Third Drees cabinet

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Third Drees cabinet
Fourth Drees cabinet
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
Cabinet of the Netherlands
Kabinet 1956-10-12 - SFA001006690.jpg ZetelsDreesIII.svg
The first meeting of the incoming Third Drees cabinet on 12 October 1956
Date formed13 October 1956 (1956-10-13)
Date dissolved22 December 1958 (1958-12-22)
2 years, 70 days in office
(Demissionary from 11 December 1958 (1958-12-11))
People and organisations
Monarch Queen Juliana
Prime Minister Willem Drees
Deputy Prime Minister Teun Struycken
No. of ministers14
Ministers removed2
Total no. of members16
Member party Labour Party
(PvdA)
Catholic People's Party
(KVP)
Anti-Revolutionary Party
(ARP)
Christian Historical Union
(CHU)
Status in legislature Centre-left [1]
Majority government
(Grand coalition/Roman-Red)
History
Election 1956 election
Outgoing election 1959 election
Legislature terms 1956–1959
Incoming formation 1956 formation
Outgoing formation 1958 formation
Predecessor Second Drees cabinet
Successor Second Beel cabinet

The Third Drees cabinet, also called the Fourth Drees cabinet, [2] was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 13 October 1956 until 22 December 1958. The cabinet was a continuation of the previous Second Drees cabinet and was formed by the social-democratic Labour Party (PvdA) and the christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) after the election of 1956. The cabinet was a Centre-left [3] grand coalition and had a substantial majority in the House of Representatives, with Labour Leader Willem Drees serving as Prime Minister. Prominent KVP politician Teun Struycken (a former Governor of the Netherlands Antilles) served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Property and Public Organisations.

Contents

The cabinet served during the middle years of the turbulent 1950s. Domestically, the recovery and rebuilding following World War II continued with the assistance of the Marshall Plan, it also able to finalize several major social reforms to social security, welfare, child benefits and education from the previous cabinet. Internationally the decolonization of the Dutch East Indies continued. After suffering several major internal and external conflicts, including multiple cabinet resignations, the cabinet fell two years into its term, on 11 December 1958, following a disagreement in the coalition over a proposed tax increase; the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced with the caretaker Second Beel cabinet on 22 December 1958. [4]

Formation

The cabinet formation took four months. This was the longest and most difficult formation the Netherlands had ever seen, partly as a result of the rising tensions between the Labour Party and the Catholic People's Party. After the formation these tensions kept rising, leading to the fall of the cabinet in December 1958. The root of the tensions was the decision of the Roman Catholic Church to excommunicate Catholic socialists from the church. Nearly 100% of the south of the Netherlands used to vote for the Catholic People's Party for decades, but in the 1950s secular political parties got an increase in votes. The excommunication had the result of social exclusion in cities and villages which used to be solidly Catholic blocks. Protestants in the north supported the Catholics.

Term

After considerable growth after World War II, the rising wages, combined with lowered taxes, now led to overspending, which endangered the export. In reaction, wages and government spending were both lowered.

Rising tension with Indonesia, mostly about New Guinea, came to a climax when Indonesia nationalised Dutch properties in the country. The Dutch were supposed to leave entirely.

Other international problems were the Suez Crisis and the Hungarian revolt, which led to monetary and economic problems. The threat of an oil crisis as a result of the Suez crisis led to the installation of car-free Sundays. The suppression of the Hungarian revolution by the USSR led to plundering of communist institutions. Several thousands of Hungarian refugees were accepted into the Netherlands and welcomed in Dutch homes.

On 1 January 1957, the state pension AOW after the age of 65, that was proposed during the former cabinet Drees II, was installed. This resulted from a previous emergency law by Drees, and is the one thing he is remembered for most.

Secretary General of NATO Paul-Henri Spaak and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Luns at the Binnenhof on 2 February 1957 Bespreking Paul H Spaak met Minister Luns Den Haag, Bestanddeelnr 908-2948.jpg
Secretary General of NATO Paul-Henri Spaak and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Luns at the Binnenhof on 2 February 1957
Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Luns in Rotterdam on 7 July 1957 Premier Nehroe van India in ons land. Nehroe in Rotterdam, Bestanddeelnr 908-7550.jpg
Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joseph Luns in Rotterdam on 7 July 1957
Prime Minister of Luxembourg Joseph Bech, Prime Minister Willem Drees and Prime Minister of Belgium Achille Van Acker at a Benelux conference in the Ridderzaal on 3 February 1958 Ondertekening Benelux akkoord in de Ridderzaal te Den Haag Vlnr. Larock (Belgie, Bestanddeelnr 121-0409.jpg
Prime Minister of Luxembourg Joseph Bech, Prime Minister Willem Drees and Prime Minister of Belgium Achille Van Acker at a Benelux conference in the Ridderzaal on 3 February 1958

Cabinet members

Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Willem Drees 1958.jpg Willem Drees
(1886–1988)
Prime Minister General Affairs 7 August 1948 –
22 December 1958
[Retained]
Labour Party
Ko Suurhoff (1965).jpg Ko Suurhoff
(1905–1967)
Minister Interior 13 October 1956 –
29 October 1956
[Ad Interim]
Labour Party
Teun Struycken 1950 (1).jpg Teun Struycken
(1906–1977)
Interior, Property
and Public
Organisations
29 October 1956 –
19 May 1959
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Deputy
Prime Minister
Joseph Luns 1966 (1).jpg Joseph Luns
(1911–2002)
Minister Foreign Affairs 13 October 1956 –
6 July 1971
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Henk Hofstra 1956 (1).jpg Henk Hofstra
(1904–1999)
Minister Finance 13 October 1956 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
Ivo Samkalden 1966 (1).jpg Dr.
Ivo Samkalden
(1912–1995)
Minister Justice 13 October 1956 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
Jelle Zijlstra 1966 (cropped).jpg Dr.
Jelle Zijlstra
(1918–2001)
Minister Economic Affairs 2 September 1952 –
19 May 1959
[Retained] [Continued]
Anti-
Revolutionary Party
Staf, C. - SFA002019712.jpg Kees Staf
(1905–1973)
Minister War and Navy 15 March 1951 –
19 May 1959
[Retained] [Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
Ko Suurhoff (1965).jpg Ko Suurhoff
(1905–1967)
Minister Social Affairs
and Health
2 September 1952 –
22 December 1958
[Retained]
Labour Party
Jo Cals 1966.jpg Jo Cals
(1914–1971)
Minister Education, Arts
and Sciences
2 September 1952 –
24 July 1963
[Retained] [Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Jacob Algera 1958 (1).jpg Jacob Algera
(1902–1966)
Minister Transport and
Water Management
2 September 1952 –
10 October 1958
[Retained] [App]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Herman Witte 1966 (1).jpg Herman Witte
(1909–1973)
10 October 1958 –
1 November 1958
[Ad Interim]
Catholic
People's Party
Jan van Aartsen 1965 (2).jpg Jan van Aartsen
(1909–1992)
1 November 1958 –
19 May 1959
[Continued]
Anti-Revolutionary
Party
Sicco Mansholt 1945 (1).jpg Sicco Mansholt
(1908–1995)
Minister Agriculture,
Fisheries and
Food Supplies
25 June 1945 –
1 January 1958
[Retained] [App]
Labour Party
Staf, C. - SFA002019712.jpg Kees Staf
(1905–1973)
1 January 1958 –
13 January 1958
[Ad Interim]
Christian
Historical Union
Vondeling, A. - SFA002019682.jpg Dr.
Anne Vondeling
(1916–1979)
13 January 1958 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
Herman Witte 1966 (1).jpg Herman Witte
(1909–1973)
Minister Housing and
Construction
2 September 1952 –
19 May 1959
[Retained] [Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Klompe, dr. Marga A. M. - SFA001011541.jpg Dr.
Marga Klompé
(1912–1986)
Minister Social Work 13 October 1956 –
24 July 1963
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Staf, C. - SFA002019712.jpg Kees Staf
(1905–1973)
Minister Colonial Affairs 18 July 1956 –
16 February 1957
[Retained] [Acting]
Christian
Historical Union
Gerard Helders 1957 (1).jpg Gerard Helders
(1905–2013)
16 February 1957 –
19 May 1959
[Continued]
Christian
Historical Union
State Secretaries Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)Term of officeParty
Schmelzer, Norbert - SFA005000409.jpg Norbert Schmelzer
(1921–2008)
State Secretary Interior, Property
and Public
Organisations
Public
Organisations
29 October 1956 –
19 May 1959
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Beugel, E.H. van der - SFA008007072.jpg Ernst van
der Beugel

(1918–2004)
State Secretary Foreign Affairs European
Economic
Community

European Union
Benelux
8 January 1957 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
Gerard Veldkamp 1964 (1).jpg Dr.
Gerard Veldkamp
(1921–1990)
State Secretary Economic Affairs Small and
Medium-sized
Businesses

• Consumer
Protection
Tourism
10 October 1952 –
17 July 1961
[Retained] [Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Ferdinand Jan Kranenburg (1951).jpg Ferdinand
Kranenburg

(1911–1994)
State Secretary War and Navy Army
Air Force
1 June 1951 –
1 June 1958
[Retained] [Res]
Labour Party
Veen, M.van - SFA008007389.jpg Meine van Veen
(1893–1970)
25 October 1958 –
22 December 1958
Labour Party
Moorman, H.C. - SFA008007335.jpg Vice admiral
Harry Moorman
(1899–1971)
Navy 1 May 1949 –
19 May 1959
[Retained] [Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Aart van Rhijn (1940-1945).jpg Dr.
Aat van Rhijn
(1892–1986)
State Secretary Social Affairs
and Health
• Social Security
• Unemployment
Occupational
Safety

• Social Services
15 February 1950 –
22 December 1958
[Retained]
Labour Party
Anna de Waal 1954 (1).jpg Dr.
Anna de Waal
(1906–1981)
State Secretary Education, Arts
and Sciences
Primary
Education

Secondary
Education

Special
Education

Youth Care
2 February 1953 –
16 March 1957
[Retained] [Res] }
Catholic
People's Party
Hoppener, R.G.A. - SFA008007097.jpg René Höppener
(1903–1983)
Youth Care
• Nature
Media
Culture
Art
• Recreation
Sport
12 November 1956 –
19 May 1959
[Continued]
Catholic
People's Party
Resigned
Retained from the previous cabinet
Continued in the next cabinet
Acting
Ad Interim
Appointed as Member of the Council of State
Appointed as European Commissioner

Trivia

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References

  1. Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
  2. According to a different numbering this was the Fourth Drees cabinet because it was the fourth cabinet with Willem Drees as Prime Minister.
  3. Changing Liaisons The Dynamics of Social Partnership in 20th Century West-European DemocraciesBy Karel Davids, 2007, P.165
  4. "Coalities tussen sociaaldemocraten en confessionelen" (in Dutch). Historisch Nieuwsblad. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
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