| Office: | Member of the Social and Economic Council |
| 1Namedata: | Wiebe Draijer (2014) Mariëtte Hamer (from 2014) |
| Term Start: | 15 August 2014 |
| Office1: | Queen's Commissioner of Friesland |
| Term Start1: | 1 January 1999 |
| Term End1: | 1 May 2008 |
| Monarch1: | Beatrix |
| Predecessor1: | Gerard van Klaveren (Ad Interim) |
| Successor1: | John Jorritsma |
| Office2: | Mayor of Breda |
| Term Start2: | 1 April 1990 |
| Term End2: | 1 July 1995 |
| Predecessor2: | Frans Feij |
| Successor2: | Chris Rutten |
| Office3: | Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment |
| Term Start3: | 14 July 1986 |
| Term End3: | 7 November 1989 |
| Primeminister3: | Ruud Lubbers |
| Predecessor3: | Pieter Winsemius |
| Successor3: | Hans Alders |
| Office4: | Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Term Start4: | 20 April 1982 |
| Term End4: | 9 July 1986 |
| Predecessor4: | Hans Wiegel |
| Successor4: | Rudolf de Korte |
| Office5: | Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives |
| Term Start5: | 20 April 1982 |
| Term End5: | 9 July 1986 |
| Predecessor5: | Hans Wiegel |
| Successor5: | Joris Voorhoeve |
| Parliamentarygroup5: | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Office6: | Member of the House of Representatives |
| Term Start6: | 14 September 1989 |
| Term End6: | 4 April 1990 |
| Term Start7: | 8 June 1977 |
| Term End7: | 14 July 1986 |
| Parliamentarygroup7: | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Birthname: | Eduardus Hermannus Theresia Maria Nijpels |
| Birth Date: | 1950 4, df=y |
| Birth Place: | Den Helder, Netherlands |
| Party: | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1968) |
| Spouse: | |
| Children: | 2 sons |
| Residence: | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Alma Mater: | Utrecht University (BSL, MSL) |
Eduardus Hermannus Theresia Maria Nijpels (born 1 April 1950) is a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and nonprofit director.[1] [2]
Nijpels studied Civil law at the Utrecht University obtaining a Master of Studies in Law degree. Nijpels served as chairman of the political youth organisation JOVD from February 1974 until November 1975. Nijpels worked as a civics teacher in Roosendaal from August 1974 until June 1977. After the election of 1977 Nijpels was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 8 June 1977 serving as a frontbencher chairing the House Committee on Law enforcement and spokesperson for Justice and the Ombudsman. After the Party Leader and Parliamentary leader Hans Wiegel announced he was stepping down he endorsed Nijpels as his successor and he was anonymously selected as his successor on 20 April 1982.
For the elections of 1982 Nijpels served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate) and following a cabinet formation with Christian-democratic Leader Ruud Lubbers formed the Cabinet Lubbers I with Nijpels opting to remain as Parliamentary leader. For the election of 1986 Nijpels again served as Lijsttrekker but shortly thereafter announced that he was stepping down following disappointed election results on 9 July 1986. After a cabinet formation the coalition continued and Nijpels was appointed as Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment in the Cabinet Lubbers II taking office on 14 July 1986. After the election of 1989 Nijpels returned to the House of Representatives on 14 September 1989 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Spatial Planning and the Environment. In March 1990 Nijpels was nominated as the Mayor of Breda serving from 1 April 1990 until 1 July 1995 when he was appointment as director-general for the Arbodienst of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment. In December 1998 Nijpels was nominated as the next Queen's Commissioner of Friesland serving from 1 January 1999 until 1 May 2008.
Nijpels semi-retired from active politics and became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and workes as a trade association executive serving as Chairman of the Koninklijke NLingenieurs from May 2008 until May 2015, the GeoBusiness association since September 2009 and for the Industry and Employers confederation (VNO-NCW) from July 2008 until March 2015 and became a Member of the Social and Economic Council in August 2014. Nijpels continues to be active an advocate, lobbyist and activist for Environmentalism, Sustainable development, Conservation and Climate change.[3] [4]
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 20 November 1989 | ||
| Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 20 May 2008 | ||