Michel van Hulten facts for kids

Michel van Hulten in 1972

Michael Henricus Maria (Michel) van Hulten (born March 9, 1930, passed away December 1, 2025) was an important Dutch politician. He was a member of the Political Party of Radicals (PPR). He served in the Dutch parliament and later became an undersecretary for Transport in the government led by Joop den Uyl.

Who Was Michel van Hulten?

Michel van Hulten was a dedicated public servant. He worked in politics, education, and for international organizations. He focused on improving society and making things fairer for everyone.

Early Life and Education

Michel van Hulten was born in Batavia. He studied human geography and urban planning. He earned his PhD in 1962 from Amsterdam University. His studies focused on how land was organized for farming in Poland.

A Career in Dutch Politics

Michel van Hulten began his political journey in the Netherlands. He first joined the Dutch parliament's Senate. Later, he moved to the House of Representatives. In May 1973, he became the undersecretary for Transport. He worked under Prime Minister Joop den Uyl.

Working for Change: Transport Rules

In 1974, as undersecretary, he helped create important rules for truck drivers. These rules included using a tachograph to track driving times. They also made sure drivers took enough rest. This helped make roads safer for everyone.

Michel van Hulten was part of a group within his party, the PPR. This group believed in working with other parties like PvdA and D66. He left the PPR in 1981. Throughout his life, he was a member of several political parties. These included KVP, PPR, D66, GroenLinks, and PvdA.

International Work and Academia

From 1978 to 1996, Michel van Hulten worked for different organizations. These included non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the United Nations, and the Dutch Government. He worked in many countries, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Malaysia. He also worked in New York and The Hague. At the United Nations, he researched ways to prevent corruption and promote honesty.

He also worked for the World Bank from 1991 to 1996. He continued to work with NGOs focused on fighting corruption, including in Slovenia. From 2007 to 2015, he was a professor at SAXION University. He taught about how governments and organizations are run.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1994, he ran for parliament with the D66 party but was not elected. He later chaired the program committee for D66 from 1994 to 1998.

Even after retiring, Michel van Hulten stayed active. He strongly supported the idea of free public transport in the Netherlands. He often wrote articles for an online magazine to share his ideas.

Family Connections

Michel van Hulten was the father of Michiel van Hulten. Michiel was a Member of the European Parliament from 1999 to 2004. He also led the Labour Party in the Netherlands for a time.

Michel van Hulten passed away on December 1, 2025. He was 95 years old.