Ed van Thijn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ed van Thijn
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Van Thijn wearing the mayoral collar in 1983
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| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 8 June 1999 – 12 June 2007 |
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| Parliamentary group | Labour Party |
| Mayor of Amsterdam | |
| In office 16 June 1983 – 18 January 1994 |
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| Preceded by | Enneüs Heerma (Ad interim) |
| Succeeded by | Frank de Grave (Acting) |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 18 January 1994 – 27 May 1994 |
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| Prime Minister | Ruud Lubbers |
| Preceded by | Ernst Hirsch Ballin (Ad interim) |
| Succeeded by | Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta |
| In office 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 |
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| Prime Minister | Dries van Agt |
| Preceded by | Hans Wiegel |
| Succeeded by | Max Rood |
| Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives |
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| In office 8 September 1977 – 16 January 1978 |
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| Preceded by | Joop den Uyl |
| Succeeded by | Joop den Uyl |
| In office 11 May 1973 – 8 June 1977 |
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| Preceded by | Joop den Uyl |
| Succeeded by | Joop den Uyl |
| Parliamentary group | Labour Party |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 16 September 1982 – 16 June 1983 |
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| In office 23 February 1967 – 11 September 1981 |
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| Parliamentary group | Labour Party |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Eduard van Thijn
16 August 1934 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 19 December 2021 (aged 87) |
| Political party | Labour Party (from 1954) |
| Spouses |
First wife
(m. 1964; div. 1972)Eveline Herfkens
(m. 1983; div. 1990)Odette Taminiau
(m. 1992) |
| Domestic partner | Hedy d'Ancona (1973–1979) |
| Children | Carla van Thijn (born 1965) Marion van Thijn (born 1968) |
| Residences | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Social Science, Master of Social Science) |
| Occupation | Politician · Historian · Sociologist · Researcher · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Management consultant · Political pundit · Editor · Author · Professor |
Eduard "Ed" van Thijn (born August 16, 1934 – died December 19, 2021) was a Dutch politician and historian. He was a member of the Labour Party (PvdA). Van Thijn held many important roles in the Netherlands. He was a member of the city council in Amsterdam, a member of the Dutch Parliament (called the House of Representatives), and even a government minister. He is best known for being the Mayor of Amsterdam for over 10 years, which is the longest time anyone has held that job since World War II.
Besides politics, Van Thijn also wrote many books. These books were about politics, the history of Jewish people during World War II, and the history of socialism. He also wrote about his own life. People knew him for being a good leader and for understanding politics very well. He kept sharing his thoughts on political matters until he retired in 2017.
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Early Life and Education
Ed van Thijn was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on August 16, 1934. His parents were Jewish. During World War II, in 1943, his parents were held in a camp called Westerbork transit camp. They survived this difficult time.
After the war, Van Thijn went to the Amsterdams Lyceum school from 1945 to 1952. He then went to the University of Amsterdam. He studied Sociology, which is the study of how people live together in groups. He earned two degrees in sociology, a Bachelor's in 1954 and a Master's in 1958. After finishing his studies, he worked as a researcher at the Wiardi Beckman Foundation until 1967.
Political Career
Ed van Thijn had a long and active career in Dutch politics, serving in various important positions.
Serving Amsterdam's City Council
Van Thijn started his political journey in his hometown. He was a member of the Municipal Council of Amsterdam from May 1962 until September 1971. In this role, he helped make decisions for the city.
Working in the House of Representatives
In 1967, Van Thijn was elected as a member of the House of Representatives. This is like the main parliament in the Netherlands, where laws are made. He served there from 1967 to 1981, and again from 1982 to 1983. During his time in the House, he also served as the leader of the Labour Party's group in parliament for a few periods.
Becoming Minister of the Interior
In 1981, Van Thijn was chosen to be the Minister of the Interior. This is a very important government job, dealing with things like public safety and local government. He held this position from September 1981 to May 1982.
Mayor of Amsterdam
One of Van Thijn's most well-known roles was as the Mayor of Amsterdam. He became Mayor on June 16, 1983, and served for over 10 years, until January 18, 1994. He was the longest-serving Mayor of Amsterdam after World War II.
During his time as Mayor, a major event happened in Amsterdam. On October 4, 1992, a cargo plane, El Al Flight 1862, crashed into apartment buildings in the Bijlmermeer neighborhood. Many people lost their homes. Mayor Van Thijn helped lead the city's response. He made sure that buses were used to take survivors to safe places and that emergency services helped everyone affected.
Returning as Minister of the Interior
After his time as Mayor, Van Thijn was again appointed as the Minister of the Interior in January 1994. He served in this role for a few months. He resigned in May 1994, along with the Minister of Justice, after a report about police methods was released.
Later Political Roles and Retirement
After his second term as Minister, Van Thijn took a step back from full-time politics. He became involved in various organizations, serving on the boards of groups like the Anne Frank Foundation. He also taught as a professor at the University of Amsterdam, teaching about sociology and the history of socialism.
In 1999, Van Thijn was elected as a member of the Senate. This is the upper house of the Dutch parliament. He served in the Senate from June 1999 until June 2007. In 2007, he announced his retirement from national politics.
Personal Life
Ed van Thijn was married three times and had two daughters, Carla (born 1965) and Marion (born 1968). Although he was not raised in a very religious home, later in his life he became connected with Reform Judaism, a modern branch of the Jewish faith.
Ed van Thijn passed away on December 19, 2021, at the age of 87.
Honors and Awards
Ed van Thijn received several special honors during his life, recognizing his important work and contributions.
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
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Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 3 April 1979 | |
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Commander of the Legion of Honour | France | 12 February 1982 | |
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Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold II | Belgium | 15 May 1988 | |
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Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 8 October 1994 | Elevated from Commander (9 September 1982) |
Images for kids
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Van Thijn wearing the mayoral collar in 1983
