Frans Timmermans facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frans Timmermans
Timmermans in 2023
Executive Vice President of the European Commission for the European Green Deal
In office 1 December 2019 – 22 August 2023
President	Ursula von der Leyen
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Maroš Šefčovič
European Commissioner for Climate Action
In office 1 December 2019 – 22 August 2023
President	Ursula von der Leyen
Preceded by	Miguel Arias Cañete
Succeeded by	Maroš Šefčovič (acting)
First Vice President of the European Commission
In office 1 November 2014 – 30 November 2019
President	Jean-Claude Juncker
Preceded by	Catherine Ashton
Succeeded by	Position abolished
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 5 November 2012 – 17 October 2014
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	Uri Rosenthal
Succeeded by	Bert Koenders
State Secretary for European Affairs
In office 22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Atzo Nicolaï
Succeeded by	Ben Knapen
Member of the House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 December 2023
In office 9 June 2010 – 5 November 2012
In office 6 May 1998 – 22 February 2007
House positions Parliamentary leader of GroenLinks–PvdA Incumbent Assumed office 6 December 2023 Preceded by Jesse Klaver
Personal details
Born	Franciscus Cornelis Gerardus Maria Timmermans (1961-05-06) 6 May 1961 (age 64) Maastricht, Netherlands
Political party	Labour (since 1990)
Other political affiliations	Democrats 66 (1985)
Spouse	Irene Timmermans ​ (m. 2000)​
Children	4
Education	Radboud University (BA, MA) Nancy 2 University (LLM, MA)
Signature

Frans Timmermans is a Dutch politician. He was born on May 6, 1961. Since 2023, he has been the leader of the Labour Party (PvdA) in the House of Representatives.

Before this, from 2019 to 2023, Timmermans was a very important person in the European Commission. He was the Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal. This role meant he worked on making Europe more environmentally friendly. He was also the European Commissioner for Climate Action.

Before working in Brussels (where the European Commission is located), Timmermans was the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2014. He also served as a State Secretary for European Affairs from 2007 to 2010. He was a member of the Dutch House of Representatives for many years.

In 2023, Timmermans left the European Commission to lead a group of parties, GroenLinks–PvdA, in the Dutch general election. This group became the second-largest in the Dutch parliament.

Early Life and Education

Frans Timmermans was born in Maastricht, Netherlands. His parents divorced when he was young. He went to elementary school in Belgium and then to an English school in Rome from 1972 to 1975. From 1975 to 1980, he attended a school called Bernardinuscollege in Heerlen.

In 1980, Timmermans started studying French language and literature at Radboud University Nijmegen. He earned a Master of Arts degree in 1985. He also studied European law and history at Nancy University in France, getting more degrees in 1985.

Diplomatic Career

After serving in the Royal Netherlands Army as an interrogator, Timmermans joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1987. He focused on European cooperation. In 1990, he became a diplomat at the Dutch Embassy in Moscow, during a time when the Soviet Union was changing a lot.

He returned to the Ministry in 1993, working on European aid programs. In 1994, he worked for Hans van den Broek, who was a European Commissioner. A year later, he became a senior advisor for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) until he entered politics in 1998.

Political Career

Member of the House of Representatives (1998–2007)

In 1998, Frans Timmermans was elected to the House of Representatives for the Labour Party. He was re-elected in 2002 and 2003. During this time, he led several committees, including those for Foreign Affairs and Economic Affairs.

He also represented the Dutch parliament in the Convention on the Future of Europe from 2002 to 2003. This group helped write a plan for the future of Europe. He was also part of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

State Secretary for European Affairs (2007–2010)

After the 2006 Dutch election, Timmermans became the State Secretary for European Affairs. This meant he was in charge of how the Dutch government worked with the European Union. He wanted to get more public support for European cooperation.

During his time, the Treaty of Lisbon was signed. He worked with Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende to make sure national parliaments had a bigger say in EU decisions. In 2010, his party left the government because they disagreed about extending a military mission.

Return as a Member of the House of Representatives (2010–2012)

After his party left the government, Timmermans returned to the House of Representatives in 2010. He became the Labour Party's spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012–2014)

Timmermans with US Secretary of State John Kerry at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit

In 2012, Timmermans became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He took office on November 5, 2012.

In March 2014, the Netherlands hosted the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit. As Minister, Timmermans welcomed all the representatives attending.

On July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down over Ukraine. Many Dutch citizens died. Timmermans flew to Kyiv to discuss the situation. On July 21, 2014, he gave a powerful speech at the United Nations Security Council in New York. He asked the international community to help bring the victims' remains home and to investigate the incident.

He also spoke about the connection between Israel and Europe. He believed Europe has a responsibility to maintain good relations with Israel. He also said that the Netherlands should help keep Israel safe, but Israel must also ensure fair rights for Palestinians.

European Commission

Juncker Commission (2014–2019)

The European Commission, where Frans Timmermans was a vice-president.

In September 2014, the Dutch government nominated Frans Timmermans to join the European Commission. On November 1, 2014, he became the First Vice President under President Jean-Claude Juncker. His job included making sure rules were clear, improving relations between different EU institutions, and upholding the Rule of Law and Fundamental Rights.

Timmermans often spoke about the importance of the rule of law in EU countries. He supported helping people seeking refuge in the EU.

Candidacy for European Commission Presidency

In 2018, Frans Timmermans announced he wanted to become the President of the European Commission. He was chosen as the main candidate for the Party of European Socialists in the 2019 European elections. His party came in second place.

Even though he was a strong candidate, the European Council (leaders of EU countries) decided to propose Ursula von der Leyen as a compromise candidate. This was a bit controversial because she hadn't run in the election. However, she was elected, and Timmermans became a Vice-President in her new Commission.

Von der Leyen Commission (2019–2023)

Timmermans speaking about the Green Deal.

In 2019, President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, asked Frans Timmermans to continue as a Vice President. He was given the important role of Executive Vice President for the European Green Deal. This meant he was in charge of Europe's plan to become climate-neutral.

In 2021, Timmermans talked with environmental activist Greta Thunberg. He confirmed the Commission's commitment to making farming policies support the Green Deal.

In October 2021, during an energy crisis, Timmermans suggested that the best way to solve it was to use less fossil fuels. He said that those who blamed the Green Deal were doing so for other reasons.

Timmermans with Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang in Beijing, 4 July 2023

In July 2023, Timmermans led the European delegation to China for talks on environment and climate. Both sides agreed to work together on stopping climate change, protecting nature, and reducing pollution. They also agreed to support a circular economy, which means reusing and recycling more.

Return to Dutch Politics (since 2023)

In July 2023, a new election was called in the Netherlands. Frans Timmermans decided to leave the European Commission to lead a joint list of the Labour Party and GroenLinks. He wanted to become the next Prime Minister of the Netherlands. On August 22, 2023, he was confirmed as the lead candidate. He resigned from the European Commission on the same day.

The 2023 Dutch general election was held on November 22, 2023. His alliance finished in second place. Timmermans became the parliamentary leader of the GL–PvdA group in the House of Representatives on December 6, 2023. He has stated that his group will not form a government with parties that spread negative ideas about people seeking asylum.

In December 2024, Timmermans helped pass a new law to make punishments harsher for hate crimes. This law was supported by most members of the House.

On June 20, 2025, Timmermans was chosen again to lead the GL–PvdA list for the next snap elections in October 2025.

Personal Life

Frans Timmermans has been married twice and has four children. He moved back to his hometown of Maastricht in 2023. He is a fan of the Italian football club AS Roma.

Timmermans has spoken about his health challenges. In October 2024, he had surgery to help manage his weight.

In 2021, he was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. He was also recognized by Politico Europe as one of the most influential people in Europe.

Besides his native Dutch and Limburgish, Timmermans can speak English, French, German, Italian, and Russian.

Honours and Decorations

Decorations

• Commander of the Order For Merit (Romania, 2006)
• Officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (Poland, 2006)
• Knight of the Legion of Honour (France, 2007)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Southern Cross (Brazil, 2008)
• 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (Estonia, 2008)
• Grand Cross of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (Lithuania, 2008)
• Commander of the Order of the Polar Star (Sweden, 2009)
• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Chile, 2009)
• Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands, 2010)
• Golden Palm Decoration of Honour (Bulgaria, 2018)

Honorary Degrees

• On January 16, 2015, Timmermans received an honorary doctorate from Maastricht University.
• On March 11, 2019, he received an honorary doctorate from the National University of Political Studies and Public Administration in Bucharest, Romania.
• On September 10, 2021, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Salamanca in Spain.
• On January 14, 2022, Timmermans received an honorary doctorate from Delft University of Technology for his work on climate issues.

Electoral History

Images for kids

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  Timmermans with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and Russian President Vladimir Putin, 6 March 2013

• 

  Timmermans with President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, 7 January 2016

See also

In Spanish: Frans Timmermans para niños

• Climate change mitigation