Sjoerd Sjoerdsma

Born on 10 July 1981 in Eindhoven
Party: Democrats ’66 (D66)

International cooperation is crucial for the Netherlands. Amid the global turbulence, we are therefore opting for a robust trade policy, and we will be investing in development cooperation again. We will ensure that our partners benefit, while also firmly protecting values such as democracy and human rights. This is how we will strengthen our prosperity, resilience and security.

International trade

Development cooperation
23 February 2026
Appointed Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation in the Jetten government

February 2025 – 22 February 2026
CEO, Einstein Telescope

2024
Self-employed

20 September 2012 – 6 December 2023
Member of the House of Representatives for D66, party spokesperson on issues including foreign affairs, European affairs, asylum, integration, multiple nationality and media policy

2005 – 2012
Diplomat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2011-2012 Representative Office in Ramallah, Palestinian Territories
2010-2011 Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan
2007-2010 Western and Central Europe Department
2005-2007 Sudan Task Force

2003 – 2005
Central government trainee at the Ministry of Transport and Water Management and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2002 – 2003
MSc in Theory and History of International Relations, London School of Economics (LSE)

1999 – 2002
BA in Social Sciences, University College Utrecht

1993 – 1999
Secondary education, Gymnasium Trevianum, Sittard
January 2024 – 22 February 2026
Member of the supervisory board, BNNVARA (public broadcaster)

March 2022 – April 2022
Informateur for the formation of the Gouda municipal executive

2018 – 2020
Member of the board of the Stichting Machiavelli, a non-profit organisation with a focus on public communication

1997 – 2003
Editor and freelance writer at MacFan