Jean Van Houtte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Van Houtte
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Van Houtte's official portrait bust in the Belgian Federal Parliament
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| Prime Minister of Belgium | |
| In office 15 January 1952 – 23 April 1954 |
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| Monarch | Baudouin |
| Preceded by | Joseph Pholien |
| Succeeded by | Achille Van Acker |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 March 1907 Ghent, Belgium |
| Died | 23 May 1991 (aged 84) Brussels, Belgium |
| Political party | Christian Social Party |
| Alma mater | University of Liège |
Jean (Jan) Marie Joseph, Baron Van Houtte (born March 17, 1907 – died May 23, 1991) was an important Belgian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Belgium from 1952 to 1954.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jean Van Houtte was born in Ghent, a city in Belgium. He was a very smart student. He earned a special degree called a doctorate in law. This means he studied laws and legal systems very deeply.
After his studies, he became a teacher. He taught at two important universities: Ghent University and the University of Liège. He also led the Belgian Institute of Public Finance. This group focused on how the government manages money.
A Career in Politics
Van Houtte was a member of the PSC-CVP. This was a major political party in Belgium. He represented his party in the Belgian Senate from 1949 to 1968. The Senate is like one part of the country's parliament, where laws are made.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Van Houtte was the Minister of Finance. This job meant he was in charge of the country's money and taxes. He held this role in two different governments, first in 1950 and then from 1950 to 1952.
Becoming Prime Minister
In January 1952, Jean Van Houtte became the 38th Prime Minister of Belgium. He took over from Joseph Pholien. As Prime Minister, he was the head of the Belgian government.
His time as Prime Minister was challenging. There were disagreements about how long young people should serve in the army. This is called conscription. There were also discussions about how to deal with people who had cooperated with the enemy during wartime. The country also faced an economic recession. This meant the economy was struggling, and jobs were harder to find.
Later Career and Recognition
After his time as Prime Minister, Van Houtte continued to serve his country. He was again the Minister of Finance from 1958 to 1961. This was under the government led by Gaston Eyskens.
He also worked internationally. He was a governor for the World Bank. This organization helps countries around the world with their finances. In 1966, he was given the honorary title of Minister of State. This is a special recognition for important public service. In 1970, he was made a Baron, which is a noble title.
Honours
Jean Van Houtte received several important honours for his service:
- He was made a Baron by the King of Belgium in 1970.
- He was named a Minister of State by the King of Belgium.
- He served as President of the Royal Academy in Belgium.
- He was a Commander in the Order of Leopold.
- He was a knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Crown.
- He was also a knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.
