Dick Schoof facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Schoof
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Schoof in 2024
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| Prime Minister of the Netherlands | |
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Demissionary
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| Assumed office 2 July 2024 |
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| Monarch | Willem-Alexander |
| Preceded by | Mark Rutte |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof
8 March 1957 Santpoort, Netherlands |
| Political party | Independent (2021–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Labour Party (until 2021) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Zoetermeer, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | Radboud University (MSc) |
| Occupation |
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| Signature |  |
Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria "Dick" Schoof (born 8 March 1957) is a Dutch politician and civil servant who became the prime minister of the Netherlands on 2 July 2024.
Before becoming prime minister, Schoof held several important roles in the Dutch government. He was the top official (secretary-general) for the Ministry of Justice and Security from 2020 to 2024. He also led the General Intelligence and Security Service (the Dutch intelligence agency) from 2018 to 2020, and was the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism from 2013 to 2018.
In June 2025, Schoof's government faced a challenge when one of the main parties, the Party for Freedom, decided to leave the group. This led Schoof to announce he would step down as Prime Minister, but he will continue to lead the government in a temporary role until new elections are held.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Dick Schoof was born on 8 March 1957 in Santpoort, a town in the Netherlands. He grew up in a Roman Catholic family and was one of seven children. His father worked for the local government, helping with social services. When he was eight, his family moved to Hengelo.
From 1975 to 1982, Schoof studied urban and regional planning at Radboud University. During his time there, he was active in a student rowing club called Phocas and even served as its leader.
Career in Government
Schoof began his career working as an advisor on education for the Association of Netherlands Municipalities. In 1988, he became a civil servant (someone who works for the government) at the Ministry of Education and Sciences. He helped manage changes in how primary schools were built and maintained.
From 1996, Schoof took on more senior roles related to security. He became a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Justice and Security.
Leading the Immigration Service
In 1999, Schoof was appointed as the chief director of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). At that time, many people were seeking asylum in the Netherlands, especially because of the Kosovo War, and the IND had a lot of applications to process. Schoof worked to make the asylum process simpler and to deport people who did not meet the requirements.
Restructuring the Police Force
After his time at the IND, Schoof became the director-general for public order and safety at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in 2003. In this role, he was in charge of a big project: changing the Dutch police force from many smaller regional groups into one large National Police Corps.
National Security Roles
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From 2010 to 2013, Schoof served as director-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security.
National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism
In 2013, Schoof was appointed as the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV). This role involved protecting the Netherlands from threats like terrorism.
One of his major responsibilities was coordinating the Dutch response after Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in 2014. This event, which killed many Dutch citizens, strengthened his working relationship with then-Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Schoof was also responsible for dealing with internal security issues, such as preventing Islamist radicalisation and stopping people from joining groups like ISIS from the Netherlands.
Leading the Intelligence Service
From 2018 to 2020, Schoof led the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), which is the main intelligence agency of the Netherlands. During his time there, he tried to make the agency work more openly and cooperate with other organizations and universities.
Secretary-General of Justice and Security
On 1 March 2020, Schoof became the secretary-general of the Ministry of Justice and Security. This is the highest non-political position in the ministry. In this role, he was involved in discussions about changing asylum rules, which eventually led to the previous government (the fourth Rutte cabinet) stepping down in July 2023. Even after reaching the usual retirement age in March 2024, Schoof was allowed to continue working for three more years.
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
After the 2023 Dutch general election in November 2023, the Party for Freedom (PVV) became the largest party. On 16 May 2024, the PVV and three other parties (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB)) agreed to form a new government. They decided that none of their party leaders would become prime minister.
Schoof was then nominated to be the new prime minister on 28 May 2024. He was sworn in on 2 July by King Willem-Alexander as part of the Schoof cabinet. He is the first independent politician (someone not formally part of a political party) to serve as prime minister since 1918. Many observers noted that Schoof, as a top official, knows a lot about how the government works and is an expert in immigration and security.
Key Policy Areas
Schoof presented his government's plans on 13 September 2024. One of the main goals was to address what they called an "asylum crisis," aiming for stricter immigration policies. Schoof believes that the current levels of asylum seekers and migrants put pressure on society and public services. He suggested that the Netherlands should be more selective about who it allows in to maintain a good balance.
In November 2024, after some disturbances in Amsterdam, Schoof expressed his strong disapproval of antisemitic attacks. He stated that the people responsible would be found and prosecuted. He also mentioned that these events highlighted a broader issue with integration in society.
His government also faced challenges related to the nitrogen crisis, which affects nature reserves. Schoof set up a committee to find solutions to prevent delays in construction and development projects due to new environmental rules.
On 3 June 2025, the PVV party decided to leave Schoof's government because they couldn't agree on changes to asylum rules. This led to Schoof's resignation as prime minister.
Political Views
As a Civil Servant
While working as a civil servant, Schoof shared his views on various topics. In 2017, he mentioned that the Kick Out Zwarte Piet (KOZP) organization, which protests a traditional Dutch figure, could potentially become extremist, though he noted they were not using violence at the time.
In 2019, Schoof stated that certain religious movements were trying to influence Islamic schools in Amsterdam. In 2020, he told a parliamentary committee that a new generation of Dutch Salafi Muslims posed a long-term threat to Dutch law because they aimed to create a separate society where Dutch laws might not apply. He explained that these groups might appear moderate in public but preach more extreme views privately.
As a Politician
Schoof was a member of the Labour Party (PvdA) for over 30 years but left in early 2021, feeling that his views no longer matched the party's. After the PVV won the election in November 2023, Schoof said it showed a lack of trust in the government. He believed that if so many people voted for the PVV, their concerns must be valid.
When he was nominated as prime minister in May 2024, Schoof promised to carry out the plans agreed upon by the new government. He emphasized that he would act as a non-partisan leader and would not join the PVV. However, he did share concerns with the coalition parties about issues like immigration, asylum, social security, farmers, and international safety. He later clarified that while the coalition agreement didn't "appeal" to him personally, it was a reasonable plan he could support.
Personal Life
Dick Schoof lives in Zoetermeer with his partner, Loes Meurs, who is a psychologist. Schoof has two daughters, born in the 1990s, who were adopted from China with his ex-wife, Yolanda Senf. His older brother, Nico Schoof, is a former mayor for the Democrats 66 party.
Schoof was raised Catholic but describes himself as a non-practicing Catholic, having stopped attending church at age 16.
He enjoys running and has completed many marathons. In 2024, while serving as prime minister, he completed a half marathon in Amsterdam using a different name, "Peter Jansen."
See also
In Spanish: Dick Schoof para niños
