Gerard Helders facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gerard Helders
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Gerard Helders in 1957
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| Member of the Council of State | |
| In office 1 August 1959 – 1 September 1975 |
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| Vice President | Louis Beel (1959–1972) Marinus Ruppert (1972–1975) |
| Minister of Colonial Affairs | |
| In office 16 February 1957 – 19 May 1959 |
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| Prime Minister | Willem Drees (1957–1958) Louis Beel (1958–1959) |
| Preceded by | Kees Staf (Ad interim) |
| Succeeded by | Henk Korthals as Minister for Overseas Affairs |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Gerardus Philippus Helders
9 March 1905 Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 6 January 2013 (aged 107) Wassenaar, Netherlands |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980) |
| Other political affiliations |
Christian Historical Union (1932–1980) |
| Spouse |
Pieternella Meijer
(m. 1930; |
| Children | 4 daughters and 1 son |
| Alma mater | Leiden University (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws) |
| Occupation | Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Jurist · Economist · Businessman · Banker · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Netherlands |
| Branch/service | Royal Netherlands Army (1929–1931) Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (1931–1942) |
| Years of service | 1929–1930 (Conscription) 1930–1940 (Reserve) 1940–1942 (Active duty) |
| Rank |  Major |
| Unit | Regiment van Heutsz |
| Battles/wars | World War II
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Gerardus Philippus "Gerard" Helders (born March 9, 1905 – died January 6, 2013) was a very old and important Dutch politician and diplomat. He was known for his long life and his work in the government, especially during a time when the Netherlands was changing its relationship with its colonies. He was a member of the Christian Historical Union (CHU) party, which later joined with others to form the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.
Contents
Who Was Gerard Helders?
Gerard Helders was born in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He lived a very long life, reaching the age of 107! He was a jurist (someone who studies and works with law), a politician, and a diplomat (someone who represents their country in other nations).
Early Life and Education
Gerard Helders went to Leiden University from 1925 to 1929. There, he studied Law and earned two degrees: a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws. In 1930, he got married and later had five children: one son and four daughters.
Working in the Dutch East Indies
After finishing his studies, Gerard Helders worked as a legal assistant for a law firm. In 1931, he moved to the Dutch East Indies (which is now Indonesia). He worked for the government there, first in Batavia and then in Bandung, as a tax collector.
Military Service and World War II
While in the Dutch East Indies, Helders was also a Major in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. During World War II, he served in the Dutch East Indies campaign. In March 1942, he was captured during the Battle of Borneo and held in a Japanese internment camp until September 1945.
After the war, Helders returned to the Netherlands. He worked for the Ministry of Finance and later became a top executive at a bank called Nationale Handelsbank.
Becoming a Government Minister
In 1957, Gerard Helders became the Minister of Colonial Affairs. This was an important job because he was in charge of the Netherlands' remaining colonies, like New Guinea. He served in two governments during this time, working under Prime Ministers Willem Drees and Louis Beel.
Serving the Council of State
After his time as a minister, Helders was chosen to be a Member of the Council of State in 1959. This is a very important group in the Netherlands that advises the government on laws and other important matters. He served in this role for many years, until 1975.
A Long and Active Life
Gerard Helders lived to be 107 years old, making him the oldest living former Dutch politician at the time of his death. He lived in Wassenaar, a town in the Netherlands. The mayor of Wassenaar would visit him on his birthdays, and was always surprised by how healthy and aware Helders was, even at such an old age. He had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Gerard Helders passed away on January 6, 2013.
Awards and Honors
Gerard Helders received several important awards for his service to the Netherlands:
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
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Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 9 June 1959 | |
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Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 29 April 1969 | |
