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Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands facts for kids

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Deputy Prime Minister of the
Netherlands
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
State Coat of Arms of the Netherlands.svg
State Coat of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Incumbent
(1) Sophie Hermans
(2) Eddy van Hijum
(3) Mona Keijzer
Member of Council of Ministers
Appointer The Monarch
on advice of the Prime Minister
Formation 25 June 1945; 80 years ago (1945-06-25)
First holder Willem Drees
Salary €144,000 annually
(including €7,887.24 expenses)


The Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands (also called Viceminister-president van Nederland or Vicepremier van Nederland in Dutch) is like a helpful assistant to the main leader of the Dutch government. This person steps in when the Prime Minister is away. They can lead important meetings, like those of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers.

Usually, in the Netherlands, different political parties work together to form a government. Each of the smaller parties in this team gets to choose one of their members to be a Deputy Prime Minister. The order of these deputies depends on how many seats their party has in the House of Representatives, which is a part of the Dutch parliament.

What Does a Deputy Prime Minister Do?

The Deputy Prime Minister has several important jobs. Their main role is to support the Prime Minister. They help manage the government and make sure things run smoothly.

Stepping In for the Prime Minister

If the Prime Minister is sick or traveling, the Deputy Prime Minister takes over. This means they can lead cabinet meetings and make important decisions. They ensure that the government keeps working, even when the Prime Minister is not there.

Representing Their Party

Each Deputy Prime Minister also represents their own political party within the government. They make sure their party's ideas and goals are heard and included in government plans. This helps different parties work together effectively.

Who Can Be a Deputy Prime Minister?

A Deputy Prime Minister is usually a senior member of one of the political parties that form the government. They are often also in charge of a specific government department, like finance or social affairs. This means they have two big jobs at once!

A Look at Past Deputy Prime Ministers

Since the role was created in 1945, many different people have served as Deputy Prime Minister. They have come from various political parties and held many different government positions.

Early Deputy Prime Ministers (1945-1960s)

The first Deputy Prime Minister was Willem Drees, who later became Prime Minister himself. In the early years, the role was often held by ministers from parties working with the main party. For example, Josef van Schaik and Frans Teulings from the Catholic People's Party served in this role.

Multiple Deputies (1960s-Present)

Sometimes, there can be more than one Deputy Prime Minister at the same time. This happens when several parties are part of the government. They are then ranked as First Deputy PM, Second Deputy PM, and so on. For example, in the 1960s, Anne Vondeling and Barend Biesheuvel served together as First and Second Deputy Prime Ministers.

Recent Deputy Prime Ministers

In recent years, the role has continued to be important. For instance, Wim Kok served as Deputy Prime Minister before becoming Prime Minister. More recently, people like Hugo de Jonge, Kajsa Ollongren, and Carola Schouten have held these positions.

As of July 2025, the current Deputy Prime Ministers are Sophie Hermans, Eddy van Hijum, and Mona Keijzer. They work alongside the Prime Minister, Dick Schoof, to lead the country.

Images for kids

  • Minister van Sociale Zaken dr. Drees aan zijn bureau, pen in de hand. 29 mei 1947. - SFA001014095

    Willem Drees

  • Josef van Schaik 1951 (1)

    Josef van Schaik

  • Frans Teulings 1961 (1)

    Frans Teulings

  • Louis Beel 1958

    Louis Beel

  • Struycken, mr. A.A.M. - SFA007000337

    Teun Struycken

  • Henk Korthals 1962 (2)

    Henk Korthals

  • Barend Biesheuvel 1971

    Barend Biesheuvel

  • Anne Vondeling 1971 (1)

    Anne Vondeling

  • Jan de Quay 1962 (1)

    Jan de Quay

  • Johan Witteveen 1963

    Johan Witteveen

  • Joop Bakker 1970 (1)

    Joop Bakker

  • Roelof Nelissen 1971 (1)

    Roelof Nelissen

  • Molly Geertsema 1964 (1)

    Molly Geertsema

  • Dries van Agt 1976 (1)

    Dries van Agt

  • Gaius de Gaay Fortman 1973 (1)

    Gaius de Gaay Fortman

  • Hans Wiegel 1977 (1)

    Hans Wiegel

  • Joop den Uyl 1981 (2)

    Joop den Uyl

  • Jan Terlouw 1981 (1)

    Jan Terlouw

  • Gijs van Aardenne 1982 (1)

    Gijs van Aardenne

  • Rudolf de Korte 1985 (1)

    Rudolf de Korte

  • Wim Kok 1983 (1)

    Wim Kok

  • Hans Dijkstal 1985 (1)

    Hans Dijkstal

  • H.A.F.M.O. van Mierlo, minister van Defensie

    Hans van Mierlo

  • Mw. Jorrisma-Lebbink Voorzitter van Koninklijke Schuttevaer (cropped)

    Annemarie Jorritsma

  • Els Borst februari 2002

    Els Borst

  • Eduard Bomhoff 2006

    Eduard Bomhoff

  • JRemkes

    Johan Remkes

  • Roelf de Boer 2002 (1)

    Roelf de Boer

  • GZalm

    Gerrit Zalm

  • Thom de Graaf 2009

    Thom de Graaf

  • Laurens Jan Brinkhorst 1981 (1)

    Laurens Jan Brinkhorst

  • Bos Dutch politician kabinet Balkenende IV

    Wouter Bos

  • Rouvoet Dutch politician kabinet Balkenende IV

    André Rouvoet

  • Maxime-Verhagen-CDA-DSC 0118 (crop)

    Maxime Verhagen

  • Lodewijk Asscher 2015 (1)

    Lodewijk Asscher

  • Hugo de Jonge, 2019

    Hugo de Jonge

  • 220107Kajsa Ollongren02 (cropped)

    Kajsa Ollongren

  • Vicepremier Carola Schouten (cropped)

    Carola Schouten

  • Wouter-Koolmees (cropped)

    Wouter Koolmees

  • Portretfoto Sigrid Kaag 2018 01 (crop)

    Sigrid Kaag

  • EU2024BE 240617 ENVI Council European Convention Center JNZT 0101 (53798343369)

    Wopke Hoekstra

  • Karien van Gennip, September 2023

    Karien van Gennip

  • 220107Rob Jetten16 (cropped)

    Rob Jetten

  • Fleur was ook van de partij in Spijkenisse (cropped)

    Fleur Agema

  • SophieHermans2020 (cropped)

    Sophie Hermans

  • Eddy van Hijum, 2020

    Eddy van Hijum

  • Mona Keijzer, Women and Entrepreneurship Session GES 2019 (cropped)

    Mona Keijzer

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