Tjerk Westerterp facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tjerk Westerterp
Tjerk Westerterp in 1974
Minister of Transport and Water Management
In office 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Bé Udink
Succeeded by	Dany Tuijnman
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
In office 17 August 1971 – 7 March 1973
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel
Preceded by	Hans de Koster
Succeeded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst Pieter Kooijmans
Member of the European Parliament
In office 8 May 1967 – 17 Augustus 1971
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Group
Constituency	Netherlands
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 22 December 1977 – 15 February 1978
In office 8 June 1977 – 8 September 1977
In office 7 December 1972 – 11 May 1973
In office 31 July 1963 – 17 August 1971
Parliamentary group	Catholic People's Party
Personal details
Born	Theodorus Engelbertus Westerterp (1930-12-02)2 December 1930 Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died	8 October 2023(2023-10-08) (aged 92) Ulvenhout, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 2002)
Other political affiliations	Livable Netherlands (2001–2002) Christian Democratic Appeal (1980–2001) Catholic People's Party (until 1980)
Spouse	Ine van Lier ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	4 children
Residences	Ulvenhout, Netherlands
Alma mater	Radboud University Nijmegen (Bachelor of Social Science, Master of Arts)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Journalist · Editor · Author · Businessman · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Political consultant · Lobbyist

Theodorus Engelbertus "Tjerk" Westerterp (born December 2, 1930 – died October 8, 2023) was a Dutch politician and diplomat. He was also a successful businessman. He was a member of the Catholic People's Party, which later joined to form the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party.

Early Life and Education

Tjerk Westerterp went to a special high school called a Gymnasium in Rotterdam. He studied there from 1943 to 1949. After high school, he went to Radboud University Nijmegen in 1949.

He first studied Political science and earned a bachelor's degree in 1951. Then, he switched to Journalism and got his master's degree in 1953. While studying, he also worked as a journalist and editor for a newspaper called De Maasbode from 1949 to 1953.

After finishing his studies, Tjerk Westerterp worked as a civil servant. He worked for the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in Luxembourg City. This job lasted for ten years, from 1953 to 1963.

His Political Journey

Tjerk Westerterp began his political career in 1963. He became a Member of the House of Representatives in the Netherlands. This is similar to being a member of parliament in other countries. He focused on topics like European Affairs, transport, and aviation. He also spoke for his party on foreign affairs and NATO.

In 1967, he also became a Member of the European Parliament. This meant he held two important political jobs at the same time. He even served as the Vice-President of the European Parliament for a short time in 1971.

Later, in 1971, Tjerk Westerterp was appointed as a State Secretary for Foreign Affairs. This role is like a junior minister helping the main minister. He served in this position until 1973.

In 1973, he became the Minister of Transport and Water Management. This was a very important job. He was responsible for things like roads, railways, and managing water in the Netherlands. He held this position until 1977.

After his time as a minister, he returned to the House of Representatives. He continued to be involved in politics and public service.

Life After Politics

In 1978, Tjerk Westerterp took on a new challenge. He became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Amsterdam Stock Exchange. This is a major financial market where companies' shares are bought and sold. He left his role in the House of Representatives to take this job.

He also became very active in both the private and public sectors. He served on the boards of many companies and non-profit organizations. Some of these included Radio Netherlands Worldwide, DSM Company, and Randstad Holding. He also advised the government on various topics. He was known for being a good manager and someone who understood complex policies very well.

Tjerk Westerterp passed away on October 8, 2023, at the age of 92. He was remembered for his long and impactful career in politics and business.

Awards and Honors

Tjerk Westerterp received several important awards and honors during his life. These awards recognized his contributions and service.

Honours
Ribbon	Honor	Country	Date	Notes
	Officer of the Order of Leopold II	Belgium	7 April 1972
	Knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre	Holy See	22 July 1974
	Officer of the Order of the Oak Crown	Luxembourg	30 September 1975
	Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	11 April 1978