Halbe Zijlstra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Halbe Zijlstra
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Zijlstra in 2017
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| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 26 October 2017 – 13 February 2018 |
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| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Bert Koenders |
| Succeeded by | Sigrid Kaag (ad interim) |
| Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives | |
| In office 13 October 2017 – 25 October 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Rutte |
| Succeeded by | Klaas Dijkhoff |
| In office 1 November 2012 – 23 March 2017 |
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| Preceded by | Mark Rutte |
| Succeeded by | Mark Rutte |
| State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science | |
| In office 14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012 |
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| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte |
| Preceded by | Marja van Bijsterveldt |
| Succeeded by | Sander Dekker |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 20 September 2012 – 26 October 2017 |
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| In office 30 November 2006 – 14 October 2010 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Halbe Zijlstra
21 January 1969 Oosterwolde, Netherlands |
| Political party | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (since 1994) |
| Spouse |
Ingrid de Bondt
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 1 son |
| Residences | Wassenaar, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | University of Groningen (Bachelor of Social Science, Master of Social Science, Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Business Administration) |
| Occupation | Politician · Management consultant |
Halbe Zijlstra (born January 21, 1969) is a former Dutch politician. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs for a short time in 2017 and 2018. He is a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), a political party in the Netherlands.
Before becoming a minister, Zijlstra worked as a management consultant. He was also a member of the House of Representatives, which is like the Dutch parliament. He served in parliament from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2012 to 2017. He also held a position as State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science from 2010 to 2012.
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Early Life and Education
Halbe Zijlstra was born on January 21, 1969, in Oosterwolde, a town in the Netherlands. His father worked as a police detective.
Zijlstra went to secondary school and then studied sociology at the University of Groningen. After finishing his studies, he worked for different companies as a consultant.
Political Journey
Halbe Zijlstra joined the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in 1994. His political career started in local government.
Local Politics
From 1998 to 2001, and again from 2003 to 2006, Zijlstra was a member of the municipal council in Utrecht. This means he helped make decisions for the city of Utrecht.
Member of Parliament
In 2006, Zijlstra was elected to the House of Representatives. This is where laws are made for the whole country. As a Member of Parliament (MP), he spoke for his party on topics like healthcare, energy, sports, and higher education. He also worked with other politicians to create laws, for example, to deal with football hooligans.
State Secretary for Education and Culture
In 2010, Halbe Zijlstra became the State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science. In this role, he was in charge of many important areas. These included higher education, scientific research, and cultural heritage.
During his time as State Secretary, he made changes to how students received scholarships. He also made some budget cuts in the culture sector. These changes aimed to make sure government money was used effectively.
Leading His Party in Parliament
After the 2012 elections, Zijlstra returned to the House of Representatives. He became the leader of his party's group in parliament. This meant he was an important voice for the VVD party in the House. He held this position until 2017.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
On October 26, 2017, Zijlstra became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. This is a very important job where he represented the Netherlands in dealings with other countries. He was part of the government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
As Minister, he spoke about international events. For example, when there was a military operation in Syria, he said that Turkey had a right to defend itself but also asked them to be careful.
In February 2018, Zijlstra resigned from his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs. This happened after he admitted to making an incorrect statement about a past meeting. He explained his decision to the House of Representatives.
Political Views
Halbe Zijlstra has shared his views on different international topics.
In 2015, he wrote an article where he expressed concerns about a major international agreement concerning Iran. He believed it was a "historical error."
After the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union in 2016, Zijlstra commented on it. He noted that the UK was an important partner for countries like the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, who also prefer free markets and less central control in Europe. He felt that without the UK, there might be less support for these ideas.
Personal Life
Halbe Zijlstra lives in Wassenaar, a town located just north of The Hague. He has one son. An interesting fact about his personal life is that he has been an active member of a carrier pigeon club.
