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Ben Bot
Bernard Bot (agenciabrasil).jpeg
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
Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Officer.svg Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 10 December 1985
NLD Order of the Dutch Lion - Knight BAR.png Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 30 April 1993
LVA Order of the Three Stars - Silver Medal BAR.png Silver Medal of Honor of the Order of the Three Stars Latvia 2008
POL Order Zaslugi RP kl3 BAR.png Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit Poland 29 June 2012
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