Born on 21 April 1980 in Wezep, married, 1 son
Party: Democrats ’66 (D66)
In order for the Netherlands to be safe and secure, the rule of law must be strong. At present it is under pressure. Our prisons and secure psychiatric institutions are full and navigating the justice system can be difficult. I will do my best to find solutions that are truly effective, including for the people on the work floor. And I will make sure that solutions are based on facts and figures, not incidents.
- The judiciary
- Council for the Judiciary
- The legal professions (including legal interpreters and translators)
- The legal system
- Legal aid
- Sanctions policy, including related amendments to the Criminal Code
- Juvenile justice policy, recidivism policy, young offender institutions
- Cooperation between organisations involved in the enforcement of criminal-law decisions
- Family law, including adoption
- Prevention (individual-specific and general)
- Judiciary (Organisation) Act
- Code of Civil Procedure
- Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure
- Private law, including the law of persons and family law
- Bankruptcy Act
- General Administrative Law Act
- Quality of legislation
- Copyright/intellectual property
- Betting and gaming
- Personal data protection (statutory framework)
- Data Protection Authority
- Integrity and Screening Agency (Justis), Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB)
- Council for the Administration of Criminal Justice and Protection of Juveniles, Child Protection Board
- Victim policy
- Youth protection
- Recidivism by young offenders
- Philanthropy
- Judicial Information Service (JustID)
- Prison system (legislation and policy, the Custodial Institutions Agency (DJI), hospital orders (TBS), youth detention)
- Probation service and the issuance of summons to convicted offenders to serve their sentences
- 23 February 2026
Appointed Minister for Legal Protection and Prisons in the Jetten government - December 2025 – 23 February 2026
Member of the management board, Dutch Association of Mental Health and Addiction Care (GGZ) - January 2024 – 23 February 2026
Member of the management board, Mesdag (forensic care organisation), Groningen - 2022 – 2025
Member of the Supervisory Committee, Ter Apel Custodial Institution - 2021 – 2024
Director, Salvation Army Welfare & Healthcare, North East Netherlands - 2019 – 2021
Deputy head of detention and reintegration, Zwolle Custodial Institution - 2015 – 2019
Senior sanctions analyst, Rabobank Netherlands - 2010 – 2015
Various positions at the Province of Overijssel (including supporting the legal affairs team and as Area Development Twente programme officer)
- 2022 – 2024
Executive MBA in Health, University of Groningen - 2020
Postgraduate continuing education – course on prison law, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - 2015 – 2018
Law – forensic criminology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - 2011 – 2012
Law for government, Open Universiteit - 1999 – 2003
Law, University of Amsterdam (not completed) - 1993 – 1999
Secondary education, Carolus Clusius College, Zwolle
- 2022 – 2024
Coach, De Nieuwe Lichting (D66 new recruits programme) - 2014 – 2022
Member and deputy leader of the D66 group on Zwolle municipal council; spokesperson on security, human rights and technology - 2014 – 2018
Collections coordinator, Dierenbescherming (animal welfare organisation) - 2013 – 2017
Member, D66 disputes committee - 2012 – 2014
Board member and campaign leader, D66 Zwolle