Dries van Agt

Dries van Agt
Dries van Agt; OHO OON
	Dries van Agt in 2011
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
	In office; 19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982
Monarch	Juliana (1977–1980) ; Beatrix (1980–1982)
Deputy	See list Hans Wiegel (1977–1981) ; Joop den Uyl (1981–1982) ; Jan Terlouw (1981–1982);
Preceded by	Joop den Uyl
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Ambassador of the European ; Union to the United States
	In office; 1 January 1990 – 1 April 1995
Preceded by	Roy Denman
Succeeded by	Hugo Paemen
Ambassador of the European Union to Japan
	In office; 1 January 1987 – 1 January 1990
Preceded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst
Succeeded by	Unknown
Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant
	In office; 1 June 1983 – 22 April 1987
Monarch	Beatrix
Preceded by	Jan Dirk van der Harten
Succeeded by	Frank Houben
Minister of Foreign Affairs
	In office; 28 May 1982 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Max van der Stoel
Succeeded by	Hans van den Broek
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
	In office; 10 June 1981 – 24 August 1981
Preceded by	Ruud Lubbers
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
	In office; 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Willem Aantjes
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal
	In office; 10 December 1976 – 25 October 1982
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Deputy Prime Minister
	In office; 11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Roelof Nelissen ; Molly Geertsema
Succeeded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Member of the House of Representatives
	In office; 16 September 1982 – 16 June 1983
	In office; 10 June 1981 – 9 September 1981
	In office; 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
	In office; 23 January 1973 – 22 April 1973
Parliamentary group	Catholic People's Party
Minister of Justice
	In office; 6 July 1971 – 8 September 1977
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel (1971–1973) ; Joop den Uyl (1973–1977)
Preceded by	Carel Polak
Succeeded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Personal details
Born	Andreas Antonius Maria van Agt; 2 February 1931 (age 87); Geldrop, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political; affiliations	Catholic People's Party (until 1980)
Spouse(s)	Eugenie Krekelberg (m. 1958)
Children	Eugenie van Agt (born 1959) ; Frans van Agt (born 1961) ; Caroline van Agt (born 1963)
Residence	Nijmegen, Netherlands
Alma mater	Radboud University Nijmegen (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Jurist · Lawyer · Judge · Researcher · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist · Activist · Author · Professor
Signature
Website	(in Dutch) Official site

Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt (Dutch: [ˈdris fɑn ˈɑxt] ( listen);^[1] born 2 February 1931) is a retired Dutch politician and diplomat of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 19 December 1977 until 4 November 1982.

Van Agt a jurist by occupation, worked as a lawyer for the law firm Van der Putt, Nijst, Van Sandick en Depla from 1956 until 1958 when he became a civil servant working for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Justice until 1968. Van Agt became a professor of criminal procedure at the Radboud University Nijmegen in 1968. In 1971 he was appointed as a judge at the court of Arnhem. After the election of 1971 Van Agt was asked by the Catholic People's Party (KVP) to become Minister of Justice in the first Biesheuvel cabinet. Van Agt accepted and resigned as a professor and judge the same day he took office as the new Minister of Justice on 6 July 1971. Van Agt remained Minister of Justice in the Den Uyl cabinet following the election of 1972 and also became Deputy Prime Minister on 11 May 1973. On 10 December 1976 Van Agt was selected as the first Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal and became the lijsttrekker (top candidate) for the election of 1977. He resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice to become the first Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives and a Member of the House of Representatives taking office on 8 June 1977. Following the election the Christian Democratic Appeal became the second largest party in the House of Representatives.

After a failed cabinet formation with the Labour Party, Van Agt struck a deal with the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Hans Wiegel that resulted in the formation of the Van Agt-Wiegel cabinet with Van Agt becoming Prime Minister of the Netherlands taking office on 19 December 1977. With the following election of 1981, Van Agt again as lijsttrekker lost one seat and a coalition formation with the Labour Party and the Democrats 66 (D66) resulted in the second Van Agt cabinet. On 29 May 1982 the second Van Agt cabinet collapsed after the Labour Party retracted their support. A rump cabinet Van Agt III was formed with Van Agt also serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The third Van Agt cabinet stayed in office until the election of 1982. Van Agt again as lijsttrekker lost three seats and the Christian Democratic Appeal became the second largest party. A cabinet formation with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) was formed but Van Agt unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and stood down as Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal on 25 October 1982. Van Agt remained Prime Minister of the Netherlands until the first Lubbers cabinet was installed on 4 November 1982.

After his premiership, Van Agt remained in active politics and became the Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant taking office on 1 June 1983. On 22 April 1987 Van Agt resigned as Queen's Commissioner because of criticism on his cooperation with the States-Provincial. Van Agt he became a diplomat for the European Communities and served as Ambassador of the European Union to Japan from 1 April 1987 until 1 January 1990 when he became Ambassador of the European Union to the United States serving until 1 April 1995 when he retired from politics at the age of sixty-four. Following the end of his active political career, Van Agt occupied numerous seats on supervisory boards on international non-governmental organizations (InterAction Council, Green Cross International and the Edmund Burke Foundation). Van Agt served as a visiting professor of international relations at the Ritsumeikan University, the United Nations University and the Kwansei Gakuin University from 1995 until 2004.

Van Agt is known for his abilities as a negotiator and debater. During his premiership, his cabinets were responsible for reforming the public sector and civil service and the struggle with the recession in the 1980s. He holds the distinction of being the first Christian Democratic Appeal Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Van Agt also has been active as an anti-war and human rights activist and as an advocate in promoting the Two-state solution for the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Van Agt continues to comment on political affairs as a statesman.^[2] With the death of Piet de Jong in July 2016, he became the oldest living former Dutch Prime Minister.

Early life[edit]

Andreas Antonius Maria van Agt was born on 2 February 1931 in Geldrop in the Netherlands Province of North Brabant in a Roman Catholic family. After receiving his diploma Gymnasium-A at the Augustinianum he studied at the Catholic University of Nijmegen, where he received his Doctorate in Law in 1955. After graduating, he practiced law in Eindhoven until 1957, after which he worked in the office of legal and business affairs of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries until 1962. From 1962 to 1968, he worked for the Ministry of Justice.

Politics[edit]

Minister and Deputy Prime Minister[edit]

Dries van Agt as Minister of Justice in 1971.

Van Agt entered politics as a member of the Catholic People's Party, which merged with the other two major Christian Democratic parties in 1980 to form the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). From 1968 to 1971, Van Agt was Professor of Criminal Law at the Catholic University of Nijmegen. From 1971 to 1973, he was Minister of Justice in the government of Barend Biesheuvel. He caused outrage when he tried to pardon the last three Nazi war criminals still in Dutch prisons in 1972. From 1973 to 1977 he was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice in the government of Joop den Uyl.

Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal[edit]

In 1976, Van Agt was elected the first Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal, then still a federation of the three religious parties Christian Historical Union, Catholic People's Party and Anti-Revolutionary Party, which first ran in 1977 with a united list (the merger followed in 1980). With Van Agt as top candidate, the Christian Democratic Appeal reversed in 1977 years of decline to return to power.

Prime Minister in the Cabinet Van Agt I[edit]

In the parliamentary elections of May 1977 the Labour Party obtained their largest number of seats, so a second Den Uyl coalition looked likely. However, the tension between the Catholic People's Party and the Labour Party in the last reign, combined with the fact that a coalition between Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy was possible, the talks failed after a period of seven months. Eventually Van Agt negotiated a deal with Hans Wiegel, leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy. From 19 December 1977 to 11 September 1981 Van Agt was Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs in the Cabinet Van Agt I.

Prime Minister in the Cabinet Van Agt II[edit]

Dries van Agt with Prime Minister of France Raymond Barre and Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Jean François-Poncet in 1980.

Dries van Agt and Prime Minister of Luxembourg and incoming President of the European Commission Gaston Thorn in 1980.

Dries van Agt at Andrews Field in Maryland in 1981.

Dries van Agt and Prime Minister of Japan Zenkō Suzuki in 1981.

In 1981, the Christian Democratic Appeal, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Labour Party lost parliamentary seats, so a continuation of a Christian Democratic Appeal-People's Party for Freedom and Democracy coalition was not possible. Van Agt, leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal, was forced to go in coalition with the Labour Party. Also Democrats 66 (which, under Jan Terlouw gained a significant number of seats) participated in the coalition talks, after 3 months of difficult negotiations that resulted in the Cabinet Van Agt II (11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982). In this composition Van Agt worked with Joop den Uyl again as Den Uyl was made Deputy Prime Minister and "super minister" of Social Affairs and Employment. The characterological and political differences led to several divisions, and in May 1982 the government fell.

The personal strife between Van Agt and Den Uyl were so deteriorated that when Den Uyl died from a brain tumor in 1987, Van Agt was not invited to the memorial by the family. Den Uyl's wife Liesbeth argued that Van Agt had prevented the second Den Uyl coalition from forming in 1977.

Prime Minister in the Cabinet Van Agt III[edit]

The caretaker government went through as a minority cabinet, with only ministers from the parties Christian Democratic Appeal and Democrats 66, in the Cabinet Van Agt III. For replacing the six Labour Party ministers, five new Christian Democratic Appeal and Democrats 66 ministers were in place, while van Agt in the cabinet, as well as being Prime Minister was also Minister of Foreign Affairs.

New parliamentary elections were organized for September 1982. Although Van Agt, by this point was worn out, he was persuaded again to be Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal but shortly after the election he withdrew as a candidate for prime minister and was succeeded by Ruud Lubbers.

Queen's Commissioner[edit]

when he was appointed as the Queen's Commissioner of the province North Brabant.

After politics[edit]

Dries van Agt and Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in 2011.

Diplomat[edit]

Dries van Agt served as Ambassador of the European Community to Japan from 1987 to 1990 and to the United States from 1990 to 1995. From 1995 to 1996, he was a Visiting Professor of International Relations at the University of Kyoto.

Professor[edit]

He is currently Prime Counsellor for the International Forum for Justice and Peace, a foundation under Dutch law, registered at the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam. Chaired by retired international businessman Ben Smoes, they are currently focused on justice and peace in regard to the Israel/Palestine conflict

Activist[edit]

Van Agt lectured in May 2006 in Cairo at the invitation of the Egyptian electronic magazine Arab-West Report about great changes in the cultural climate of north-western Europe in the past decades, becoming more hostile to religion, including Islam. Muslims, he argued, need to understand those changes in order to be able to respond better to European criticism on Islam and the Muslim world.^[3]

Van Agt has also spoken against the Council of State in Egypt for continuous delay in granting the Center for Arab-West Understanding (CAWU) the NGO status. He met with prominent figures in Egypt to persuade them to do so. The Egyptian Council of State, after van Agt's visit to Cairo in 2006, ruled on 18 February 2007 that the Center should be recognized as an NGO under Egyptian law, ending its three-year struggle to obtain this status. Egypt is known for its reluctance in granting NGO status in order to discourage political participation. Cornelis Hulsman, a Dutch sociologist, the editor-in-chief of Arab-West Report, and the head of CAWU, stated that van Agt's effort significantly impacted the realization of their goals, which usually requires a lengthy amount of time and scrutiny in its political purposes.

For some years he has taken an outspoken stance regarding the Middle East, resulting in a fierce criticism of the policies undertaken by the government of Israel with regard to the Palestinians. When in office, van Agt was a staunch supporter of Israel, but after he stepped down in 1982 he changed his mind.^[4] According to his own words an important turning point was a visit at the late nineties at Bethlehem University on the Israeli-occupied West Bank.^[5]^[6] He has accused Israel of "state terrorism" and turning the Palestinian Authority territories into "bantustans".^[7] In 2012, Van Agt said that Jews should have a state in Germany instead of Israel.^[8] In September 2016, in reference to the visit of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netenyahu to the Netherlands, van Agt argued that the ongoing Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories and the building of settlements there constituted a war crime under the Rome Statute and suggested that Netenyahu should have been sent to the International Criminal Court.^[9]

Personal[edit]

Van Agt is known for his use of archaic language and complicated phrasing, as well as for his love for cycling. He married his wife Eugenie Krekelberg in 1958, and they've had three children and seven grandchildren. In 2012, he joined the Advisory Board of the International Museum for Family History.

Decorations[edit]

Honours[edit]

Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date
Honours
	Honorary Medal for Initiative and Ingenuity of the Order of the House of Orange	Netherlands	19 September 1974
	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	9 December 1982

Awards[edit]

Ribbon bar	Award	Country	Date
Awards
	Honorary citizen of Geldrop	Netherlands	1988
	Honorary citizen of Lille	France	1998
	Honorary citizen of North Brabant	Netherlands	2002
	Cannabis Culture Award of the Hash, Marihuana & Hemp Museum	Netherlands	12 November 2009

Honorary Degrees[edit]

University	Field	City / Country
Honorary Degrees
Radboud University Nijmegen	Law	Nijmegen, Netherlands
Ritsumeikan University	Political science	Kyoto, Japan
Kwansei Gakuin University	Political science	Nishinomiya, Japan
Hansung University	Law	Seoul, South Korea
University of South Carolina	Political science	Columbia, South Carolina, United States

References[edit]

^ van in isolation: [vɑn].
^ (in Dutch) Dries van Agt (1931), Absolutefacts.nl, 10 December 2008
^ For the full text of his lecture, entitled, "Cultures between Clash and Reconciliation: The Role of the Media and Academia," see AWR, 2006, week 53, art. 3
^ "Former Dutch PM champions Palestinian cause", Radio Netherlands Worldwide (10 December 2009).
^ (in Dutch) "De bekering van Dries van Agt" Archived October 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine., HP|DE TIJD, 29 September 2006
^ (in Dutch) "'Ik kan het wel uitschreeuwen', interview oud-premier Dries van Agt, NRC Handelsblad, 22 augustus 2009
^ Cnaan Liphshiz, 'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book Haaretz (27-06-2008).
^ Former Dutch PM: Jews should have had a state in Germany, The Times of Israel (11 November 2012).
^ Cockburn, Harry (6 September 2016). "Former Dutch PM calls Benjamin Netanyahu a 'war criminal' who should be tried in The Hague". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2016.

External links[edit]

Official

(in Dutch) Mr. A.A.M. (Dries) van Agt Parlement & Politiek
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Van Agt I Rijksoverheid
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Van Agt II Rijksoverheid
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Van Agt III Rijksoverheid

Party political offices
New title	Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal 1976–1982	Succeeded by Ruud Lubbers
New title	Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives 1977	Succeeded by Willem Aantjes
Preceded by Ruud Lubbers	Parliamentary leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives 1981	Succeeded by Ruud Lubbers
Political offices
Preceded by Carel Polak	Minister of Justice 1971–1977	Succeeded by Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Preceded by Roelof Nelissen Molly Geertsema	Deputy Prime Minister 1973–1977	Succeeded by Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Preceded by Joop den Uyl	Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1977–1982	Succeeded by Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by Joop den Uyl	Minister of General Affairs 1977–1982	Succeeded by Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by Max van der Stoel	Minister of Foreign Affairs 1982	Succeeded by Hans van den Broek
Preceded by Jan Dirk van der Harten	Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant 1983–1987	Succeeded by Frank Houben
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Laurens Jan Brinkhorst	Ambassador of the European Union to Japan 1987–1990	Succeeded by Jean-Pierre Leng
Preceded by Roy Denman	Ambassador of the European Union to the United States 1990–1995	Succeeded by Hugo Paemen
Records
Preceded by Piet de Jong	Oldest living former Prime Minister 2016–present	Incumbent

[1] van in isolation: [vɑn].

[2] (in Dutch) Dries van Agt (1931), Absolutefacts.nl, 10 December 2008

[3] For the full text of his lecture, entitled, "Cultures between Clash and Reconciliation: The Role of the Media and Academia," see AWR, 2006, week 53, art. 3

[4] "Former Dutch PM champions Palestinian cause", Radio Netherlands Worldwide (10 December 2009).

[5] (in Dutch) "De bekering van Dries van Agt" Archived October 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine., HP|DE TIJD, 29 September 2006

[6] (in Dutch) "'Ik kan het wel uitschreeuwen', interview oud-premier Dries van Agt, NRC Handelsblad, 22 augustus 2009

[7] Cnaan Liphshiz, 'Dutch Jimmy Carter' accuses Israel of terrorism in new book Haaretz (27-06-2008).

[8] Former Dutch PM: Jews should have had a state in Germany, The Times of Israel (11 November 2012).

[9] Cockburn, Harry (6 September 2016). "Former Dutch PM calls Benjamin Netanyahu a 'war criminal' who should be tried in The Hague". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2016.

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v t e Third Van Agt cabinet (1982)
Preceded by: Second Van Agt cabinet Succeeded by: First Lubbers cabinet
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt (General Affairs and Foreign Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Jan Terlouw (Economic Affairs)
Ministers	Max Rood (Interior) Fons van der Stee (Finance) Job de Ruiter (Justice) Hans van Mierlo (Defence) Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (Health and the Environment) Wim Deetman (Education and Science) Henk Zeevalking (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Jan de Koning (Agriculture and Fisheries and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs and Employment) Erwin Nypels (Housing and Spatial Planning) Hans de Boer (Culture, Recreation and Social work)
Minister without portfolio	Kees van Dijk (Development Cooperation)
State secretaries	Gerard van Leijenhorst (Interior) Hans van den Broek (Foreign Affairs) Michiel Scheltema (Justice) Piet van Zeil (Economic Affairs and Social Affairs and Employment) Wim Dik (Economic Affairs) Jan van Houwelingen (Defence) Ineke Lambers-Hacquebard (Health and the Environment) Ad Hermes (Education and Science)

v t e Second Van Agt cabinet (1981–1982)
Preceded by: First Van Agt cabinet Succeeded by: Third Van Agt cabinet
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Ministers	Joop den Uyl (Social Affairs and Employment and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) Jan Terlouw (Economic Affairs)
Ministers	Ed van Thijn (Interior) Max van der Stoel (Foreign Affairs) Fons van der Stee (Finance) Job de Ruiter (Justice) Hans van Mierlo (Defence) Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (Health and the Environment) Jos van Kemenade (Education and Science) Henk Zeevalking (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Jan de Koning (Agriculture and Fisheries) Marcel van Dam (Housing and Spatial Planning) André van der Louw (Culture, Recreation and Social work)
Minister without portfolio	Kees van Dijk (Development Cooperation)
State secretaries	Saskia Stuiveling (Interior) Gerard van Leijenhorst (Interior) Hans van den Broek (Foreign Affairs) Hans Kombrink (Finance) Michiel Scheltema (Justice) Wim Dik (Economic Affairs) Piet van Zeil (Economic Affairs) Bram Stemerdink (Defence) Jan van Houwelingen (Defence) Ineke Lambers-Hacquebard (Health and the Environment) Wim Deetman (Education and Science) Ad Hermes (Education and Science) Jaap van der Doef (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Hedy d'Ancona (Social Affairs and Employment) Ien Dales (Social Affairs and Employment) Siepie de Jong (Housing and Spatial Planning) Hans de Boer (Culture, Recreation and Social work)

v t e First Van Agt cabinet (1977–1981)
Preceded by: Den Uyl cabinet Succeeded by: Second Van Agt cabinet
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Minister	Hans Wiegel (Interior)
Ministers	Chris van der Klaauw (Foreign Affairs) Frans Andriessen (Finance) (1977–1980) Gijs van Aardenne (Finance) (ad interim) Fons van der Stee (Finance and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) (from 1980) Job de Ruiter (Justice) Gijs van Aardenne (Economic Affairs) Roelof Kruisinga (Defence) (1977–1978) Jan de Koning (Defence) (Ad interim) Willem Scholten (Defence) (1978–1980) Pieter de Geus (Defence) (from 1980) Leendert Ginjaar (Health and the Environment) Arie Pais (Education and Science) Danny Tuijnman (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Fons van der Stee (Agriculture and Fisheries and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) (1977–1980) Gerrit Braks (Agriculture and Fisheries) (from 1980) Wil Albeda (Social Affairs) Pieter Beelaerts van Blokland (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1977–1981) Danny Tuijnman (Housing and Spatial Planning) (from 1981) Til Gardeniers-Berendsen (Culture, Recreation and Social work)
Ministers without portfolio	Jan de Koning (Development Cooperation) Rinus Peijnenburg (Science Policy) (1977–1979) (†) Leendert Ginjaar (Science Policy) (Ad interim) Ton van Trier (Science Policy) (from 1979)
State secretaries	Henk Koning (Interior) Durk van der Mei (Foreign Affairs) Ad Nooteboom (Finance) (1977–1980) Marius van Amelsvoort (Finance) (from 1980) Bert Haars (Justice) Ted Hazekamp (Economic Affairs) Has Beyen (Economic Affairs) Cees van Lent (Defence) Wim van Eekelen (Defence) Els Veder-Smit (Health and the Environment) Klaas de Jong (Education and Science) Ad Hermes (Education and Science) Neelie Kroes (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Louw de Graaf (Social Affairs) Gerrit Brokx (Housing and Spatial Planning) Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (Culture, Recreation and Social work) Gerard Wallis de Vries (Culture, Recreation and Social work)

v t e Den Uyl cabinet (1973–1977)
Preceded: Second Biesheuvel cabinet Succeed: First Van Agt cabinet
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Ministers	Dries van Agt (Justice) (1973–1977) Gaius de Gaay Fortman (Justice) (from 1977)
Ministers	Gaius de Gaay Fortman (Interior and Surinamese and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) Max van der Stoel (Foreign Affairs) Wim Duisenberg (Finance) Ruud Lubbers (Economic Affairs) Henk Vredeling (Defence) (1973–1977) Bram Stemerdink (Defence) (from 1977) Irene Vorrink (Health and the Environment) Jos van Kemenade (Education and Science) Tjerk Westerterp (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Tiemen Brouwer (Agriculture and Fisheries) (1973) Fons van der Stee (Agriculture and Fisheries) (from 1973) Jaap Boersma (Social Affairs) Hans Gruijters (Housing and Spatial Planning) Harry van Doorn (Culture, Recreation and Social work)
Ministers without portfolio	Boy Trip (Science Policy) Jan Pronk (Development Cooperation)
Undersecretaries	Wim Polak (Interior) (1973–1977) Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (Foreign Affairs) (1973–1977) Pieter Kooijmans (Foreign Affairs) Fons van der Stee (Finance) (1973) Martin van Rooijen (Finance) (1973–1977) Aar de Goede (Finance) Jan Glastra van Loon (Justice) (1973–1975) Henk Zeevalking (Justice) (1975–1977) Ted Hazekamp (Economic Affairs) Bram Stemerdink (Defence) (1973–1977) Joep Mommersteeg (Defence) (1973–1974) Cees van Lent (Defence) (from 1974) Jo Hendriks (Health and the Environment) Ger Klein (Education and Science) (1973–1977) Antoon Veerman (Education and Science) (1973–1975) Klaas de Jong (Education and Science) (from 1975) Michel van Hulten (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Jan Mertens (Social Affairs) Marcel van Dam (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1973–1977) Jan Schaefer (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1973–1977) Wim Meijer (Culture, Recreation and Social work) (1973–1977)

v t e Second Biesheuvel cabinet (1972–1973)
Preceded: First Biesheuvel cabinet Succeed: Den Uyl cabinet
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Ministers	Roelof Nelissen (Finance) Molly Geertsema (Interior and Surinamese and Netherlands Antillean Affairs)
Ministers	Norbert Schmelzer (Foreign Affairs) Dries van Agt (Justice) Harrie Langman (Economic Affairs) Hans de Koster (Defence) Louis Stuyt (Health and the Environment) Chris van Veen (Education and Science and Science Policy and Science Education) Berend Jan Udink (Transport, Public Works and Water Management and Housing and Spatial Planning) Pierre Lardinois (Agriculture and Fisheries) (1972–1973) Jaap Boersma (Agriculture and Fisheries) (Ad interim) Jaap Boersma (Social Affairs) Piet Engels (Culture, Recreation and Social work)
Minister without portfolio	Kees Boertien (Development Cooperation)
Undersecretaries	Tjerk Westerterp (Foreign Affairs) Willem Scholten (Finance) Fons van der Stee (Finance) Hans Grosheide (Justice) Jan Oostenbrink (Economic Affairs) Adri van Es (Defence) (1972) Kees Schelfhout (Education and Science) Roelof Kruisinga (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Koos Rietkerk (Social Affairs) Werner Buck (Housing and Spatial Planning) Henk Vonhoff (Culture, Recreation and Social work)

Dries van Agt OHO OON
Dries van Agt in 2011

Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982
Monarch	Juliana (1977–1980) Beatrix (1980–1982)
Deputy	See list Hans Wiegel (1977–1981) Joop den Uyl (1981–1982) Jan Terlouw (1981–1982)
Preceded by	Joop den Uyl
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Ambassador of the European Union to the United States
In office 1 January 1990 – 1 April 1995
Preceded by	Roy Denman
Succeeded by	Hugo Paemen
Ambassador of the European Union to Japan
In office 1 January 1987 – 1 January 1990
Preceded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst
Succeeded by	Unknown
Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant
In office 1 June 1983 – 22 April 1987
Monarch	Beatrix
Preceded by	Jan Dirk van der Harten
Succeeded by	Frank Houben
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 28 May 1982 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Max van der Stoel
Succeeded by	Hans van den Broek
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 10 June 1981 – 24 August 1981
Preceded by	Ruud Lubbers
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
In office 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Willem Aantjes
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal
In office 10 December 1976 – 25 October 1982
Preceded by	New title
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers
Deputy Prime Minister
In office 11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Roelof Nelissen Molly Geertsema
Succeeded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 16 September 1982 – 16 June 1983
In office 10 June 1981 – 9 September 1981
In office 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal
In office 23 January 1973 – 22 April 1973
Parliamentary group	Catholic People's Party
Minister of Justice
In office 6 July 1971 – 8 September 1977
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel (1971–1973) Joop den Uyl (1973–1977)
Preceded by	Carel Polak
Succeeded by	Gaius de Gaay Fortman

Personal details
Born	Andreas Antonius Maria van Agt (1931-02-02) 2 February 1931 (age 87) Geldrop, Netherlands
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political affiliations	Catholic People's Party (until 1980)
Spouse(s)	Eugenie Krekelberg (m. 1958)
Children	Eugenie van Agt (born 1959) Frans van Agt (born 1961) Caroline van Agt (born 1963)
Residence	Nijmegen, Netherlands
Alma mater	Radboud University Nijmegen (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Jurist · Lawyer · Judge · Researcher · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist · Activist · Author · Professor
Signature
Website	(in Dutch) Official site

v t e Prime Ministers of the Netherlands
Schimmelpenninck De Kempenaer Thorbecke Van Hall Van der Brugghen Rochussen Van Hall Ja. Van Zuylen van Nijevelt Van Heemstra Thorbecke Fransen van de Putte Ju. Van Zuylen van Nijevelt Van Bosse Thorbecke De Vries J. Heemskerk Kappeyne van de Coppello Van Lynden van Sandenburg J. Heemskerk Mackay Van Tienhoven Roëll Pierson Kuyper De Meester T. Heemskerk Cort van der Linden Ruijs de Beerenbrouck Colijn De Geer Ruijs de Beerenbrouck Colijn De Geer Gerbrandy Schermerhorn Beel Drees Beel De Quay Marijnen Cals Zijlstra De Jong Biesheuvel Den Uyl Van Agt Lubbers Kok Balkenende Rutte
List (age ◌ education ◌ religion)

v t e Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Buys Gogel Van der Goes van Dirxland Röell Mollerus Van der Heim Van Hogendorp Van Nagell Reinhold Van Reede De Coninck Verstolk van Soelen H. van Zuylen van Nijevelt Huyssen van Kettendijke Schimmelpenninck van der Oye De la Sarraz Van Randwijck Schimmelpenninck Bentinck van Nijenhuis Lightenvelt Van Sonsbeeck Ja. van Zuylen van Nijevelt Van Hall Gevers van Endegeest Van Goltstein Van Hall Ju. van Zuylen van Nijevelt Van der Goes van Dirxland Ja. van Zuylen van Nijevelt Strens Stratenus Van der Maesen de Sombreff Huyssen van Kattendijke Cremers Ju. van Zuylen van Nijevelt Van Mulken Roest van Limburg Van Mulken Gericke van Herwijnen Van der Does de Willebois Van Heeckeren van Kell Van Lynden van Sandenburg Rochussen Van der Does de Willebois Du Tour van Bellinchave Van Karnebeek Hartsen Van Tienhoven Jansen Röell De Beaufort Van Lynden Ellis Van Weede van Berencamp Ellis Van Tets van Goudriaan De Marees van Swinderen Cort van der Linden Loudon Van Karnebeek Beelaerts van Blokland De Graeff Ruijs de Beerenbrouck Colijn Patijn Van Kleffens Van Roijen Van Boetzelaer van Oosterhout Stikker Beyen Luns Schmelzer Van der Stoel Van der Klaauw Van der Stoel Van Agt Van den Broek Kooijmans Van Mierlo Van Aartsen De Hoop Scheffer Bot Verhagen Rosenthal Timmermans Koenders Zijlstra Kaag Blok

v t e Ministers of Justice of the Netherlands
Ministry of Justice and Security
Tadama Reuvens Van Hooff Van der Goes van Dirxland Cambier Appelius Van Hugenpoth tot Aerdt Van Maanen Van Pallandt van Keppel Van Maanen Van Hall De Jonge van Campensnieuwland Donker Curtius Wichers Lightenvelt Nedermeyer van Rosenthal Strens Donker Curtius Van der Brugghen Boot Godefroi Olivier Pické Borret J. Heemskerk Wintgens Van Lilaar Jolles De Vries Van Lynden van Sandenburg Smidt Modderman Du Tour van Bellinchave Ruijs de Beerenbrouck Smidt Van der Kaay Cort van der Linden Loeff Van Raalte Nelissen T. Heemskerk Regout T. Heemskerk Ort T. Heemskerk Schokking J. Donner Van Schaik Goseling De Visser Gerbrandy Van Angeren Van Heuven Goedhart Gerbrandy Kolfschoten Van Maarseveen Wijers Van Maarseveen Struycken Mulderije Donker Beel Van Oven Samkalden Struycken Beerman Scholten Samkalden Struycken Polak Van Agt De Gaay Fortman De Ruiter Korthals Altes Hirsch Ballin Kosto Sorgdrager Korthals P. H. Donner Verdonk Hirsch Ballin Opstelten Blok Van der Steur Blok Grapperhaus

v t e First Biesheuvel cabinet (1971–1972)
Preceded: De Jong cabinet Succeed: Second Biesheuvel cabinet
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Ministers	Roelof Nelissen (Finance and Surinamese and Netherlands Antillean Affairs) Molly Geertsema (Interior)
Ministers	Norbert Schmelzer (Foreign Affairs) Dries van Agt (Justice) Harrie Langman (Economic Affairs) Hans de Koster (Defence) Louis Stuyt (Health and the Environment) Chris van Veen (Education and Science) Willem Drees Jr. (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) (1971–1972) Berend Jan Udink (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) (ad interim) Pierre Lardinois (Agriculture and Fisheries) Jaap Boersma (Social Affairs) Berend Jan Udink (Housing and Spatial Planning) Piet Engels (Culture, Recreation and Social work)
Ministers without portfolio	Kees Boertien (Development Cooperation) Mauk de Brauw (Science Policy and Science Education) (1971–1972) Chris van Veen (Science Policy and Science Education) (ad interim)
Undersecretaries	Jan van Stuijvenberg (Interior) (1971–1972) Tjerk Westerterp (Foreign Affairs) Willem Scholten (Finance) Fons van der Stee (Finance) Hans Grosheide (Justice) Jan Oostenbrink (Economic Affairs) Adri van Es (Defence) Kees Schelfhout (Education and Science) Roelof Kruisinga (Transport, Public Works and Water Management) Koos Rietkerk (Social Affairs) Werner Buck (Housing and Spatial Planning) Henk Vonhoff (Culture, Recreation and Social work) Fia van Veenendaal-van Meggelen (Culture, Recreation and Social work) (1971–1972)