Willem Drees Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Willem Drees Jr.
Willem Drees Jr. in 1973
Member of the Court of Audit
In office 4 October 1977 – 1 January 1984
Chair	Harry Peschar
Minister of Transport and Water Management
In office 6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel
Preceded by	Joop Bakker
Succeeded by	Bé Udink
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 5 September 1972 – 20 August 1977
Preceded by	Jan Berger
Succeeded by	Ruud Nijhof
In office 11 May 1971 – 6 July 1971
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Jan Berger
Parliamentary group	Democratic Socialists '70
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 5 September 1972 – 20 August 1977
In office 11 May 1971 – 6 July 1971
Parliamentary group	Democratic Socialists '70
Leader of the Democratic Socialists '70
In office 8 January 1971 – 20 August 1977
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Ruud Nijhof
Personal details
Born	Willem Drees Jr. (1922-12-24)24 December 1922 The Hague, Netherlands
Died	5 September 1998(1998-09-05) (aged 75) The Hague, Netherlands
Political party	Democratic Socialists '70 (1970–1983)
Other political affiliations	Independent Social Democrat (from 1983) Labour Party (1946–1970) Social Democratic Workers' Party (1945–1946)
Spouse	Anna Gescher ​ ​ (m. 1947; her death 1988)​
Children	Marijke Drees (born 1948) Fransien Drees (born 1950) Willem B. Drees (born 1954) and 2 other daughters
Parent	Willem Drees (1886–1988) (father)
Relatives	Jacques Wallage (son-in-law)
Alma mater	Erasmus University Rotterdam (Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics, Doctor of Philosophy)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Economist · Accountant · Mathematician · Financial analyst · Nonprofit director · Professor

Willem "Wim" Drees Jr. (born December 24, 1922, died September 5, 1998) was an important Dutch politician and economist. He was the son of a former Prime Minister, Willem Drees. Wim Drees Jr. was known for his work in government and for leading a political party called Democratic Socialists '70 (DS'70).

He worked in different government jobs, including in the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) and for the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Later, he became a top financial expert in the Dutch government. In 1971, he became the leader of the DS'70 party and was elected to the House of Representatives. He also served as the Minister of Transport and Water Management.

Who Was Willem Drees Jr.?

Willem Drees Jr. was a well-known figure in Dutch politics and economics. He was born in The Hague, Netherlands. His father, Willem Drees, was a very famous Prime Minister of the Netherlands. This meant Wim Drees Jr. grew up in a family deeply involved in public service.

Early Life and Education

Willem Drees Jr. went to Gymnasium Haganum from 1934 to 1940. After that, he studied at the Erasmus University Rotterdam from 1940 to 1946. He continued his studies there and earned his doctorate degree in 1955. This showed his strong interest in economics and finance.

Working in Government

Before becoming a politician, Drees Jr. had a long career as a civil servant.

• From 1945 to 1947, he worked for the Ministry of Colonial Affairs in Batavia, which was then part of the Dutch East Indies.
• From 1947 to 1950, he was a financial expert at the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF helps countries with their money problems.
• He then worked for the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis and later became a top director at the Ministry of Finance. He was in charge of the government's budget.
• In 1969, he became the Treasurer-General, a very important financial role for the Dutch government.

Political Journey

In 1970, Willem Drees Jr. decided to enter politics. He joined a new party called Democratic Socialists '70 (DS'70). This party had split from the Labour Party, which his father had been a part of.

• In 1971, he became the leader of DS'70 and was their main candidate in the general election.
• After the election, DS'70 won 8 seats in the House of Representatives. Drees Jr. became a Member of Parliament and the leader of his party's group in the House.
• From July 1971 to July 1972, he served as the Minister of Transport and Water Management. This meant he was responsible for roads, railways, and water systems in the Netherlands.
• His party left the government in 1972 because they disagreed on the national budget.
• Drees Jr. continued to lead DS'70 in the House of Representatives until 1977.
• After the 1977 election, where his party lost many seats, he decided to step down as leader and Member of Parliament.

Life After Politics

After leaving active politics in 1977, Willem Drees Jr. continued to serve the public.

• He became a Member of the Court of Audit. This organization checks how the government spends money to make sure it's done correctly. He held this position until 1984.
• He also served on the boards of many non-profit organizations. These included groups focused on social history, statistics, and cultural foundations.

Family Life

Willem Drees Jr. married Anna Erica Gescher on February 3, 1947. They had five children together: four daughters and one son. Their son, Willem B. Drees, later became a philosopher. Anna Erica Drees-Gescher passed away in 1988. Willem Drees Jr. died on September 5, 1998, at the age of 75. His father, Willem Drees Sr., lived to be 101 years old, and his mother, Catharina Hent, lived to be 85.

Awards and Honors

Willem Drees Jr. received several important awards for his service to the Netherlands.

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	30 April 1970
	Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	8 June 1973