Born on 23 April 1964 in Etten-Leur, married
Party: New Social Contract (NSC)
I believe in a stable Netherlands in a world full of turmoil. That requires foreign policy that serves the interests of the Netherlands and its people, remains true to our values and defends our freedoms. The Netherlands has a role to play, both in the spotlight and behind the scenes.
Foreign policy
Europe (including the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)
International cultural policy
2 July 2024
Appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Schoof government
6 December 2023 – 2 July 2024
Member of the House of Representatives for NSC
September 2020 – December 2023
Board Director, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London (United Kingdom)
February – September 2020
Chargé d’affaires ad interim, Dutch embassy in Brussels (Belgium)
September 2015 – September 2019
Dutch ambassador to Greece (Athens)
August 2011 – October 2015
Dutch ambassador to Israel (Tel Aviv)
September 2008 – August 2011
Director, Southeast and Eastern Europe Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
August 2006 – August 2008
Deputy Director, United Nations and International Financial Institutions Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
August 2002 – August 2008
Cabinet adviser for political affairs, Dutch embassy in Washington DC (United States)
August 1998 – July 2002
Private secretary to the State Secretary for European Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
August 1997 – August 1998
Senior policy officer, Political Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
January 1995 – August 1998
Second secretary, Dutch embassy in Warsaw (Poland)
January 1993 – January 1995
Policy officer, European Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1992
Diplomatic service training programme, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
1982 – 1990
Public administration, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Leiden University (including studies and internship in the United States)
1980 – 1982
Secondary education, Thomas More College, Oudenbosch
