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 |
| Occupation | Politician · Management consultant |
Halbe Zijlstra (born January 21, 1969) is a Dutch politician who is now retired. He was a member of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands from October 2017 to February 2018.
Before becoming a minister, Zijlstra worked as a management consultant. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2006. He served there from November 2006 until October 2010. After that, he became the State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science. He held this position until November 2012. He then returned to the House of Representatives, serving from September 2012 to October 2017. During this time, he was also the parliamentary leader for his party.
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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. Halbe completed his secondary education at the vwo level. He then went on to study sociology at the University of Groningen. After finishing his studies, he worked for several different companies.
Political Journey
Zijlstra joined the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy on February 1, 1994. He started his political career in local government. He was a member of the municipal council in Utrecht. He served on the council from 1998 to 2001, and again from 2003 to 2006.
Member of Parliament
In the 2006 national election, Zijlstra was elected to the House of Representatives. He officially took his seat on November 30, 2006. In Parliament, he spoke for his party on topics like healthcare, energy, sports, and higher education. He also worked on a bill to help deal with football hooligans. This bill was later adopted by the Minister of the Interior.
State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science
On October 14, 2010, Zijlstra was appointed as the State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science. In this role, he was in charge of many areas. These included higher education, science, and the working conditions for teachers. He also oversaw culture and historical heritage. During his two years in this job, Zijlstra made some changes to higher education. He also introduced budget cuts in the culture sector. These changes aimed to save money.
Leading the Party in Parliament
After the 2012 national election, Zijlstra returned to the House of Representatives. He became the chairman, or leader, of his party's group in Parliament. This meant he was an important voice for the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. In 2016, he announced that he would not seek another term as parliamentary leader. However, he hoped to become a minister in the government.
Minister of Foreign Affairs
On October 26, 2017, Halbe Zijlstra became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. He was part of the government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
As Minister, he commented on international events. For example, when Turkey took military action in northern Syria, Zijlstra stated that Turkey had a right to defend its borders. At the same time, he asked Turkey to act with care.
In February 2018, Zijlstra clarified a statement he had made earlier. He had previously said he heard Russian president Vladimir Putin speak about 'Great Russia' in 2006. He later explained that a source had told him about these statements. He resigned from his position as Minister of Foreign Affairs on February 13, 2018.
Political Views
In 2015, Zijlstra wrote an article for a newspaper. In it, he shared his thoughts on the Iran nuclear deal framework. He believed it was a "historical error."
After the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Zijlstra shared his concerns. He noted that Britain was a key partner for countries like the Netherlands. These countries favored free markets and less central control in Europe. He said that if Britain left, an important partner would be lost. He worried that this would give more power to those who favored protectionist policies.
Personal Life
Halbe Zijlstra lives in Wassenaar, a town located just north of The Hague. He has a son. He is also an active member of a carrier pigeon club.
