's Party	Drees II
Frans-Jozef van Thiel (1906–1993)	9 September 1952 – 13 October 1956		Catholic People's Party	Drees II
Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	13 October 1956 – 24 July 1963		Catholic People's Party	Drees III
		Beel II
		De Quay
Jo Schouwenaar- Franssen (1909–1995)	24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Marijnen

Ministers of Culture, Recreation and Social Work (1965–1982)

Name	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
Maarten Vrolijk (1919–1994)	14 April 1965 – 22 November 1966		Labour Party	Cals
Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 November 1966 – 7 January 1971		Catholic People's Party	Zijlstra
Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 November 1966 – 7 January 1971	De Jong	Catholic People's Party
Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999)	7 January 1971 – 22 February 1971			Catholic People's Party
Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 February 1971 – 6 July 1971			Catholic People's Party
Piet Engels (1922–2009)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973		Catholic People's Party	Biesheuvel I, II
Harry van Doorn (1915–1992)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977		Political Party of Radicals	Den Uyl
Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981		Catholic People's Party	Van Agt I
Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt I
André van der Louw (1933–2005)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982		Labour Party	Van Agt II
Hans de Boer (born 1937)	29 May 1982 – 11 October 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt III
Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	11 October 1982 – 4 November 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt III

List of state secretaries of social work

Portrait	Name	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Cees Egas (1913–2001)	• Social Services • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	10 May 1965 – 22 November 1966		Labour Party	Cals
Vacant
	Hein van de Poel (1915–1993)	• Unemployment • Social Services • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	29 May 1967 – 6 July 1971		Catholic People's Party	De Jong
	Fia van Veenendaal- van Meggelen (1918–2005)	• Social Services • Disability Policy	28 July 1971 – 21 July 1972		Democratic Socialists '70	Biesheuvel I
	Henk Vonhoff (1931–2010)	• Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Biesheuvel I
	Henk Vonhoff (1931–2010)	• Social Services • Disability Policy • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973	Biesheuvel II	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Wim Meijer (born 1939)	• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature • Recreation	11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977		Labour Party	Den Uyl
	Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (born 1932)	• Unemployment • Equality • Emancipation	28 December 1977 – 9 September 1981		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Van Agt I
	Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (born 1932)	• Unemployment • Equality • Emancipation	28 December 1977 – 9 September 1981		Christian Democratic Appeal
	Gerard Wallis de Vries (1936–2018)	• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	4 January 1978 – 11 September 1981		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Hans de Boer (born 1937)	• Social Services • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt II

Notes and References

Web site: Eppo Bruins. Government of the Netherlands. 2 July 2024. 21 July 2024.
News: Mariëlle Paul . 21 July 2024 . .
News: Kabinet-Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I. Parlement & Politiek. RuijsDeBeerenbrouckI.
News: Kabinet-Ruijs de Beerenbrouck II. Parlement & Politiek. RuijsDeBeerenbrouckII.
News: Kabinet-Colijn I. Parlement & Politiek. ColijnI.
News: Kabinet-De Geer I. Parlement & Politiek. DeGeerI.
News: Kabinet-Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III. Parlement & Politiek. RuijsdeBeerenbrouckIII.
News: Kabinet-Colijn II. Parlement & Politiek. ColijnII.
News: Kabinet-Colijn III. Parlement & Politiek. ColijnIII.
News: Kabinet-Colijn IV. Parlement & Politiek. ColijnIV.
News: Kabinet-Colijn V. Parlement & Politiek. ColijnV.
News: Kabinet-De Geer II. Parlement & Politiek. DeGeerII.
News: Kabinet-Gerbrandy I / II. Parlement & Politiek. GerbrandyI/II.
News: Kabinet-Gerbrandy III. Parlement & Politiek. GerbrandyIII.
News: Kabinet-Schermerhorn-Drees. Rijksoverheid. SchermerhornDrees.
News: Kabinet-Beel I. Rijksoverheid. BeelI.
News: Kabinet-Drees-Van Schaik. Rijksoverheid. DreesVanSchaik.
News: Kabinet-Drees I. Rijksoverheid. DreesI.
News: Kabinet-Drees II. Rijksoverheid. DreesII.
News: Kabinet-Drees III. Rijksoverheid. DreesIII.
News: Kabinet-Beel II. Rijksoverheid. BeelII.
News: Kabinet-De Quay. Rijksoverheid. DeQuay.
News: Kabinet-Marijnen. Rijksoverheid. Marijnen.
News: Kabinet-Cals. Rijksoverheid. Cals.
News: Kabinet-Zijlstra. Rijksoverheid. Zijlstra.
News: Kabinet-De Jong. Rijksoverheid. De Jong.
News: Kabinet-Biesheuvel. Rijksoverheid. Biesheuvel.
News: Kabinet-Den Uyl. Rijksoverheid. DenUyl.
News: Kabinet-Van Agt I. Rijksoverheid. VanAgtI.
News: Kabinet-Van Agt II. Rijksoverheid. VanAgtII.
News: Kabinet-Van Agt III. Rijksoverheid. VanAgtIII.
News: Kabinet-Lubbers I. Rijksoverheid. LubbersI.
News: Kabinet-Lubbers II. Rijksoverheid. LubbersII.
News: Kabinet-Lubbers III. Rijksoverheid. LubbersIII.
News: Kabinet-Kok I. Rijksoverheid. KokI.
News: Kabinet-Kok II. Rijksoverheid. KokII.
News: Kabinet-Balkenende I. Rijksoverheid. BalkenendeI.
News: Kabinet-Balkenende II. Rijksoverheid. BalkenendeII.
News: Kabinet-Balkenende III. Rijksoverheid. BalkenendeIII.
News: Kabinet-Balkenende IV. Rijksoverheid. BalkenendeIV.
News: Kabinet-Rutte-Verhagen. Rijksoverheid. RutteI.
News: Kabinet-Rutte-Asscher. Rijksoverheid. RutteII.
News: Kabinet-Rutte III. Rijksoverheid. RutteIII.
News: Kabinet-Rutte IV. Rijksoverheid. RutteIV.
News: Kabinet-Schoof. Rijksoverheid. Schoof.