Hans van den Broek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hans van den Broek
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Van den Broek in 1983
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| European Commissioner | |
| In office 6 January 1993 – 16 September 1999 |
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| President |
See list
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| Preceded by | Frans Andriessen |
| Succeeded by | Frits Bolkestein |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 4 November 1982 – 3 January 1993 |
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| Prime Minister | Ruud Lubbers |
| Preceded by | Dries van Agt |
| Succeeded by | Pieter Kooijmans |
| State Secretary for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 11 September 1981 – 4 November 1982 |
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| Prime Minister | Dries van Agt |
| Preceded by | Durk van der Mei |
| Succeeded by | Wim van Eekelen |
| Member of the House of Representatives |
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| In office 14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989 |
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| In office 3 June 1986 – 14 July 1986 |
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| In office 16 September 1982 – 4 November 1982 |
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| In office 12 October 1976 – 11 September 1981 |
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| Parliamentary group | Christian Democratic Appeal (1980–1989) Catholic People's Party (1976–1980) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Henri van den Broek
11 December 1936 Paris, France |
| Died | 22 February 2025 (aged 88) |
| Nationality | Dutch |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980) |
| Other political affiliations |
Catholic People's Party (until 1980) |
| Spouse |
Josée van Schendel
(m. 1966) |
| Children | Princess Marilène (born 1970) and 1 other daughter |
| Relatives | Prince Maurits (son-in-law) |
| Residences | Lochem, Netherlands |
| Alma mater | Utrecht University (LL.B., LL.M.) |
| Occupation |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Netherlands |
| Branch/service | Royal Netherlands Army |
| Years of service | 1965–1966 (Conscription) 1966–1967 (Reserve) |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Regiment Huzaren van Boreel |
Henri "Hans" van den Broek (1936–2025) was an important Dutch politician and diplomat. He was known for his work in both the Netherlands and Europe. He served as a Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Netherlands for many years. Later, he became a European Commissioner, helping to manage Europe's relationships with other countries.
Van den Broek was a member of the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He was also a trained jurist, which means he had a deep understanding of law. He passed away on February 22, 2025, at the age of 88.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Henri van den Broek was born in Paris, France, on December 11, 1936. His parents were Hendrik Johannes van den Broek and Maria Alberta Antonia Roest.
He went to a Roman Catholic secondary school in Hilversum, Netherlands. After that, he studied Dutch law at Utrecht University. He earned his master's degree in law in 1965.
Starting His Political Journey
Van den Broek began his career as a lawyer. He joined the Katholieke Volkspartij (KVP), which was a political party. From 1970 to 1974, he was a member of the local council in Rheden.
He became a member of the House of Representatives, which is part of the Dutch parliament, in 1976. He represented the KVP and later the Christen-Democratisch Appèl (CDA) party.
Career Highlights
Van den Broek worked as a lawyer and prosecutor in Rotterdam from 1965 to 1968. He then became a director at a company called ENKA in Arnhem until 1976.
Serving in the Dutch Government
In 1981, Van den Broek became the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. This role is like a junior minister for foreign affairs. He served in the Cabinet Van Agt II.
In 1982, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs. He held this important position for over ten years, serving in the governments led by Ruud Lubbers. During this time, he was involved in major international events. For example, in 1991, he helped negotiate the Brioni Agreement, which ended a short war in Slovenia.
One big event during his time as Minister was a large protest in The Hague in 1983. People were protesting against plans to place nuclear missiles in the Netherlands. These plans were later cancelled.
Becoming a European Commissioner
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In 1993, Van den Broek took on a new challenge. He became a European Commissioner. This is a very important role in the European Union. He was responsible for External Relations and Enlargement. This meant he handled the EU's relationships with countries outside the EU and helped decide which new countries could join.
He served two terms as a European Commissioner, from 1993 to 1999. He continued to work on foreign relations and the expansion of the European Union.
Life After Politics
After retiring from active politics in 1999, Van den Broek remained involved in public life. He served on various boards for companies and non-profit organizations. He also worked as a diplomat and an advocate for important causes.
He was a strong supporter of Human rights, nuclear disarmament, and greater European integration. He was known for being a skilled negotiator and mediator. In 2005, he was given the honorary title of Minister of State. He continued to share his opinions on political matters until he fully retired in 2010.
Personal Life
Hans van den Broek was married to Josee van den Broek-van Schendel. They had two daughters. One of their daughters is Princess Marilène. She is married to Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, who is a member of the Dutch royal family.
Decorations and Honours
Van den Broek received many awards and honours throughout his life for his service.
National Honours
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (1993)
Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (2005)
Foreign Honours
France: Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour (1984)
Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1984)
Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (1987)
See also
In Spanish: Hans van den Broek para niños
