Jan van Aartsen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jan van Aartsen
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Jan van Aartsen in 1965
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| Queen's Commissioner of Zeeland | |
| In office 1 June 1965 – 1 October 1974 |
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| Monarch | Juliana |
| Preceded by | Guus de Casembroot |
| Succeeded by | Kees Boertien |
| Minister of Housing and Construction |
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| In office 19 May 1959 – 24 July 1963 |
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| Prime Minister | Jan de Quay |
| Preceded by | Herman Witte |
| Succeeded by | Pieter Bogaers |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 20 March 1959 – 19 May 1959 |
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| Parliamentary group | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| Minister of Transport and Water Management |
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| In office 24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965 |
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| Prime Minister | Victor Marijnen |
| Preceded by | Henk Korthals |
| Succeeded by | Ko Suurhoff |
| In office 1 November 1958 – 19 May 1959 |
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| Prime Minister | Willem Drees (1958) Louis Beel (1958–1959) |
| Preceded by | Herman Witte (Ad interim) |
| Succeeded by | Henk Korthals |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Johannes van Aartsen
15 September 1909 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 3 February 1992 (aged 82) Vlissingen, Netherlands |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980) |
| Other political affiliations |
Anti-Revolutionary Party (until 1980) |
| Spouse |
Klaasje Stap
(m. 1946) |
| Children | Jozias van Aartsen (born 1947) |
| Alma mater | Free University Amsterdam (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws) |
| Occupation | Politician · Civil servant · Jurist · Lawyer · Trade association executive |
Johannes "Jan" van Aartsen (born September 15, 1909 – died February 3, 1992) was an important Dutch politician and a lawyer. He was part of the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), which later joined with others to form the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). Van Aartsen held several important jobs in the Dutch government during his career.
Early Life and Education
Jan van Aartsen was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He studied law at the Free University Amsterdam. He earned his first law degree in 1931 and a higher law degree in 1936.
Working as a Lawyer
After finishing his studies, Van Aartsen worked as a lawyer. He practiced law in The Hague from August 1936 until October 1944. During this time, Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940. Even during World War II and the German occupation, Van Aartsen continued his work as a lawyer.
Joining the Christian Employers' Association
In October 1944, Van Aartsen started working for the Christian Employers' association (NCW). He worked there until September 1949. From July 1947, he also served as the General-Secretary for this association.
Political Career
Jan van Aartsen had a long and active career in Dutch politics. He started at the local level before moving to national government roles.
Local Politics in The Hague
Van Aartsen became involved in local government in The Hague.
- He was a member of the Municipal Council of The Hague from May 1948 to November 1958.
- He also served as an Alderman in The Hague from September 1949 to November 1958. An Alderman is like a city council member who also helps manage specific parts of the city.
National Government Roles
Van Aartsen held several important positions as a minister in the Dutch government.
Minister of Transport and Water Management
In November 1958, Jan van Aartsen became the Minister of Transport and Water Management. He took this job in the Cabinet Drees III. This cabinet later became a caretaker government, meaning it continued to run the country until a new government was formed.
Member of Parliament
In the 1959 election, Van Aartsen was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives. This is like being a member of parliament. He started this role in March 1959.
Minister of Housing and Construction
Soon after becoming a Member of Parliament, Van Aartsen was appointed as the Minister of Housing and Construction. He served in the Cabinet De Quay from May 1959 to July 1963. In December 1962, he decided not to run for re-election in 1963.
Return to Transport and Water Management
Despite his earlier decision, Van Aartsen was again appointed as Minister of Transport and Water Management in July 1963. This was in the Cabinet Marijnen. This cabinet also later became a caretaker government until a new one was formed in April 1965.
Queen's Commissioner of Zeeland
After his time as a minister, Jan van Aartsen continued his public service. In May 1965, he was chosen to be the Queen's Commissioner for the province of Zeeland. He held this important regional role from June 1965 until October 1974. A Queen's Commissioner is the head of a province in the Netherlands, representing the monarch and the national government.
Family Life
Jan van Aartsen was married to Klaasje Stap. They had a son named Jozias van Aartsen, who also became a well-known politician. Jozias served as the foreign minister of the Netherlands in 1998. Jan van Aartsen passed away in 1992 at the age of 82. He is buried at Zorgvlied cemetery.
Honors and Awards
Jan van Aartsen received several special honors from different countries for his public service. These awards recognize his important contributions.
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
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Commander of the Order of Leopold II | Belgium | 12 July 1962 | |
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Officer of the Legion of Honour | France | 14 August 1964 | |
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Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 20 April 1965 | |
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Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 1 October 1974 | |
