Ben Bot facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ben Bot
Ben Bot in 2007
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 3 December 2003 – 22 February 2007
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Succeeded by	Maxime Verhagen
Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the European Union
In office 1 October 1992 – 1 January 2003
Preceded by	Unknown
Succeeded by	Unknown
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Turkey
In office 1 January 1986 – 1 January 1989
Preceded by	Unknown
Succeeded by	Unknown
Deputy Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to NATO
In office 1 January 1982 – 1 January 1986
Preceded by	Unknown
Succeeded by	Unknown
Ambassador of the Netherlands to East Germany
In office 30 January 1973 – 15 December 1976
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Unknown
Personal details
Born	Bernard Rudolf Bot (1937-11-21) 21 November 1937 (age 86) Batavia, Dutch East Indies
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political affiliations	Catholic People's Party (until 1980)
Domestic partner	Sybilla Dekker (since 2008)
Children	3 children
Parent(s)	Theo Bot (father)
Residence(s)	The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	Leiden University (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Doctor of Philosophy) Harvard University (Juris Doctor, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist

Bernard Rudolf "Ben" Bot (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈbɛrnɑrt ˈrydɔl(ə)v bɛm ˈbɔt]; born 21 November 1937) is a retired Dutch politician and diplomat of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).

He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 3 December 2003 until 22 February 2007 in the Cabinets Balkenende II and III. A career diplomat, he succeeded then-Minister of Foreign Affairs Jaap de Hoop Scheffer who resigned to become Secretary General of NATO in 2003.

Early life and education

Bot was born in Batavia, Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta, Indonesia). The son of Theo Bot who served as Minister of Education, Culture and Science and Minister for Development Cooperation. He studied at the Leiden University where he earned an L.L.M. and a Ph.D. degree in Law, and attended subsequently The Hague Academy of International Law and Harvard Law School (Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States) where he received a second L.L.M. degree from the latter.

Other activities

• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Ex-Officio Alternate Member of the Board of Governors (2003-2007)

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	10 December 1985
	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	30 April 1993
	Silver Medal of Honor of the Order of the Three Stars	Latvia	2008
	Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit	Poland	29 June 2012