Jan de Koning (politician)

Jan de Koning (31 August 1926 – 8 October 1994) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and social geographer.[1]

Jan de Koning
Jan de Koning in 1978
Extraordinary Member
of the Council of State
In office
1 January 1990  8 October 1994
Vice PresidentWillem Scholten
Minister of the Interior
In office
3 February 1987  6 May 1987
Ad interim
Prime MinisterRuud Lubbers
Preceded byFrits Korthals Altes (Ad interim)
Succeeded byKees van Dijk
Minister of Social Affairs
and Employment
In office
6 May 1987  7 November 1989
Prime MinisterRuud Lubbers
Preceded byLouw de Graaf (Ad interim)
Succeeded byBert de Vries
In office
4 November 1982  3 February 1987
Prime MinisterRuud Lubbers
Preceded byLouw de Graaf
Succeeded byLouw de Graaf (Ad interim)
Minister for Netherlands
Antilles and Aruba Affairs
In office
4 November 1982  7 November 1989
Prime MinisterRuud Lubbers
Preceded byHimself
as Minister for Netherlands
Antilles Affairs
Succeeded byRuud Lubbers (Ad interim)
Minister for Netherlands
Antilles Affairs
In office
29 May 1982  4 November 1982
Prime MinisterDries van Agt
Preceded byJoop den Uyl
Succeeded byHimself
as Minister for Netherlands
Antilles and Aruba Affairs
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
In office
11 September 1981  4 November 1982
Prime MinisterDries van Agt
Preceded byGerrit Braks
Succeeded byGerrit Braks
Minister of Defence
In office
4 March 1978  8 March 1978
Ad interim
Prime MinisterDries van Agt
Preceded byRoelof Kruisinga
Succeeded byWillem Scholten
Minister for Development
Cooperation
In office
19 December 1977  11 September 1981
Prime MinisterDries van Agt
Preceded byJan Pronk
Succeeded byKees van Dijk
Chairman of the
Anti-Revolutionary Party
In office
11 May 1973  13 December 1975
LeaderBarend Biesheuvel (1973)
Willem Aantjes (1973–1975)
Preceded byAntoon Veerman
Succeeded byHans de Boer
Member of the European Parliament
In office
22 September 1971  19 December 1977
Parliamentary groupChristian Democratic Group
ConstituencyNetherlands
Member of the House
of Representatives
In office
3 June 1986  14 July 1986
In office
16 September 1982  4 November 1982
In office
10 June 1981  9 September 1981
In office
10 May 1971  19 December 1977
Parliamentary groupChristian Democratic Appeal
(1981–1986)
Anti-Revolutionary Party
(1971–1977)
Member of the Senate
In office
16 September 1969  10 May 1971
Parliamentary groupAnti-Revolutionary Party
Member of the Social
and Economic Council
In office
1 February 1964  16 September 1969
Chairman
See list
Personal details
Born
Jan de Koning

(1926-08-31)31 August 1926
Zwartsluis, Netherlands
Died8 October 1994(1994-10-08) (aged 68)
Leiden, Netherlands
Cause of deathCancer
Political partyChristian Democratic Appeal
(from 1980)
Other political
affiliations
Anti-Revolutionary Party
(until 1980)
Spouse
Molly Rellum
(m. 1956)
Children2 sons
Alma materUtrecht University
(B.Soc.Sc, MSSc)
OccupationPolitician · Civil servant · Social geographer · Researcher · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive · Professor · Soldier
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/serviceRoyal Netherlands
East Indies Army
Years of service1945–1948 (Active duty)
1948–1952 (Reserve)
Rank Corporal
Battles/wars

De Koning joined the Dutch resistance against the German occupation in September 1943 and was at the time barely 17-years old. Following the end of World De Koning volunteered and enlisted in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army as a corporal serving in the Dutch East Indies from August 1945 until June 1948. De Koning studied Social geography at the Utrecht University obtaining a Master of Social Science degree. De Koning worked as a trade association executive for the Christian Farmers and Gardeners association (CBTB) from February 1955 until May 1971 and as a researcher at the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences from November 1961 until January 1964. After the Senate election of 1969 De Koning was elected as a Member of the Senate on 16 September 1969 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Agriculture. After the election of 1971 De Koning was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 10 May 1971 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Agriculture and Development Cooperation. De Koning was also selected as a Member of the European Parliament on 22 September 1971 and dual served in both positions and served as Party Chairman from 11 May 1973 until 13 December 1975.

After the election of 1977 De Koning was appointed as Minister for Development Cooperation in the Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel, taking office on 19 December 1977. After the election of 1981 De Koning was appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Cabinet Van Agt II taking office on 11 September 1981. The Cabinet Van Agt II fell just seven months into its term and was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Van Agt III with continuing his position and also took over the portfolio of Netherlands Antilles Affairs taking office on 29 May 1982. After the election of 1982 De Koning was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and also retained the portfolio of Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs in the Cabinet Lubbers I taking office on 4 November 1982. After the election of 1986 De Koning again continued his offices in the Cabinet Lubbers II. De Koning was appointed as acting Minister of the Interior following a cabinet reshuffle serving from 3 February 1987 until 6 May 1987. In July 1989, De Koning announced that he wouldn't stand for the election of 1989 and declined to serve in new cabinet.

De Koning continued to be active in politics and in December 1989 was nominated as a Member of the Council of State on 1 January 1990. De Koning also became active in the public sector as non-profit director and serves on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a distinguished professor of Social geography at the University of Groningen from January 1991. In August 1994, De Koning was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died just three months later in October 1994 at the age of 68. De Koning was known for his abilities as a skillful manager and effective consensus builder. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Social Affairs with 7 years, 3 days in Dutch History.

Decorations

Military decorations
Ribbon barDecorationCountryDateComment
Medal for Order and Peace Netherlands 10 December 1948
Resistance Memorial Cross Netherlands 30 April 1982
Honours
Ribbon barHonourCountryDateComment
Commander of the Legion of Honour France 12 November 1979
Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Netherlands 26 October 1981
Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown Belgium 6 July 1986
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau Netherlands 20 November 1989

References

  1. "Koning, Jan de (1926-1994)" (in Dutch). Huygens ING. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
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