Bé Udink

Berend Jan "Bé" Udink (12 February 1926 – 24 May 2016) was a Dutch politician and diplomat of the defunct Christian Historical Union (CHU) party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and businessman.[1]

His Excellency Bé Udink
Bé Udink in 1969
Minister of Transport and Water Management
In office 21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel
Preceded by	Willem Drees Jr.
Succeeded by	Tjerk Westerterp
Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning
In office 6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel
Preceded by	Wim Schut
Succeeded by	Hans Gruijters
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 11 May 1971 – 6 July 1971
Preceded by	Jur Mellema
Succeeded by	Roelof Kruisinga
Parliamentary group	Christian Historical Union
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 11 May 1971 – 6 July 1971
Parliamentary group	Christian Historical Union
Leader of the Christian Historical Union
In office 20 June 1970 – 28 July 1971
Preceded by	Jur Mellema
Succeeded by	Jur Mellema
Minister for Aid to Developing Countries
In office 5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971
Prime Minister	Piet de Jong
Preceded by	Theo Bot
Succeeded by	Kees Boertien as Minister for Development Cooperation
Personal details
Born	Berend Jan Udink (1926-02-12)12 February 1926 Deventer, Netherlands
Died	24 May 2016(2016-05-24) (aged 90) Goedereede, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political affiliations	Christian Historical Union (until 1980)
Spouse	Anneke van Drumpt ​ (m. 1949)​
Children	Marc Udink (born 1952) 2 other children
Alma mater	Rotterdam School of Economics (Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics) University of Lausanne (Bachelor of Accountancy)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Economist · Businessman · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist · Professor

Udink applied at the Rotterdam School of Economics in July 1946 majoring in Economics and obtaining a Bachelor of Economics degree in June 1948 before graduating with a Master of Economics degree in June 1952. Udink also applied at the University of Lausanne in August 1946 for a Class in Financial economics obtaining a Bachelor of Accountancy degree in September 1947. Udink worked as a corporate director of the Chamber of commerce of Rotterdam from October 1953 until July 1962. Udink also worked as an associate professor of Trade economics at the Rotterdam School of Economics from June 1959 until September 1964. Udink worked as corporate director of the Chamber of commerce of The Hague from July 1962 until April 1967 serving as executive director from January 1963 until April 1967. Udink served on the Rijnmond Council from September 1965 until April 1967.

After the election of 1967 Udink was appointed as Minister for Aid to Developing Countries in the Cabinet De Jong, taking office on 5 April 1967. After the Leader of the Christian Historical Union and Parliamentary leader of the Christian Historical Union in the House of Representatives Jur Mellema unexpectedly announced that he was stepping down as Leader of the Christian Historical Union, the Christian Historical Union leadership approached Udink as his successor, Udink accepted and became the Leader of the Christian Historical Union and Lijsttrekker (top candidate) for the election of 1971 on 20 June 1970. The Christian Historical Union suffered a small loss, losing 3 seats and now had 7 seats in the House of Representatives. Udink was subsequently elected as a Member of the House of Representatives and became the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, taking office on 11 May 1971. The following cabinet formation of 1971 resulted in a coalition agreement between the Christian Historical Union, the Catholic People's Party (KVP), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and the Democratic Socialists '70 (DS'70) which formed the Cabinet Biesheuvel I with Udink appointed as Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, taking office on 6 July 1971. On 28 July 1971 Udink announced that he was stepping down as Leader in favor of Parliamentary leader and predecessor Mellema. The Cabinet Biesheuvel I fell just one year later on 19 July 1972 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity with Udink taking over as Minister of Transport and Water Management on 21 July 1972 until it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Biesheuvel II with Udink continuing as Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning and Minister of Transport and Water Management, taking office on 9 August 1972. In September 1972 Udink announced his retirement from national politics and that he wouldn't stand for the election of 1972. The Cabinet Biesheuvel II was replaced by the Cabinet Den Uyl following the cabinet formation of 1972 on 11 May 1973.

Udink retired from national politics and became active in the private sector, in August 1973 Udink was appointed as Chief financial officer (CFO) and Vice Chairman of the Board of directors of the Overseas Gas and Electric Company (OGEM) from 1 September 1973 until 1 January 1978. In December 1977 Udink was nominated as Chief executive officer (CEO) and Chairman of the Board of directors of Overseas Gas and Electric Company working from 1 January 1978 until 1 March 1980.

Udink remained active in the private sector and public sector and occupied numerous seats as a corporate director and nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (Zilveren Kruis, Transnational Institute, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, Energy Research Centre, Stichting IKEA Foundation and Terre des hommes) and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government (Public Pension Funds APB, Staatsbosbeheer, Council for Culture, Cadastre Agency and the Advisory Council for Spatial Planning) and served as an diplomat and lobbyist for several economic delegations on behalf of the government.

Udink was known for his abilities as a negotiator and debater. Udink continued to comment on political affairs until his death at the age of 90.