Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands
Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Incumbent Robbert Dijkgraaf since 10 January 2022 (2022-01-10)
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Style	His/Her Excellency
Member of	Council of Ministers
Appointer	The Monarch on advice of the Prime Minister
Formation	17 February 1798 (1798-02-17)
First holder	Theodorus van Kooten as Secretary of National Education
Deputy	Mariëlle Paul as Minister without Portfolio Fleur Gräper as State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science
Salary	€157,287 (As of 2017) (including €4,193 of expenses)
Website	Minister of Education, Culture and Science

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The minister of education, culture and science (Dutch: Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap) is the head of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The current minister of education, culture and science is Robbert Dijkgraaf of the Democrats 66 (D66) who has been in office since 10 January 2022.^[1] The minister of education, culture and science is often assigned a state secretary who is tasked with specific portfolios, currently held by Fleur Gräper (D66).^[2] Additionally there is a minister without portfolio assigned to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science Mariëlle Paul of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).^[3]

List of ministers of education

For full list, see List of ministers of education, culture and science of the Netherlands. (in Dutch)

Minister of Education, Arts and Sciences			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Dr. Johannes Theodoor de Visser (1857–1932)	25 September 1918 – 4 August 1925	Christian Historical Union	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I • II) [4][5]
		Victor Henri Rutgers (1877–1945)	4 August 1925 – 8 March 1926	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn I) [6]
		Marius Waszink (1881–1943)	8 March 1926 – 10 August 1929	Roman Catholic State Party	Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer I) [7]
		Jan Terpstra (1888–1952)	10 August 1929 – 26 May 1933	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III) [8]
		Henri Marchant (1869–1956)	26 May 1933 – 18 May 1935 [Res]	Free-thinking Democratic League	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn II) [9]
		Dr. Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941)	18 May 1935 – 25 July 1939 [Minister]	Christian Historical Union
					Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn III • IV) [10][11]
		Dr. Bep Schrieke (1890–1945)	25 July 1939 – 10 August 1939	Independent Classical Liberal	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn V) [12]
		Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956)	10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945	Free-thinking Democratic League	Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer II) [13]
					Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy I • II • III) [14][15]
		Dr. Gerard van der Leeuw (1898–1981)	25 June 1945 – 3 July 1946	Social Democratic Workers' Party	Willem Schermerhorn (Schermerhorn–Drees) [16]
				Labour Party
		Dr. Jos Gielen (1898–1981)	3 July 1946 – 7 August 1948	Catholic People's Party	Louis Beel (Beel I) [17]
		Dr. Theo Rutten (1899–1980)	7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees–Van Schaik • Drees I) [18][19]
		Jo Cals (1914–1971)	2 September 1952 – 7 November 1961 [Note]	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees II • III) [20][21]
					Louis Beel (Beel II) [22]
					Jan de Quay (De Quay) [23]
		Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	7 November 1961 – 4 February 1962 [Acting] [Minister]	Catholic People's Party
		Jo Cals (1914–1971)	4 February 1962 – 23 April 1963 [Note]	Catholic People's Party
		Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	23 April 1963 – 24 July 1963 [Acting] [Minister]	Catholic People's Party
		Theo Bot (1911–1984)	24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965	Catholic People's Party	Victor Marijnen (Marijnen) [24]
Minister of Education and Sciences			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Dr. Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1916–2004)	14 April 1965 – 5 April 1967	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Jo Cals (Cals) [25]
					Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra) [26]
		Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999)	5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971	Catholic People's Party	Piet de Jong (De Jong) [27]
		Chris van Veen (1922–2009)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973	Christian Historical Union	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II) [28]
		Dr. Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977	Labour Party	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) [29]
		Dr. Arie Pais (1930–2022)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) [30]
		Dr. Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 [Res]	Labour Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) [31]
		Wim Deetman (born 1945)	29 May 1982 – 14 September 1989 [App]	Christian Democratic Appeal	Dries van Agt (Van Agt III) [32]
					Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I) [33]
					Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers II) [34]
		Gerrit Braks (1933–2017)	14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989 [Ad Interim] [Minister]	Christian Democratic Appeal
		Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945)	7 November 1989 – 22 August 1994	Labour Party	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III) [35]
Minister of Education, Culture and Science			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	Labour Party	Wim Kok (Kok I) [36]
		Loek Hermans (born 1951)	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Wim Kok (Kok II) [37]
		Maria van der Hoeven (born 1949)	22 July 2002 – 22 February 2007	Christian Democratic Appeal	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I • II • III) [38][39][40]
		Dr. Ronald Plasterk (born 1957)	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 [Res]	Labour Party	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV) [41]
		André Rouvoet (born 1962) [Deputy]	23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010 [Minister]	Christian Union
		Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012	Christian Democratic Appeal	Mark Rutte (Rutte I) [42]
		Dr. Jet Bussemaker (born 1961)	5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017	Labour Party	Mark Rutte (Rutte II) [43]
		Ingrid van Engelshoven (born 1966)	26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022	Democrats 66	Mark Rutte (Rutte III) [44]
		Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960)	10 January 2022 – Incumbent	Democrats 66	Mark Rutte (Rutte IV) [45]

^Resigned

^Acting

^{Ad Interim}

^{Deputy Prime Minister}

^{Medical leave of absence from 7 November 1961 until 4 February 1962 and from 23 April 1963}

^{Appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives}

^{Minister of Social Affairs in 1935}

^{Minister of Social Work}

^{Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries}

^{Minister without Portfolio for Health, Welfare and Sport}

List of ministers without portfolio

Minister without Portfolio			Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Jonkheer Mauk de Brauw (1925–1984)	• Higher Education • Science Policy	6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 [Res]	Democratic Socialists '70	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I) [28]
		Chris van Veen (1922–2009)		21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973 [Minister]	Christian Historical Union
						Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel II) [28]
		Boy Trip (1921–1990)	• Science Policy	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977	Political Party of Radicals	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) [29]
		Rinus Peijnenburg (1928–1979)	• Science Policy	19 December 1977 – 1 April 1979 [Died]	Catholic People's Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) [30]
		Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003)		1 April 1979 – 3 May 1979 [Acting] [Minister]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
		Dr. Ton van Trier (1926–1983)		3 May 1979 – 11 September 1981	Independent Christian Democratic Catholic
					Catholic People's Party
					Christian Democratic Appeal
Not in use (1981–2017)
		Arie Slob (born 1961)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Preschool • Media	26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022	Christian Union	Mark Rutte (Rutte III) [44]
		Dennis Wiersma (born 1986)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Preschool • Media	10 January 2022 – 22 June 2023	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Mark Rutte (Rutte IV) [45]
		Mariëlle Paul (born 1966)		21 July 2023 – Incumbent

^Resigned

^Acting

^{Died in Office}

^{Minister of Education and Sciences}

^{Minister of Health and Environment}

List of state secretaries for education

State Secretary for Education, Arts and Sciences			Portfolio	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Jo Cals (1914–1971)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	15 March 1950 – 2 September 1952	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees–Van Schaik • Drees I) [18][19]
		Dr. Anna de Waal (1906–1981)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Youth Care	2 February 1953 – 16 March 1957 [Res]	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees II) [20]
						Willem Drees (Drees III) [21]
		René Höppener (1903–1983)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959	Catholic People's Party
						Louis Beel (Beel II) [22]
		Gerard Stubenrouch (1918–1962)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education	16 June 1959 – 22 April 1962 [Died]	Catholic People's Party	Jan de Quay (De Quay) [23]
		Dr. Harry Janssen (1910–1982)		4 June 1962 – 24 July 1963	Catholic People's Party
		Ynso Scholten (1918–1984)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	16 June 1959 – 24 July 1963	Christian Historical Union
		Hans Grosheide (1930–2022)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	3 September 1963 – 14 April 1965	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Victor Marijnen (Marijnen) [24]
		Louis van de Laar (1921–2004)	• Social Services • Youth Care • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	24 October 1963 – 14 April 1965	Catholic People's Party
State Secretary for Education and Sciences			Portfolio	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Hans Grosheide (1930-2022)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	14 April 1965 – 6 July 1971	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Jo Cals (Cals) [25]
						Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra) [26]
						Piet de Jong (De Jong) [27]
		Kees Schelfhout (1918–1983)	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	28 July 1971 – 11 May 1973	Catholic People's Party	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II) [28]
		Dr. Ger Klein (1925–1998)	• Higher education	11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977 [Res]	Labour Party	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) [29]
		Dr. Antoon Veerman (1916–1993)	• Secondary Education • Special Education	11 May 1973 – 1 September 1975 [Res]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
		Klaas de Jong (1926–2011)		1 September 1975 – 19 December 1977	Anti-Revolutionary Party
			• Secondary Education	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981		Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) [30]
		Ad Hermes (1929–2002)	• Primary Education	9 January 1978 – 29 May 1982	Catholic People's Party
					Christian Democratic Appeal	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) [31]
			• Primary Education • Special Education	29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982		Dries van Agt (Van Agt III) [32]
		Wim Deetman (born 1945)	• Secondary Education • Adult Education	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982	Christian Democratic Appeal	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) [31]
		Nell Ginjaar-Maas (1931–2012)	• Secondary Education • Adult Education	5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I) [33]
			• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Adult Education	14 July 1986 – 7 November 1989		Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers II) [34]
		Gerard van Leijenhorst (1928–2001)	• Primary Education	8 November 1982 – 14 July 1986	Christian Democratic Appeal	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I) [33]
		Jacques Wallage (born 1946)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	7 November 1989 – 9 June 1993 [App]	Labour Party	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III) [35]
		Dr. Roel in 't Veld (born 1942)	• Secondary Education • Higher education • Science Policy	9 June 1993 – 19 June 1993 [Res]	Labour Party
		Dr. Job Cohen (born 1947)	• Higher education • Science Policy	2 July 1993 – 22 August 1994	Labour Party
State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science			Portfolio	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Tineke Netelenbos (born 1944)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	Labour Party	Wim Kok (Kok I) [36]
		Aad Nuis (1933–2007)	• Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	Democrats 66
		Karin Adelmund (1949–2005)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	Labour Party	Wim Kok (Kok II) [37]
		Dr. Rick van der Ploeg (born 1956)	• Media • Culture • Art	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	Labour Party
		Annette Nijs (born 1961)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy	22 July 2002 – 9 June 2004 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I) [38]
						Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende II) [39]
		Mark Rutte (born 1967)		17 June 2004 – 27 June 2006 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
		Bruno Bruins (born 1963)		29 June 2006 – 3 July 2006	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
			• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy	3 July 2006 – 22 February 2007		Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende III) [40]
		Cees van Leeuwen (born 1951)	• Media • Culture • Art	22 July 2002 – 27 May 2003	Pim Fortuyn List	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I) [38]
		Medy van der Laan (born 1968)	• Media • Culture • Art	27 May 2003 – 3 July 2006 [Res]	Democrats 66	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende II) [39]
		Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	• Secondary Education	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010	Christian Democratic Appeal	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV) [41]
			• Higher Education • Secondary Education • Science • Media • Culture • Art • Emancipation	23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010
		Sharon Dijksma (born 1971)	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 [Res]	Labour Party
		Halbe Zijlstra (born 1969)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy • Culture • Art	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Mark Rutte (Rutte I) [42]
		Sander Dekker (born 1975)	• Higher Education • Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art	5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Mark Rutte (Rutte II) [43]
Vacant
		Dr. Gunay Uslu (born 1972)	• Culture • Media • Art	10 January 2022 – 1 December 2023	Democrats 66	Mark Rutte (Rutte IV) [45]
		Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960)		1 December 2023 – 6 December 2023 [Acting]
		Steven van Weyenberg (born 1973)		6 December 2023 – 12 January 2024
		Fleur Gräper (born 1974)		12 January 2024 – Incumbent

^Acting

^Resigned

^{Died in Office}

^{Appointed as State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment}

List of ministers of social work

Minister of Social Work			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) [Deputy]	2 September 1952 – 9 September 1952 [Ad Interim] [Minister]	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees II) [20]
		Frans-Jozef van Thiel (1906–1993)	9 September 1952 – 13 October 1956	Catholic People's Party
		Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	13 October 1956 – 24 July 1963	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees III) [21]
					Louis Beel (Beel II) [22]
					Jan de Quay (De Quay) [23]
		Jo Schouwenaar- Franssen (1909–1995)	24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Victor Marijnen (Marijnen) [24]
Minister of Culture, Recreation and Social Work			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Maarten Vrolijk (1919–1994)	14 April 1965 – 22 November 1966	Labour Party	Jo Cals (Cals) [25]
		Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 November 1966 – 7 January 1971 [Note]	Catholic People's Party	Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra) [26]
					Piet de Jong (De Jong) [27]
		Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999)	7 January 1971 – 22 February 1971 [Acting] [Minister]	Catholic People's Party
		Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 February 1971 – 6 July 1971	Catholic People's Party
		Piet Engels (1922–2009)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973	Catholic People's Party	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II) [28]
		Harry van Doorn (1915–1992)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977	Political Party of Radicals	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) [29]
		Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	Catholic People's Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) [30]
				Christian Democratic Appeal
		André van der Louw (1933–2005)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 [Res]	Labour Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) [31]
		Hans de Boer (born 1937)	29 May 1982 – 11 October 1982 [Note]	Christian Democratic Appeal	Dries van Agt (Van Agt III) [32]
		Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	11 October 1982 – 4 November 1982 [Ad Interim] [Minister]	Christian Democratic Appeal

^Resigned

^Acting

^{Ad interim}

^{Medical leave of absence from 7 January 1971 until 22 February 1971}

^{Medical leave of absence from 11 October 1982}

^{Minister of the Interior}

^{Minister of Education and Sciences}

^{Minister of Health and Environment}

List of state secretaries for social work

State Secretary for Culture, Recreation and Social Work			Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Cees Egas (1913–2001)	• Social Services • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	10 May 1965 – 22 November 1966	Labour Party	Jo Cals (Cals) [25]
Vacant
		Hein van de Poel (1915–1993)	• Unemployment • Social Services • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	29 May 1967 – 6 July 1971	Catholic People's Party	Piet de Jong (De Jong) [27]
		Fia van Veenendaal- van Meggelen (1918–2005)	• Social Services • Disability Policy	28 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 [Res]	Democratic Socialists '70	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I) [28]
		Henk Vonhoff (1931–2010)	• Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973 [Res]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
			• Social Services • Disability Policy • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport			Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel II) [28]
		Wim Meijer (born 1939)	• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature • Recreation	11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977 [Res]	Labour Party	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) [29]
		Jeltien Kraaijeveld- Wouters (born 1932)	• Unemployment • Equality • Emancipation	28 December 1977 – 9 September 1981 [Res]	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) [30]
					Christian Democratic Appeal
		Gerard Wallis de Vries (1936–2018)	• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	4 January 1978 – 11 September 1981	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
		Hans de Boer (born 1937)	• Social Services • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982	Christian Democratic Appeal	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) [31]

^Resigned

See also

• Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

References