Pieter Cort van der Linden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Pieter Cort van der Linden
Pieter Cort van der Linden
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 29 August 1913 – 9 September 1918
Monarch	Wilhelmina
Preceded by	Theo Heemskerk
Succeeded by	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
Minister of the Interior
In office 29 August 1913 – 9 September 1918
Prime Minister	Pieter Cort van der Linden
Preceded by	Theo Heemskerk
Succeeded by	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 29 August 1913 – 27 September 1913 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Pieter Cort van der Linden
Preceded by	René de Marees van Swinderen
Succeeded by	John Loudon
Member of the Council of State
In office 8 October 1918 – 1 January 1935
In office 4 November 1902 – 29 August 1913
Vice President	See list Johan Schorer (1902–1903) Petrus van Swinderen (1903–1911) Joan Röell (1912–1913) Wilhelmus van Leeuwen (1918–1928) Alex van Lynden van Sandenburg (1928–1932) Frans Beelaerts van Blokland (1933–1935)
Minister of Justice
In office 27 July 1897 – 1 August 1901
Prime Minister	Nicolaas Pierson
Preceded by	Willem van der Kaay
Succeeded by	Jan Loeff
Personal details
Born	Pieter Wilhelm Adrianus Cort van der Linden (1846-05-14)14 May 1846 The Hague, Netherlands
Died	15 July 1935(1935-07-15) (aged 89) The Hague, Netherlands
Political party	Independent Liberal
Spouses	Joanna Wittewaall ​ ​ (m. 1873; her death 1874)​ Johanna de Koning ​ ​ (m. 1880; his death 1935)​
Children	4 sons
Alma mater	Leiden University (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Doctor of Philosophy)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Jurist · Lawyer · Economist · Researcher · Historian · Academic administrator · Editor · Author · Professor

Pieter Wilhelm Adrianus Cort van der Linden (born May 14, 1846 – died July 15, 1935) was an important Dutch politician. He served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 29, 1913, to September 9, 1918. He was known for leading a government that focused on individual freedoms and limited government involvement.

Pieter Cort van der Linden's Life and Work

Pieter Cort van der Linden was the last Prime Minister to lead a government based on liberal ideas for a long time. This means his government believed in free markets and individual choice. He was also the last liberal Prime Minister until Mark Rutte in 2010, which was 92 years later!

Keeping the Netherlands Neutral in World War I

One of Cort van der Linden's biggest achievements was keeping the Netherlands out of World War I. This was a very difficult task because the war was happening all around the country. Even though he personally had some sympathy for Germany, he made sure the Netherlands remained neutral. This meant the country did not take sides in the war.

Introducing Universal Suffrage in the Netherlands

Cort van der Linden also made a huge change by introducing universal suffrage in the Netherlands. This happened in 1917 and is known as the Pacification of 1917. Universal suffrage means that all adult citizens, both men and women, have the right to vote. Before this, only certain people could vote. This change was a big step for democracy in the Netherlands.

After the 1918 elections, the Social Democratic Workers' Party and the General League of Roman Catholic Caucuses gained more power. The Catholic politician Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck then became the new Prime Minister, taking over from Cort van der Linden.

Honors and Special Titles

Pieter Cort van der Linden received several important honors for his service to the Netherlands. These awards show how much his country appreciated his hard work and dedication.

• He was made a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau on August 1, 1901. This is a very high honor given for special service to the country.
• On January 28, 1915, he also became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion. This is another prestigious award for outstanding achievements.
• He was also given the special title of Minister of State on January 28, 1915. This title is given to people who have served the country in a very important way. It means he was addressed with the special style of Excellency.

Images for kids

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  Ribbon bar for the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau

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  Ribbon bar for the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion

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  Flag of the Netherlands