Den Uyl cabinet

Den Uyl cabinet
Den Uyl cabinet
; Cabinet of the Netherlands
	The installation of the Den Uyl cabinet on 11 May 1973
Date formed	11 May 1973
Date dissolved	19 December 1977; (Demissionary from 22 March 1977)
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Juliana
Head of government	Joop den Uyl
Deputy head of government	Dries van Agt (1973–1977); Gaius de Gaay Fortman (1977);
No. of ministers	16
Ministers removed	3
Total no. of members	18
Member party	Labour Party (PvdA); Catholic People's Party (KVP); Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP); Political Party of Radicals (PPR); Democrats 66 (D'66);
Status in legislature	Centre-left majority government ; (Grand coalition)
History
Election	1972 general election
Outgoing election	1977 general election
Legislature terms	1972–1977
Incoming formation	1972–1973 formation
Outgoing formation	1977 formation
Predecessor	Second Biesheuvel cabinet
Successor	First Van Agt cabinet

Last updated August 30, 2025

The Den Uyl cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 11 May 1973 until 19 December 1977. The cabinet was formed by the social democratic Labour Party (PvdA), the Christian democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP) and Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), the progressive Political Party of Radicals (PPR) and the social liberal Democrats 66 (D'66) after the 1972 general election. The cabinet was a centre-left ^[1] grand coalition and had a substantial majority in the House of Representatives with Labour Leader Joop den Uyl serving as Prime Minister. Prominent Catholic politician Dries van Agt, the Minister of Justice from the previous cabinet, served as Deputy Prime Minister until his resignation. Prominent Protestant politician Gaius de Gaay Fortman, the Minister of the Interior, assumed the office of Deputy Prime Minister on 8 September 1977.

The cabinet served during the tumultuous 1970s and had to deal with several major crises such as the 1973 oil crisis, the Lockheed scandal, the Moluccans incidents and the fallout of the Yom Kippur War. Internally the cabinet suffered several conflicts, including the poor working relationship between Prime Minister Den Uyl and Deputy Prime Minister Van Agt, and multiple resignations. The cabinet fell on 22 March 1977, just before the end of its term, following a major political crisis, and continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced following the election of 1977.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Formation

Composition of the cabinet in relation to the rest of the legislature ZetelsDenUyl.svg — Composition of the cabinet in relation to the rest of the legislature

After the 1972 general election the Labour Party (PvdA) of Joop den Uyl was the winner of the election, winning four new seats and having now a total of 43 seats. Prior to the election the PvdA had formed a political alliance with the progressive Christian Political Party of Radicals and the social liberal Democrats 66, but this alliance failed to achieve a majority in the House of Representatives. After lengthy negotiations the Christian democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP) and Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) agreed to start talks about joining the coalition. During the formation negotiations between the parties were difficult because of disputes between uncompromising left-wing radicals and the moderate factions of the left-wing parties and the left-wing Christians. In the end both the KVP and the ARP joined the cabinet.

Term

The Den Uyl cabinet was confronted with many problems, starting with the 1973 oil crisis following Dutch support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War. Prime Minister Joop den Uyl said in a speech on national television that "things would never return to the way they were" and implemented fuel rationing and a ban on Sunday driving.^[5]

Domestically the cabinet had several major conflicts, including the terrorist attacks by Moluccans seeking independence from Indonesia, the Lockheed affair (bribes accepted by the prince consort) and the closing of the Bloemenhove abortion clinic. Many plans could not be implemented because of these problems.

The cabinet fell because of a disagreement over land development plans. A deeper cause was the left-wing distrust of the Christian ministers, especially in the case of war criminal Pieter Menten, where Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Dries van Agt was ridiculed (so Van Agt believed) by some party members of Prime Minister Joop den Uyl.^[6]

Changes

On 1 November 1973, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Tiemen Brouwer (KVP) resigned for reasons of health; shortly after he took office, he suffered a brain haemorrhage. That same day State Secretary of Finance Fons van der Stee (KVP) was installed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. On 21 December 1973, Martin van Rooijen (KVP), who until then had been working as the head of the fiscal tax department for Royal Dutch Shell, was appointed as State Secretary of Finance.

On 1 March 1974, State Secretary of Defence Joep Mommersteeg (KVP) resigned because of health problems. On 11 March 1974, brigadier general Cees van Lent (KVP), who until then had been working as Chief of the Personnel Department of the Royal Netherlands Army, was installed as his successor.

On 27 May 1975, State Secretary of Justice Jan Glastra van Loon (D'66) resigned due to a conflict with top officials at the Ministry of Defence after criticising the department's leadership in an interview. On 6 June 1975, former Utrecht Alderman Henk Zeevalking (D'66) was appointed his successor.

On 1 September 1975, State Secretary of Education and Sciences Antoon Veerman (ARP) resigned because of health reasons. That same day, Klaas de Jong (ARP), who until then had been working as rector of the Christian school in Amersfoort, was installed as his successor.

On 1 January 1977, Minister of Defence Henk Vredeling (PvdA) resigned after he was appointed as European Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs. That same day, State Secretary for Defence Bram Stemerdink (PvdA) was appointed as his successor.

On 1 May 1977, State Secretary of the Interior Wim Polak (PvdA) resigned after he was appointed Mayor of Amsterdam; because the cabinet was already demissionary he was not replaced.

On 8 September 1977, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Dries van Agt (KVP) resigned because of the dualism of the constitutional convention in the States General of the Netherlands after he was elected to the House of Representatives. Minister of the Interior Gaius de Gaay Fortman (ARP) took over both positions until the new cabinet was installed on 19 December 1977.

For the same reason, on 8 September 1977 State Secretary of Foreign Affairs Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (D'66), State Secretary of Justice Henk Zeevalking (D'66), State Secretary of Economic Affairs Ted Hazekamp (KVP), State Secretary of Education and Sciences Ger Klein (PvdA), State Secretaries for Housing and Spatial Planning Jan Schaefer (PvdA) and Marcel van Dam (PvdA) and State Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Social Work Wim Meijer (PvdA) also resigned.

ANC Secretary-General Oliver Tambo, ANC Treasurer-General Thomas Nkobi and Minister Jan Pronk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 October 1977 TamboPronk1977.jpg — ANC Secretary-General Oliver Tambo, ANC Treasurer-General Thomas Nkobi and Minister Jan Pronk at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 October 1977

Composition

Ministers

Title	Minister				Term of office
Title	Image	Name	Party		Start	End
Prime Minister Minister of General Affairs		Joop den Uyl		PvdA	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Justice		Dries van Agt		KVP	11 May 1973	8 September 1977
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Justice		Gaius de Gaay Fortman		ARP	8 September 1977	19 December 1977
Minister of the Interior Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs (1973–1975) Minister for Netherlands Antilles Affairs (1975–1977)		Gaius de Gaay Fortman		ARP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Max van der Stoel		PvdA	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Finance		Wim Duisenberg		PvdA	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Economic Affairs		Ruud Lubbers		KVP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Defence		Henk Vredeling		PvdA	11 May 1973	1 January 1977
Minister of Defence		Bram Stemerdink		PvdA	1 January 1977	19 December 1977
Minister of Health and Environment		Irene Vorrink		PvdA	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Social Affairs		Jaap Boersma		ARP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Education and Sciences		Jos van Kemenade		PvdA	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Transport and Water Management		Tjerk Westerterp		KVP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries		Tiemen Brouwer		KVP	11 May 1973	1 November 1973
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries		Fons van der Stee		KVP	1 November 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning		Hans Gruijters		D'66	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister of Culture, Recreation and Social Work		Harry van Doorn		PPR	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister for Development Cooperation		Jan Pronk		PvdA	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
Minister for Science Policy		Boy Trip		PPR	11 May 1973	19 December 1977

State secretaries

Title	State secretary				Term of office
Title	Image	Name	Party		Start	End
State Secretary of the Interior		Wim Polak		PvdA	11 May 1973	1 May 1977
State Secretary of Foreign Affairs		Laurens Jan Brinkhorst		D'66	11 May 1973	8 September 1977
State Secretary of Foreign Affairs		Pieter Kooijmans		ARP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
State Secretary of Finance		Aar de Goede		D'66	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
		Fons van der Stee		KVP	11 May 1973	1 November 1973
		Martin van Rooijen		KVP	21 December 1973	14 October 1977
State Secretary of Justice		Jan Glastra van Loon		D'66	13 June 1973	27 May 1975
State Secretary of Justice		Henk Zeevalking		D'66	6 June 1975	8 September 1977
State Secretary of Economic Affairs		Ted Hazekamp		KVP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
State Secretary of Defence		Joep Mommersteeg		KVP	11 May 1973	1 March 1974
		Cees van Lent		KVP	11 March 1974	19 December 1977
		Bram Stemerdink		PvdA	11 May 1973	1 January 1977
State Secretary of Health and Environment		Jo Hendriks		KVP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
State Secretary of Social Affairs		Jan Mertens		KVP	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
State Secretary of Education and Sciences		Ger Klein		PvdA	11 May 1973	8 September 1977
		Antoon Veerman		ARP	11 May 1973	1 September 1975
		Klaas de Jong		ARP	1 September 1975	19 December 1977
State Secretary of Transport and Water Management		Michel van Hulten		PPR	11 May 1973	19 December 1977
State Secretary of Housing and Spatial Planning		Jan Schaefer		PvdA	11 May 1973	8 September 1977
State Secretary of Housing and Spatial Planning		Marcel van Dam		PvdA	11 May 1973	8 September 1977
State Secretary of Culture, Recreation and Social Work		Wim Meijer		PvdA	11 May 1973	8 September 1977

References

↑ Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
↑ (in Dutch) De mythe van het vechtkabinet van Joop den Uyl Archived 9 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine . University of Rotterdam. 2002
↑ (in Dutch) Suèr, Henk. "Joop den Uyl: verguisd en inspirerend" (PDF). Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). roodkoper.nl
↑ "Onthullende biografie Joop den Uyl" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). University of Amsterdam. 21 February 2008
↑ "De hobbelstrategie" (in Dutch). De Groene Amsterdammer. 25 October 1995. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
↑ "Waarom het kabinet-Den Uyl moest vallen; Bonje om de premier-bonus" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. 22 March 1997. Retrieved 31 July 2018.

External links

Kabinet-Den Uyl Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch)
Kabinet-Den Uyl Rijksoverheid (in Dutch)

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[1] Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165

[2] (in Dutch) De mythe van het vechtkabinet van Joop den Uyl Archived 9 July 2016 at the Wayback Machine . University of Rotterdam. 2002

[3] (in Dutch) Suèr, Henk. "Joop den Uyl: verguisd en inspirerend" (PDF). Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). roodkoper.nl

[4] "Onthullende biografie Joop den Uyl" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). University of Amsterdam. 21 February 2008

[5] "De hobbelstrategie" (in Dutch). De Groene Amsterdammer. 25 October 1995. Retrieved 15 August 2017.

[6] "Waarom het kabinet-Den Uyl moest vallen; Bonje om de premier-bonus" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. 22 March 1997. Retrieved 31 July 2018.

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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 Suriname 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) Jaap Boersma (Social Affairs) Jos van Kemenade (Education and Sciences) Tjerk Westerterp (Transport and Water Management) Tiemen Brouwer (Agriculture and Fisheries) (1973) Fons van der Stee (Agriculture and Fisheries) (from 1973) Hans Gruijters (Housing and Spatial Planning) Harry van Doorn (Culture, Recreation and Social Work)
Ministers without portfolio	Jan Pronk (Development Cooperation) Boy Trip (Science Policy)
State Secretaries	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) Joep Mommersteeg (Defence) (1973–1974) Cees van Lent (Defence) (from 1974) Bram Stemerdink (Defence) (1973–1977) Jo Hendriks (Health and the Environment) Jan Mertens (Social Affairs) Ger Klein (Education and Sciences) (1973–1977) Antoon Veerman (Education and Sciences) (1973–1975) Klaas de Jong (Education and Sciences) (from 1975) Michel van Hulten (Transport and Water Management) Jan Schaefer (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1973–1977) Marcel van Dam (Housing and Spatial Planning) (1973–1977) Wim Meijer (Culture, Recreation and Social Work) (1973–1977)