Joop den Uyl

In this Dutch name, the family name is Den Uyl, not Uyl.

Joop den Uyl
Joop den Uyl in 1975
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 11 May 1973 –19 December 1977
Monarch	Juliana
Deputy	See list Dries van Agt (1973–1977) Gaius de Gaay Fortman (1977)
Preceded by	Barend Biesheuvel
Succeeded by	Dries van Agt
Deputy Prime Minister
In office 11 September 1981 –29 May 1982 Servingwith Jan Terlouw
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Hans Wiegel
Succeeded by	Jan Terlouw
Minister of Social Affairs and Employment
In office 11 September 1981 –29 May 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Wil Albeda as Minister of Social Affairs
Succeeded by	Louw de Graaf
Minister for Netherlands Antilles Affairs
In office 11 September 1981 –29 May 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Fons van der Stee
Succeeded by	Jan de Koning
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 16 September 1982 –21 July 1986
Preceded by	Wim Meijer
Succeeded by	Wim Kok
In office 16 January 1978 –11 September 1981
Preceded by	Ed van Thijn
Succeeded by	Wim Meijer
In office 8 June 1977 –8 September 1977
Preceded by	Ed van Thijn
Succeeded by	Ed van Thijn
In office 23 February 1967 –11 May 1973
Preceded by	Gerard Nederhorst
Succeeded by	Ed van Thijn
Parliamentary group	Labour Party
Leader of the Labour Party
In office 13 September 1966 –21 July 1986
Deputy	See list Anne Vondeling (1966–1972) André van der Louw (1971–1974) Ed van Thijn (1973–1983) Jos van Kemenade (1977–1986) Wim Meijer (1981–1986) Wim Kok (1986)
Preceded by	Anne Vondeling
Succeeded by	Wim Kok
Minister of Economic Affairs
In office 14 April 1965 –22 November 1966
Prime Minister	Jo Cals
Preceded by	Koos Andriessen
Succeeded by	Joop Bakker
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 16 September 1982 –24 December 1987
In office 16 January 1978 –11 September 1981
In office 8 June 1977 –8 September 1977
In office 23 February 1967 –11 May 1973
In office 6 November 1956 –5 June 1963
Parliamentary group	Labour Party
Personal details
Born	Johannes Marten den Uijl (1919-08-09)9 August 1919 Hilversum, Netherlands
Died	24 December 1987(1987-12-24) (aged 68) Amsterdam, Netherlands
Cause of death	Brain tumor
Nationality	Dutch
Political party	Labour Party (from 1946)
Other political affiliations	Anti-Revolutionary Party (1937–1946)
Spouse(s)	Liesbeth van Vessem (m. 1944;his death 1987)
Children	Saskia Noorman-den Uyl (born 1946) Marion den Uyl (born 1947) Barbara den Uyl (born 1949) Marten den Uyl (born 1951) Xander den Uyl (born 1953) Rogier den Uyl (born 1957) Ariane den Uyl (born 1965)
Alma mater	University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Economist · Journalist · Editor · Author · Activist
Signature

Johannes Marten den Uijl, better known as Joop den Uyl (Dutch:  [ˈjoːb dɛn ˈœyl] ( listen ); ^[1] 9 August 1919 – 24 December 1987) was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA) and economist who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 11 May 1973 until 19 December 1977. ^{[2] [3]}

Den Uyl worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of Economic Affairs from 1942 until 1945 and as a journalist for the underground newspapers Het Parool and Vrij Nederland from 1942 until 1949. He worked as the director of the Wiardi Beckman Foundation from 1949 until 1963. Den Uyl was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1956, he served in the House of Representatives from 6 November 1956 until his resignation 5 June 1963 after his appointed as an Alderman of Amsterdam on 8 November 1962. Following the fall of the Marijnen cabinet on 27 February 1965, a new cabinet was formed and Den Uyl was appointed as Minister of Economic Affairs in the Cals cabinet, serving from 14 April 1965 until 22 November 1966. After the Leader of the Labour Party Anne Vondeling unexpectedly announced he was stepping down four months before the election of 1967, Den Uyl was chosen to succeed him en became the Leader of the Labour Party and the lijsttrekker (top candidate) of the Labour Party for the election of 1967. The Labour Party retained its place as the second largest party after the election, but lost 6 seats and now had 37 seats in the House of Representatives. Den Uyl was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives and became the Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives, serving from 23 February 1967 until 11 May 1973. For the election of 1971 Den Uyl served again as lijsttrekker. The Labour Party won the election, gaining 2 seats and now had 39 seats in the House of Representatives. The following cabinet formation resulted in a coalition agreement that formed the first Biesheuvel cabinet without the Labour Party.

For the election of 1972 Den Uyl again served as lijsttrekker. The Labour Party again won the election, gaining 4 seats and now had 43 seats in the House of Representatives. Following a long formation period a coalition agreement with the Labour Party, Catholic People's Party (KVP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), Political Party of Radicals (PPR) and the Democrats 66 (D'66) was made which resulted in the formation of the Den Uyl cabinet, with Den Uyl becoming Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of General Affairs on 11 May 1973. During the election of 1977 Den Uyl served once again as lijsttrekker. The Labour Party won the election, gaining 10 seats and now had 53 seats in the House of Representatives. After a failed cabinet formation with the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), the Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Dries van Agt struck a deal with the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Hans Wiegel that resulted in the formation of the Van Agt-Wiegel cabinet. Den Uyl returned to the House of Representatives and again served as the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, serving from 16 January 1978 until 11 September 1981.

For the election of 1981 Den Uyl served for a fifth time as lijsttrekker. The Labour Party sufferd a big lose, losing 9 seats and became the second largest party and now had 44 seats in the House of Representatives. The following long cabinet formation resulted in a coalition agreement with the Christian Democratic Appeal and the Democrats 66 which formed the second Van Agt cabinet, with Den Uyl becoming Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and Minister for Netherlands Antilles Affairs, taking office on 11 September 1981. The second Van Agt cabinet fell just seven months into its term, Den Uyl and the other Labour Party cabinet members resigned on 29 May 1982. For the election of 1982 Den Uyl served again as lijsttrekker. The Labour Party won the election, gaining 3 seats and now had 47 seats in the House of Representatives. Den Uyl again returned as a Member of the House of Representatives and the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives on 16 September 1982. After a failed cabinet formation with the Christian Democratic Appeal, the new Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal Ruud Lubbers made a coalition agreement with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy that resulted in the formation of the first Lubbers cabinet. For the election of 1986 Den Uyl served for a seventh and final time as Lijsttrekker. The Labour Party made small win, gaining 5 seats but again became the second largest party and now had 52 seats in the House of Representatives. The following cabinet formation resulted in a continuing coalition agreement between the Christian Democratic Appeal and the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy a second Lubbers cabinet. Shortly after installation of the new cabinet, Den Uyl announced he was stepping down as Leader of the Labour Party and as Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives and endorsed Wim Kok as his successor. Den Uyl resigned on 21 July 1986 but retained his seat in the House of Representatives and continued to serve as a backbencher until his death on 24 December 1987.

Den Uyl was known as an idealistic, but also polarising politician. Throughout history, Dutch political leaders have tended to soothing manners - Den Uyl was one of a relatively few exceptions. People either loved him or hated him. Followers of his idealistic policies called him Ome Joop (Uncle Joop). ^[4] He was criticised for creating a budget deficit and polarising Dutch politics. ^[5] Associated with Den Uyl was the maakbare samenleving (the makeable society, the idea that society is constructed and that government is a player in the construction). Another idea associated with Den Uyl was de verbeelding aan de macht (imagination in the driver's seat, the power of conceptual thinking, particularly in politics). ^[6]

Early life

Minister of Foreign Affairs Max van der Stoel, Chancellor of West-Germany Helmut Schmidt and Prime Minister Joop den Uyl at the Catshuis on 2 November 1974.

United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Prime Minister Joop den Uyl at the Catshuis on 11 August 1976.

First Secretary of the French Socialist Party François Mitterrand and Prime Minister Joop den Uyl and at the Catshuis on 28 September 1976.

Leader of the Opposition of the United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher and Prime Minister Joop den Uyl at the Catshuis on 6 December 1976.

Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl and Leader of the Opposition of the United Kingdom Neil Kinnock in Rotterdam on 26 May 1984.

Vice President of the United States George H. W. Bush and Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl in The Hague on 26 June 1985.

Leader of the Labour Party Joop den Uyl and Prime Minister of Israel Shimon Peres in The Hague on 21 January 1986.

Johannes Marten den Uijl was born on 9 August 1919 in the town of Hilversum. He was born in a Calvinist reformed family. His father, Johannes den Uyl, was a shopkeeper and a basket weaver who died when Den Uyl was 10. Den Uyl attended the Christian Lyceum, the modern-day Comenius College, in Hilversum from 1931 to 1936. Following this he studied Economics at the University of Amsterdam. During this period in his life he left the church. In 1942 he attained the doctorandus degree. Until 1945 he was a civil servant at the National Bureau for Prices of Chemical Products, part of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. During that period he was part of the underground newspaper group that published the clandestine Het Parool . After World War II, Den Uyl worked for Het Parool, Vrij Nederland and other former resistance papers. From January 1949 to 1963 he was the head of the Wiardi Beckman Stichting, the think tank of the social democratic Labour Party. In 1953, at the invitation of the American government, Den Uyl stayed in the United States for a few months, gaining an appreciation of the American experience. ^[7]

Political career

In 1953 Den Uyl was elected to the municipal council of Amsterdam and in 1956 he was elected to the House of Representatives. In 1963 he became municipal administrator for economic affairs in Amsterdam, resigning his parliamentary seat. He resigned that post in 1965 to become Minister of Economic Affairs in the Cals cabinet. As the responsible minister, he decided to close the uneconomic coal mines in Limburg, causing high local unemployment. Following the parliamentary elections of 1967, he became leader of the Labour Party in parliament.

Den Uyl's Labour Party won the 1973 elections in alliance with the progressive liberal Democrats 66 and radical Christian Political Party of Radicals, but failed to achieve a majority in parliament. After lengthy negotiations, he formed Den Uyl cabinet with the Christian democratic Catholic People's Party and Anti-Revolutionary Party. This cabinet faced many problems. An early problem was the 1973 oil boycott following the Dutch support of Israel in the Yom Kippur war. 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.

Between 1973 and 1977, the country's economic situation turned ugly. The government's budget deficit increased tenfold, inflation approached 10 percent, the unemployment rate doubled, and the current account went from positive to negative – the latter a critical problem in a country that rises or falls on foreign trade. Despite economic difficulties, however, the government was able to enact a wide range of progressive social reforms, such as significant increases in welfare payments, the indexation of benefits and the minimum wage to contractual private sector wage developments, ^[8] a system of rent rebates (1975), ^[9] and a universal work incapacity insurance scheme (1976). ^[10] The Primary Education Act of October 1974 gave more freedom to school heads regarding the programming of the curriculum, and an Act of June 1974 made supplementary benefits available to unemployed persons who accepted lower paid- work. In addition, a law of June 1976 enabled employees aged sixty, two years after the first date of receipt of benefits (WWV scheme), to continue receiving them until the age of sixty-five. The purpose of this legislation was to improve the financial circumstances of older employees who are unemployed for a long time. ^[11] In August 1976, job protection was introduced during pregnancy and for 12 weeks following childbirth. ^[12] The number of years of full compulsory education were increased, ^[13] and an Act on equal pay in the private sector was introduced. ^[14] In addition, investments were carried out in social services, such as home care services for families. ^[15]

A regulation was introduced in September 1973 providing for the employment of persons "for whom it is difficult to find employment and who have been in prolonged unemployment." ^[16] In January 1974, a statutory minimum wage for young people between the ages of 15 and 22 was introduced, and in March 1974 the insurance scheme for wage and salary earners was extended to cover the costs of physiotherapy treatment "where this has been prescribed by a doctor." ^[17] In September 1975, a regulation on the promotion of vocational training for young people was introduced, aimed at "a great number of young people who, as a result of the present educational system, depend on on-the-job training within the framework of the Apprenticeship Law." The chances of obtaining an individual rent subsidy were also significantly increased, while an Act of June 1975 amended a number of existing Acts "with a view to introducing changes regarding the organisation and the districts of factory inspection and the inspection of ports and dangerous machinery,” and also conferred legislative powers on the Minister of Social Affairs under the Act "concerning the loading and unloading of ocean-going vessels and extended the scope of the Silicosis Act." ^[18]

The Collective Redundancy (Notification) Act of 1976 imposed an obligation on employers (who intend to collectively dismiss employees) "to give written notice of this intention to the relevant trade unions for consultation," ^[19] while that same year consultative works councils were replaced by powerful ones modelled after the German works councils. ^[20] Also in 1976, a law was passed forbidding dismissal upon pregnancy or marriage for all women. ^[21]

A February 1976 regulation on accidents in nuclear installations provided for interministerial coordination on measures to be taken "in the event of accidents and for the preparation of an emergency plan," while a law of June 1976 provided for special measures for unemployed persons who reached the age of 60 and who had used up their rights to unemployment benefit. ^[22] A law of December 1976 relaxed the conditions for exemption from national insurance contributions or entitlement to ·pay reduced contributions, and also extended entitlement to orphans' pensions "to illegitimate children whose mothers are dead and who have not been recognised by their fathers." The Asbestos Decree of April 1977 prohibited the storage and use of crocidolite (blue asbestos) and materials or products containing crocidolite and also prohibited "the spraying of asbestos or materials or products containing asbestos and their use for thermal insulation or for acoustic, preservative or decorative purposes." In September 1977, regulations were issued "regarding the conditions under which young persons of 16 and over may exceptionally drive agricultural tractors." In May 1977, a subsidy scheme for the placing of handicapped persons was introduced. ^[23]

In 1977, the Den Uyl cabinet fell due to a conflict between Den Uyl and the Catholic People's Party Minister of Justice Dries van Agt. The Labour Party entered the subsequent election under the banner "Vote for the Prime Minister". The Labour Party won by a landslide, receiving over 33% percent of the votes, a relatively large share in the divided politics of the Netherlands at that time, and 53 seats. Labour's coalition partner Democrats 66 also made gains, from 6 to 8 seats. However, its other coalition partner, the Political Party of Radicals, lost nearly all its seats, making it impossible for Den Uyl to form a new government that he could count on to support him in parliament. More than 200 days after the election, the Christian Democratic Appeal (a new party that was formed by Den Uyl's former coalition partners, the Catholic People's Party and the Anti-Revolutionary Party, joined by the smaller Christian Historical Union) formed a cabinet with the liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, supported by a small majority of 77 seats (out of a total of 150).

After being opposition leader from 1977 to 1981, Den Uyl returned to government in 1981. The Labour Party formed a coalition with the Christian Democratic Appeal and the Democrats 66. Den Uyl became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Affairs and Employment. Van Agt, by now Den Uyl's nemesis, led this cabinet. The cabinet was in constant internal conflict and fell after eight months. The Labour Party won the snap election of 1982, but could not agree on a new coalition with the Christian Democratic Appeal. As a result, Den Uyl returned to parliament and led the Labour Party in opposition until 1986. As leader of the main opposition party, Den Uyl, always a soft-spoken Atlanticist, provided cover for the government's controversial decision to place NATO cruise missiles on Dutch soil. In turn, this decision, and a similar one by the Belgian government, satisfied one of the West German conditions for the placement of cruise missiles and Pershing II missiles in West Germany.

Family and later life

On 30 August 1944, Den Uyl married Liesbeth den Uyl, née Van Vessem (18 June 1924 – 30 September 1990) ^{[24] [25] [26]} . They had three sons and four daughters. Of those the eldest Saskia Noorman-den Uyl became a member of parliament for the Labour Party herself serving until 1994 until 2006. Xander den Uyl became a leading figure in ABVAKABO, one of the Dutch labour unions and serves as Member of the Provincial-Council of North Holland for the Labour Party since 2011.

After the elections of 1986, in which the Labour Party won 5 seats but failed to retain its position as largest party, Den Uyl left politics. He was succeeded as leader of the Labour Party by Wim Kok. He died on Christmas Eve of 1987, aged 68, of a brain tumor.

Decorations

Honours
Ribbon bar	Honour	Country	Date	Comment
	Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion	Netherlands	5 December 1966
	Honorary Medal for Initiative and Ingenuity of the Order of the House of Orange	Netherlands	19 September 1974
	Grand Officer of the Honorary Order of the Palm	Suriname	4 September 1977
	Grand Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau	Netherlands	9 September 1982	Elevated from Commander (11 April 1978)

Honorary degrees

Honorary degrees
University	Field	Country	Date	Comment
University of Amsterdam	Economics	Netherlands	8 January 1985

Further reading

• Wilsford, David, ed. Political leaders of contemporary Western Europe: a biographical dictionary (Greenwood, 1995) pp 97-111.

Quotes

"Twee dingen:..." ("Two things:..." In interviews, many of Den Uyl's answers started with these two words, sending a signal to the listener to drop any expectation of a simple yes or no.)

References

1. Joop in isolation: [ˈjoːp] .
2. "Uijl, Johannes Marten den (1919-1987)" (in Dutch). Huygens ING. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
3. "Joop den Uyl (1919-1987) – Premier van Nederland" (in Dutch). Historiek.net. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
4. ‹See Tfd› (in Dutch) De mythe van het vechtkabinet van Joop den Uyl. University of Rotterdam. 2002
5. ‹See Tfd› (in Dutch) Suèr, Henk. "Joop den Uyl: verguisd en inspirerend" (PDF). Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2010.. roodkoper.nl
6. "Onthullende biografie Joop den Uyl" (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 June 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2010.. University of Amsterdam. 21 February 2008
7. International Institute of Social History, Archief Joop den Uyl, item 187. Retrieved on 9 October 2007.
8. Wagenaar, H. (31 October 2000). "Government Institutions: Effects, Changes and Normative Foundations: Effects, Changes and Normative Foundations". Springer Science & Business Media – via Google Books.
9. West European Housing Systems in a Comparative Perspective , p. 37, at Google Books
10. http://aei.pitt.edu/9819/1/9819.pdf
11. Growth to Limits: The Western European Welfare States Since World War II, Volume 2 edited by Peter Flora
12. "PF 2.5 Annex: Detail of Change in Parental Leave By Country" (PDF). Archived from the original on 21 July 2014. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
13. Hindman, Hugh D. (1 January 2009). "The World of Child Labor: An Historical and Regional Survey". M.E. Sharpe – via Google Books.
14. Bagilhole, Barbara (1 January 2009). "Understanding Equal Opportunities and Diversity: The Social Differentiations and Intersections of Inequality". Policy Press – via Google Books.
15. Starke, P.; Kaasch, A.; Hooren, F. Van; Hooren, Franca Van (7 May 2013). "The Welfare State as Crisis Manager: Explaining the Diversity of Policy Responses to Economic Crisis". Springer – via Google Books.
16. http://aei.pitt.edu/9801/
17. http://aei.pitt.edu/9842/
18. http://aei.pitt.edu/10250/
19. Blanpain, Roger; Bellace, Janice R. (1 January 2012). "Trade Union Rights at the Workplace". Kluwer Law International – via Google Books.
20. Regini, Professor Marino (11 December 1992). "The Future of Labour Movements". SAGE – via Google Books.
21. http://nidi.knaw.nl/shared/content/output/2002/ssm-54-05-fokkema.pdf
22. http://aei.pitt.edu/9819/
23. http://aei.pitt.edu/10246/
24. https://www.geni.com/people/Liesbeth-den-Uyl/6000000017015099203
25. https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/1990/10/01/liesbeth-den-uyl-van-vessem-overleden-6942530-a426101
26. http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/Vessem

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Joop den Uyl .

Official

• ‹See Tfd› (in Dutch) Dr. J.M. (Joop) den Uyl Parlement & Politiek

Party political offices
Preceded by Anne Vondeling	Leader of the Labour Party 1966–1986	Succeeded by Wim Kok
Preceded by Various	Lijsttrekker of the Labour Party 1967, 1971, 1972, 1977 1981, 1982, 1986
Preceded by Gerard Nederhorst	Parliamentary leader of the Labour Party in the House of Representatives 1967–1973 1977 1978–1981 1982–1986	Succeeded by Ed van Thijn
Preceded by Ed van Thijn
Preceded by Ed van Thijn		Succeeded by Wim Meijer
Preceded by Wim Meijer		Succeeded by Wim Kok
Preceded by Robert Pontillon	President of the Party of European Socialists 1980–1987	Succeeded by Vítor Constâncio
Political offices
Preceded by Koos Andriessen	Minister of Economic Affairs 1965–1966	Succeeded by Joop Bakker
Preceded by Barend Biesheuvel	Minister of General Affairs 1973–1977	Succeeded by Dries van Agt
	Prime Minister of the Netherlands 1973–1977
Preceded by Gaston Thorn	President of the European Council 1976	Succeeded by James Callaghan
Preceded by Hans Wiegel	Deputy Prime Minister 1981–1982 With: Jan Terlouw	Succeeded by Jan Terlouw
Preceded by Wil Albeda as Minister of Social Affairs	Minister of Social Affairs and Employment 1981–1982	Succeeded by Louw de Graaf
Preceded by Fons van der Stee	Minister for Netherlands Antilles Affairs 1981–1982	Succeeded by Jan de Koning
Non-profit organization positions
Preceded by Jan Barents	Director of the Wiardi Beckman Foundation 1949–1963	Succeeded by Cees de Galan