Born on 18 June 1977 in Ankara, Türkiye
Party: People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)
Our own security is at stake – we can’t afford to be naive about that. If we want freedom to triumph and our way of life to endure, then the Netherlands and Europe will have to take control of their destiny. I take this task very seriously, and robust armed forces are essential to its success. In the years ahead we will be making the biggest-ever investment in our Defence organisation. This is crucial in order to protect our way of life.
- National and international defence policy
- Composition and structure of armed forces
- National and international deployment of the armed forces
- Support for Ukraine
- Enhancing the Netherlands’ resilience at national level
- International policy and cooperation, including NATO and EU
- Strategic industry policy and contacts with major strategic suppliers
- Veterans policy and care
- Royal Military and Border Police
- Coastguard
- The Netherlands Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD)
- Inspectorates and supervisory authorities
- Defence Safety Inspectorate
- Inspector-General of the Armed Forces
- Military Healthcare Inspectorate
- Military Hazardous Materials Inspection Corps
- Military Aviation Authority
- 23 February 2026
Appointed Minister of Defence in the Jetten government - 2 July 2024 – 23 February 2026
Member of the House of Representatives for the VVD and leader of the VVD parliamentary party - 10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024
Minister of Justice and Security in the fourth Rutte government - 25 May 2021 – 10 January 2022
State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the third Rutte government - 23 March 2017 – 3 September 2021
Member of the House of Representatives for the VVD, party spokesperson on issues including media, foreign trade and development cooperation, equal opportunities, climate and energy, and security - 2014 – 2017
Member of the municipal council of Amsterdam for the VVD, party spokesperson on security, poverty reduction and sport - 2006 – 2014
Adviser to the mayor and members of the Amsterdam municipal executive on care services and security, including on the Top 600 Programme (an integrated approach to high-impact crime), Project 1012 (plan of action for Amsterdam’s red light district), Amsterdam’s policy on sex workers, tackling addiction, cannabis cafés, community shelter services and domestic violence. Also involved in diversity policy, the neighbourhood approach and youth care - 2004 – 2006
Staff member at the municipality of Amersfoort’s Bureau of Research and Statistics
- 1997 – 2003
Culture, Organisation and Management, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam - 1991 – 1997
Secondary education, Vallei College, Amersfoort
- 2015 – 2017
Member of the VVD’s European Affairs Committee in The Hague - 2010 – 2013
Various positions as a member of the VVD, including member of the board of the VVD regional branch in Amsterdam. In this role her responsibilities included recruiting, activating and retaining members, and the ‘political café’ - 2008 – 2011
Member of the board of the Dutch Foundation for Audiovisual Anthropology (SAVAN) - 2004 – 2010
Country specialist at Amnesty International Nederland