Drees–Van Schaik cabinet explained

Cabinet Name:Drees–Van Schaik cabinet
First Drees cabinet
Jurisdiction:the Netherlands
Flag:Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Flag Border:true
Image Size2:250px
Date Dissolved:
in office
(Demissionary from)
Government Head:Willem Drees
Deputy Government Head:Josef van Schaik
State Head:Queen Wilhelmina (1948)
Queen Juliana (1948–1951)
Members Number:15
Former Members Number:3
Total Number:18
Political Party:Catholic People's Party
(KVP)
Labour Party
(PvdA)
Christian Historical Union
(CHU)
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(VVD)
Legislature Status:Centre-left[1]
Majority government
(Grand coalition/Roman-Red)
Election:1948 election
Legislature Term:1948–1952
Incoming Formation:1948 formation
Previous:First Beel cabinet
Successor:First Drees cabinet

The Drees–Van Schaik cabinet, also called the First Drees cabinet[2] was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 7 August 1948 until 15 March 1951. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP) and Christian Historical Union (CHU), the social-democratic Labour Party (PvdA) and the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) after the election of 1948. The cabinet was a centre-left[3] grand coalition and had a substantial majority in the House of Representatives with Labour Leader Willem Drees serving as Prime Minister. Prominent Catholic politician Josef van Schaik a former Minister of Justice served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister without portfolio for the Interior.

The cabinet served during final years of the post-war 1940s and the first years of the turbulent 1950s. Domestically the beginning of the recovery and rebuilding following World War II started with the Marshall Plan, it was also to implement several major social reforms to social security, welfare, child benefits and education. Internationally the beginning of the decolonization of the Dutch East Indies started following the Indonesian National Revolution and the forming of the Netherlands New Guinea following the West New Guinea dispute. The cabinet suffered several major internal and external conflicts including multiple cabinet resignations, the cabinet fell 29 months into its term on 24 January 1951 following a disagreement in the coalition over the handling of the New Guinea policy and the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced with the First Drees cabinet on 15 March 1951.[4]

Term

This coalition had a 76% representation in the second chamber of parliament. It had to have a broad basis for the change in constitution that was required to make the Dutch East Indies independent, resulting in the new country Indonesia (in December 1949). In 1948 a second politionele actie (litt: politional action, but actually a military intervention) was embarked upon, but ended under international pressure. The rejection of a VVD-motion over New Guinea in 1951 led to the fall of the cabinet. However, no elections were held and a new cabinet was formed with the same parties, Drees I.

In 1949, the Netherlands entered the NATO. In the same year several alterations of the German border took place.

Cabinet Members

MinistersTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Willem Drees
(1886–1988)
Prime MinisterGeneral Affairs7 August 1948 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
Josef van Schaik
(1882–1962)
Deputy
Prime Minister
InteriorCivil Reform
Decolonization
Policy
7 August 1948 –
15 March 1951
Catholic
People's Party
Minister
Johan van
Maarseveen

(1894–1951)
MinisterInterior7 August 1948 –
15 June 1949
Catholic
People's Party
Josef van Schaik
(1882–1962)
15 June 1949 –
20 September 1949
Catholic
People's Party
Frans Teulings
(1891–1966)
20 September 1949 –
15 March 1951
Catholic
People's Party
Dirk Stikker
(1897–1979)
MinisterForeign Affairs7 August 1948 –
2 September 1952
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Dr.
Piet Lieftinck
(1902–1989)
MinisterFinance25 June 1945 –
1 July 1952
Labour Party
René Wijers
(1891–1973)
MinisterJustice7 August 1948 –
15 May 1950
Catholic
People's Party
Johan van
Maarseveen

(1894–1951)
15 May 1950 –
10 July 1950
Catholic
People's Party
Teun Struycken
(1906–1977)
10 July 1950 –
15 March 1951
Catholic
People's Party
Dr.
Jan van
den Brink

(1915–2006)
MinisterEconomic Affairs20 January 1948 –
2 September 1952
Captain
Wim Schokking
(1900–1960)
MinisterWar and Navy7 August 1948 –
16 October 1950
Christian
Historical Union
Hans s'Jacob
(1906–1967)
16 October 1950 –
15 March 1951
Independent
Christian Democratic
Protestant
Dr.
Dolf Joekes
(1885–1962)
MinisterSocial Affairs7 August 1948 –
15 September 1951
Labour Party
Dr.
Theo Rutten
(1899–1980)
MinisterEducation, Arts
and Sciences
7 August 1948 –
2 September 1952
Catholic
People's Party
Josef van Schaik
(1882–1962)
MinisterTransport and
Water Management
7 August 1948 –
1 November 1948
Catholic
People's Party
Derk Spitzen
(1896–1957)
1 November 1948 –
15 March 1951
Independent
Christian Democratic
Protestant
Sicco Mansholt
(1908–1995)
MinisterFood Supplies,
Agriculture and
Fisheries
25 June 1945 –
1 January 1958
Labour Party
Dr.
Joris in 't Veld
(1895–1981)
MinisterReconstruction
and Housing
1 March 1948 –
2 September 1952
Labour Party
Maan Sassen
(1911–1995)
MinisterColonial Affairs7 August 1948 –
14 February 1949
Catholic
People's Party
Johan van
Maarseveen

(1894–1951)
14 February 1949 –
15 March 1951
Catholic
People's Party
Minister without portfolioTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Lubbertus Götzen
(1894–1979)
MinisterColonial AffairsColonial
Fiscal Policy
11 November 1947 –
15 March 1951
Independent
Christian Democratic
Protestant
State SecretariesTitle/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Nico Blom
(1899–1972)
State SecretaryForeign AffairsDutch East Indies16 February 1950 –
2 September 1952
Independent
Conservative
Liberal
Dr.
Wim van
der Grinten
(1913–1994)
State SecretaryEconomic AffairsPublic
Organisations

Small and
Medium-sized
Businesses
29 January 1949 –
15 March 1951
Catholic
People's Party
Wim Fockema
Andreae
(1909–1996)
State SecretaryWar and NavyArmy
Air Force
1 May 1949 –
27 November 1950
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Vice admiral
Harry Moorman
(1899–1971)
27 November 1950 –
1 June 1951
Catholic
People's Party
1 May 1949 –
19 May 1959
Dr.
Piet Muntendam
(1901–1986)
State SecretarySocial AffairsPrimary
Healthcare

Elderly Care
• Disability Policy
1 April 1950 –
15 September 1951
Labour Party
Dr.
Aat van Rhijn
(1892–1986)
• Social Security
• Unemployment
Occupational
Safety

• Social Services
15 February 1950 –
15 September 1951
Labour Party
Jo Cals
(1914–1971)
State SecretaryEducation, Arts
and Sciences
Youth Care
• Nature
Media
Culture
Art
• Recreation
Sport
15 March 1950 –
2 September 1952
Catholic
People's Party

Trivia

External links

Official

Notes and References

  1. Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
  2. According to a different numbering this was the First Drees cabinet because it was the first cabinet with Willem Drees as Prime Minister.
  3. Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
  4. Web site: Coalities tussen sociaaldemocraten en confessionelen. Historisch Nieuwsblad. 10 August 2006. 24 April 2018. nl.