| Sander Dekker | |
| Office: | Minister for Legal Protection |
| Term Start: | 26 October 2017 |
| Term End: | 10 January 2022 |
| Primeminister: | Mark Rutte |
| Predecessor: | Office established |
| Successor: | Franc Weerwind |
| Office2: | Member of the House of Representatives |
| Term Start2: | 23 March 2017 |
| Term End2: | 26 October 2017 |
| Office1: | State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science |
| Term Start1: | 5 November 2012 |
| Term End1: | 26 October 2017 |
| Primeminister1: | Mark Rutte |
| Predecessor1: | Halbe Zijlstra |
| Successor1: | Office abolished |
| Birth Date: | 1975 2, df=y |
| Birth Place: | The Hague, Netherlands |
| Nationality: | Dutch |
| Party: | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy |
| Residence: | Scheveningen |
| Alma Mater: | Leiden University (BPA, MPA) |
| Occupation: | Politician · Civil servant · Jurist · Researcher · Teacher |
Sander Dekker (born 9 February 1975) is a Dutch politician who served as Minister for Legal Protection in the Third Rutte cabinet from 2017 to 2022.[1] A member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), he previously served as State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science under the Second Rutte cabinet from 2012 to 2017.
Dekker was born in The Hague.[2] He went to primary and secondary school in Zoetermeer. He studied public administration at Leiden University (1993–1999).[2] After his studies, Dekker worked as a researcher and teacher at Leiden University, most notably on matters of police and justice. In 2001, he was a visiting researcher at the University of Oxford Centre for European Politics, Economics and Society.
Dekker served as State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science under the Second Rutte cabinet, dealing with higher education, science and knowledge, teachers and culture, between 5 November 2012 and 26 October 2017.[3] [4] He previously served as a municipal councillor in The Hague from 2003 to 2006, party group leader in the municipal council from 2004 to 2006 and an alderman in the municipal executive from 2006 to 2012. He was responsible for Education, Youth and Sports until 2010 and Finance from 2010 to 2012.
In July 2015, Dekker submitted to the States General a proposal to change two aspects of the freedom of education law:[5]
On 26 October 2017, he was appointed Minister for Legal Protection, a ministership without portfolio at the Ministry of Justice and Security, in charge of Privacy Policy, Youth Justice, Copyright Law and Prevention, under Minister Ferdinand Grapperhaus. On 10 January 2022, he was succeeded by Franc Weerwind.
Dekker was injured in a bicycle accident in June 2022 that resulted in a three–day coma, a concussion, and fractures to his ribs, clavicle, and pelvis. He fell from his race bike after colliding with the arm of a woman who was gesturing disapprovingly at his speed. According to Dekker's wife, the woman had grabbed his arm, leading to her prosecution for assault. In June 2024, she was acquitted of the charges.[6]