First Biesheuvel cabinet

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First Biesheuvel cabinet
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Cabinet of the Netherlands
Kabinet 1971-07-06 - SFA001006592.jpg ZetelsBiesheuvel.svg
The installation of the First Biesheuvel cabinet on 6 July 1971
Date formed6 July 1971 (1971-07-06)
Date dissolved9 August 1972 (1972-08-09)
1 year, 34 days in office
(Demissionary from 19 July 1972 (1972-07-19))
People and organisations
Monarch Queen Juliana
Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel
Deputy Prime Minister Roelof Nelissen
Molly Geertsema
No. of ministers16
Ministers removed2
Total no. of members16
Member party Catholic People's Party
(KVP)
People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(VVD)
Anti-Revolutionary Party
(ARP)
Christian Historical Union
(CHU)
Democratic Socialists '70
(DS'70)
Status in legislature Centrist
Majority government
History
Election 1971 election
Outgoing election 1972 election
Legislature terms 1971–1972
Incoming formation 1971 formation
Outgoing formation 1972–1973 formation
Predecessor De Jong cabinet
Successor Second Biesheuvel cabinet

The first Biesheuvel cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 6 July 1971 until 9 August 1972. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and Christian Historical Union (CHU), the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the social-democratic Democratic Socialists '70 (DS'70) after the election of 1971. The cabinet was a centrist coalition and had a slim majority in the House of Representatives with Protestant Leader Barend Biesheuvel a former Minister of Agriculture serving as Prime Minister. Prominent Catholic politician Roelof Nelissen the Minister of Economic Affairs in the previous cabinet served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and was given the portfolio of Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs, former Liberal Leader Molly Geertsema served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.

Contents

The cabinet served in the early years of the radical 1970s. Domestically it had to deal with the peak of the counterculture and a growing inflation but it was able to implement several social reforms to the public sector and stimulating deregulation and privatization. The cabinet suffered several major internal conflicts between the cabinet members of the Democratic Socialists '70 and the rest of the coalition which lead to the fall of the cabinet just 1 year into its term on 19 July 1972 with the Democratic Socialists '70 cabinet members resigning on 21 July 1972 and the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced with the caretaker Second Biesheuvel cabinet on 9 August 1972. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Term

Problems of the cabinet were the release of war criminals (three of Breda) and the increasing inflation, combined with a stagnating economy (stagflation). The decision to cut government expenses was not supported by DS'70, so the cabinet lost its majority in the parliament, resulting in Biesheuvel II.

Minister Stuyt, the first minister for environmental affairs, issued an urgency-note concerning the environment. In 1972, the first report from the Club of Rome was published, which showed that the environment is in a bad state worldwide and that resources will eventually run out.

The cabinet recognised the GDR and voted to allow China back into the United Nations.

Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium, Queen Juliana, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Minister of Foreign Affairs Norbert Schmelzer at Luxembourg Airport on 7 July 1971. Schmelzer, Norbert - SFA002011286.jpg
Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, Queen Juliana, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Minister of Foreign Affairs Norbert Schmelzer at Luxembourg Airport on 7 July 1971.
Prime Minister of Norway Trygve Bratteli and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the Catshuis on 8 January 1972. Premier Biesheuvel ontvangt premier Trygve Bratteli van Noorwegen in Catshuis De, Bestanddeelnr 925-2933.jpg
Prime Minister of Norway Trygve Bratteli and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the Catshuis on 8 January 1972.
Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the Catshuis op 5 July 1972. Andrei Gromyko and Barend Biesheuvel 1972.jpg
Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the Catshuis op 5 July 1972.

Cabinet Members

Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Barend Biesheuvel 1971.jpg Barend Biesheuvel
(1920–2001)
Prime Minister General Affairs 6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Roelof Nelissen 1971 (1).jpg Roelof Nelissen
(1931–2019)
Deputy
Prime Minister
Finance 6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Minister
Molly Geertsema 1964 (1).jpg Molly Geertsema
(1918–1991)
Deputy
Prime Minister
Interior 6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Minister
Schmelzer, Norbert - SFA005000409.jpg Norbert Schmelzer
(1921–2008)
Minister Foreign Affairs 6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Dries van Agt 1976 (1).jpg Dries van Agt
(1931–2024)
Minister Justice 6 July 1971 –
8 September 1977
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Harrie Langman 1982 (1).jpg Harrie Langman
(1931–2016)
Minister Economic Affairs 6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Hans de Koster 1975 (1).jpg Hans de Koster
(1914–1992)
Minister Defence 6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Louis Stuyt 1973 (1).jpg Dr.
Louis Stuyt
(1914–2000)
Minister Health and
Environment
6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Boersma, Minister J. - Boersma, Jacob - Boersma Jaap - SFA002005011.jpg Jaap Boersma
(1929–2012)
Minister Social Affairs 6 July 1971 –
19 December 1977
[Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Chris van Veen 1972 (1).jpg Chris van Veen
(1922–2009)
Minister Education and
Sciences
6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
Willem Drees jr. 1973 (1).jpg Dr.
Willem Drees Jr.
(1922–1998)
Minister Transport and
Water Management
6 July 1971 –
21 July 1972
[Res]
Democratic
Socialists '70
Berend Jan Udink 1969 (2).jpg Bé Udink
(1926–2016)
21 July 1972 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
Pierre Lardinois 1974 (1).jpg Pierre Lardinois
(1924–1987)
Minister Agriculture and
Fisheries
5 April 1967 –
1 January 1973
[Retained] [Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Berend Jan Udink 1969 (2).jpg Bé Udink
(1926–2016)
Minister Housing and
Spatial Planning
6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
Piet Engels 1973 (1).jpg Piet Engels
(1923–1994)
Minister Culture, Recreation
and Social Work
6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Ministers without portfolio Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Roelof Nelissen 1971 (1).jpg Roelof Nelissen
(1931–2019)
Minister Interior Suriname and
Netherlands
Antilles Affairs
6 July 1971 –
28 January 1972
Catholic
People's Party
Pierre Lardinois 1974 (1).jpg Pierre Lardinois
(1924–1987)
28 January 1972 –
1 January 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Kees Boertien 1971 (1).jpg Dr.
Kees Boertien
(1927–2002)
Minister Foreign Affairs Development
Cooperation
6 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Mauk de Brauw 1981 (1).jpg Jonkheer
Mauk de Brauw
(1925–1984)
Minister Education and
Sciences
Higher
Education

Science Policy
6 July 1971 –
21 July 1972
[Res]
Democratic
Socialists '70
Chris van Veen 1972 (1).jpg Chris van Veen
(1922–2009)
21 July 1972 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
State Secretaries Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Jan van Stuijvenberg (1970).jpg Jan van
Stuijvenberg

(born 1928)
State Secretary Interior Municipalities
Civil Service
17 July 1971 –
21 July 1972
[Res]
Democratic
Socialists '70
Tjerk Westerterp 1974 (2).jpg Tjerk Westerterp
(1930–2023)
State Secretary Foreign Affairs European Union
Benelux
17 August 1971 –
7 March 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Scholten, W. - SFA008007286.jpg Willem Scholten
(1927–2005)
State Secretary Finance Fiscal Policy
Tax and Customs
14 July 1971 –
19 March 1973
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
Fons van der Stee 1979 (1).jpg Fons van der Stee
(1928–1999)
Governmental
Budget
14 July 1971 –
12 March 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Hans Grosheide 1963 (1).jpg Hans Grosheide
(1930–2022)
State Secretary Justice Immigration
and Asylum

Civil Law
• Youth Justice
Penitentiaries
28 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Drs. J. Oostenbrink, secretaris van de Raad van het Grootwinkelbedrijf, Bestanddeelnr 922-1676.jpg Jan Oostenbrink
(born 1936)
State Secretary Economic Affairs Small and
Medium-sized
Businesses

• Consumer
Protection
Tourism
17 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Adri van Es aan boord van Hr.Ms. Karel Doorman.jpg Vice admiral
Adri van Es
(1913–1994)
State Secretary Defence Human
Resources

Equipment
14 August 1963 –
16 September 1972
[Retained] [Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Koos Rietkerk 1977 (1).jpg Koos Rietkerk
(1927–1986)
State Secretary Social Affairs • Social Security
• Unemployment
Occupational
Safety

• Social Services
28 July 1971 –
23 April 1973
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Kees Schelfhout 1971 (1).jpg Kees Schelfhout
(1918–1983)
State Secretary Education and
Sciences
Primary
Education

Special
Education

Preschool
28 July 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Roelof Kruisinga 1973 (1).jpg Dr.
Roelof Kruisinga
(1922–2012)
State Secretary Transport and
Water Management
Public
Infrastructure

Public
Transport

Rail Transport
Water
Management

Postal Service
Weather
Forecasting
28 July 1971 –
20 March 1973
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
Netherlands politic personality icon.svg Werner Buck
(1925–2010)
State Secretary Housing and
Spatial Planning
Urban Planning
Spatial Planning
17 August 1971 –
11 May 1973
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Fia van Veenendaal-van Meggelen 1970 (1).jpg Fia van
Veenendaal-
van Meggelen

(1918–2005)
State Secretary Culture, Recreation
and Social Work
• Social Services
Disability Policy
28 July 1971 –
21 July 1972
[Res]
Democratic
Socialists '70
Henk Vonhoff 1971 (1).jpg Henk Vonhoff
(1931–2010)
Youth Care
• Nature
Culture
Art
• Recreation
Sport
28 July 1971 –
23 April 1973
[Continued]
People's Party
for Freedom and
Democracy
Resigned
Retained from the previous cabinet
Continued in the next cabinet

Trivia

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References

  1. "Ideeën van Drees jr. waren te afwijkend" (in Dutch). Volkskrant. 8 September 1998. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  2. (in Dutch) Mooie Barend. De vergeten premier, Volkskrant, 9 June 2012
  3. (in Dutch) De driftbuien van Mooie Barend, Historischnieuwsblad.nl, 6 May 2001
  4. "Biesheuvel, Barend Willem (1920–2001)" (in Dutch). Huygens ING. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
  5. (in Dutch) Mr. B. W. (Barend) Biesheuvel 6 juli 1971 – 11 mei 1973, Geschiedenis24.nl, 9 December 2005
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