First Biesheuvel cabinet

First Biesheuvel cabinet
First Biesheuvel cabinet
; 53rd Cabinet of the Netherlands
	The installation of the First Biesheuvel cabinet on 6 July 1971
Date formed	6 July 1971
Date dissolved	9 August 1972 ; 1 year, 34 days in office ; (Demissionary from 19 July 1972)
People and organisations
Monarch	Queen Juliana
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel
Deputy Prime Minister	Roelof Nelissen ; Molly Geertsema
No. of ministers	16
Ministers removed	2
Total no. of members	16
Member party	Catholic People's Party ; (KVP) ; People's Party for ; Freedom and Democracy ; (VVD) ; Anti-Revolutionary Party ; (ARP) ; Christian Historical Union ; (CHU) ; Democratic Socialists '70 ; (DS'70)
Status in legislature	Centrist ; Majority government
History
Election(s)	1971 election
Outgoing election	1972 election
Legislature term(s)	1971–1972
Incoming formation	1971 formation
Outgoing formation	1972–1973 formation
Predecessor	De Jong cabinet
Successor	Second Biesheuvel cabinet

The First Biesheuvel cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 6 July 1971 until 9 August 1972. The cabinet was formed by the christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and Christian Historical Union (CHU), the conservative-liberal People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the social-democratic Democratic Socialists '70 (DS'70) after the election of 1971. The cabinet was a centrist coalition and had a slim majority in the House of Representatives with Protestant Leader Barend Biesheuvel a former Minister of Agriculture serving as Prime Minister. Prominent Catholic politician Roelof Nelissen the Minister of Economic Affairs in the previous cabinet served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and was given the portfolio of Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs, former Liberal Leader Molly Geertsema served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior.

The cabinet served in the early years of the radical 1970s. Domestically it had to deal with the peak of the counterculture and a growing inflation but it was able to implement several social reforms to the public sector and stimulating deregulation and privatization. The cabinet suffered several major internal conflicts between the cabinet members of the Democratic Socialists '70 and the rest of the coalition which lead to the fall of the cabinet just 1 year into its term on 19 July 1972 with the Democratic Socialists '70 cabinet members resigning on 21 July 1972 and the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced with the caretaker Second Biesheuvel cabinet on 9 August 1972.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5]

Term

Problems of the cabinet were the release of war criminals (three of Breda) and the increasing inflation, combined with a stagnating economy (stagflation). The decision to cut government expenses was not supported by DS'70, so the cabinet lost its majority in the parliament, resulting in Biesheuvel II.

Minister Stuyt, the first minister for environmental affairs, issued an urgency-note concerning the environment. In 1972, the first report from the Club of Rome was published, which showed that the environment is in a bad state worldwide and that resources will eventually run out.

The cabinet recognised the GDR and voted to allow China back into the United Nations.

Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, Queen Juliana, Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Minister of Foreign Affairs Norbert Schmelzer at Luxembourg Airport on 7 July 1971.

Prime Minister of Norway Trygve Bratteli and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the Catshuis on 8 January 1972.

Soviet Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Gromyko and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the Catshuis op 5 July 1972.

Cabinet Members

Ministers		Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)			Term of office	Party
	Barend Biesheuvel (1920–2001)	Prime Minister	General Affairs		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Roelof Nelissen (1931–2019)	Deputy Prime Minister	Finance		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Roelof Nelissen (1931–2019)	Minister	Finance		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Molly Geertsema (1918–1991)	Deputy Prime Minister	Interior		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Molly Geertsema (1918–1991)	Minister	Interior		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Norbert Schmelzer (1921–2008)	Minister	Foreign Affairs		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Dries van Agt (born 1931)	Minister	Justice		6 July 1971 – 8 September 1977 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Harrie Langman (1931–2016)	Minister	Economic Affairs		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Hans de Koster (1914–1992)	Minister	Defence		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Dr. Louis Stuyt (1914–2000)	Minister	Health and Environment		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Jaap Boersma (1929–2012)	Minister	Social Affairs		6 July 1971 – 19 December 1977 ^[Continued]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Chris van Veen (1922–2009)	Minister	Education and Sciences		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Christian Historical Union
	Dr. Willem Drees Jr. (1922–1998)	Minister	Transport and Water Management		6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 ^[Res]	Democratic Socialists '70
	Bé Udink (1926–2016)	Minister	Transport and Water Management		21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Christian Historical Union
	Pierre Lardinois (1924–1987)	Minister	Agriculture and Fisheries		5 April 1967 – 1 January 1973 ^[Retained] ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Bé Udink (1926–2016)	Minister	Housing and Spatial Planning		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Christian Historical Union
	Piet Engels (1923–1994)	Minister	Culture, Recreation and Social Work		6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
Ministers without portfolio		Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)			Term of office	Party
	Roelof Nelissen (1931–2019)	Minister	Interior	• Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs	6 July 1971 – 28 January 1972	Catholic People's Party
	Pierre Lardinois (1924–1987)	Minister	Interior	• Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs	28 January 1972 – 1 January 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Dr. Kees Boertien (1927–2002)	Minister	Foreign Affairs	• Development Cooperation	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Jonkheer Mauk de Brauw (1925–1984)	Minister	Education and Sciences	• Higher Education • Science Policy	6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 ^[Res]	Democratic Socialists '70
	Chris van Veen (1922–2009)	Minister	Education and Sciences	• Higher Education • Science Policy	21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Christian Historical Union
State Secretaries		Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s)			Term of office	Party
	Jan van Stuijvenberg (born 1928)	State Secretary	Interior	• Municipalities • Civil Service	17 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 ^[Res]	Democratic Socialists '70
	Tjerk Westerterp (1930–2023)	State Secretary	Foreign Affairs	• European Union • Benelux	17 August 1971 – 7 March 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Willem Scholten (1927–2005)	State Secretary	Finance	• Fiscal Policy • Tax and Customs	14 July 1971 – 19 March 1973 ^[Continued]	Christian Historical Union
	Fons van der Stee (1928–1999)	State Secretary	Finance	• Governmental Budget	14 July 1971 – 12 March 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Hans Grosheide (1930–2022)	State Secretary	Justice	• Immigration and Asylum • Civil Law • Youth Justice • Penitentiaries	28 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Jan Oostenbrink (born 1936)	State Secretary	Economic Affairs	• Small and Medium-sized Businesses • Consumer Protection • Tourism	17 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Vice admiral Adri van Es (1913–1994)	State Secretary	Defence	• Human Resources • Equipment	14 August 1963 – 16 September 1972 ^[Retained] ^[Continued]	Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Koos Rietkerk (1927–1986)	State Secretary	Social Affairs	• Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services	28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973 ^[Continued]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Kees Schelfhout (1918–1983)	State Secretary	Education and Sciences	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	28 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Dr. Roelof Kruisinga (1922–2012)	State Secretary	Transport and Water Management	• Public Infrastructure • Public Transport • Rail Transport • Water Management • Postal Service • Weather Forecasting	28 July 1971 – 20 March 1973 ^[Continued]	Christian Historical Union
	Werner Buck (1925–2010)	State Secretary	Housing and Spatial Planning	• Urban Planning • Spatial Planning	17 August 1971 – 11 May 1973 ^[Continued]	Catholic People's Party
	Fia van Veenendaal- van Meggelen (1918–2005)	State Secretary	Culture, Recreation and Social Work	• Social Services • Disability Policy	28 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 ^[Res]	Democratic Socialists '70
	Henk Vonhoff (1931–2010)	State Secretary	Culture, Recreation and Social Work	• Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973 ^[Continued]	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

^Resigned

^{Retained from the previous cabinet}

^{Continued in the next cabinet}

Trivia

Six cabinet members (later) served as Party Leaders and Lijsttrekkers: Barend Biesheuvel (1963–1973) of the Anti-Revolutionary Party, Molly Geertsema (1969–1971) of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, Norbert Schmelzer (1963–1971) of the Catholic People's Party, Dries van Agt (1976–1982) of the Christian Democratic Appeal, Willem Drees Jr. (1971–1977) of the Democratic Socialists '70, Bé Udink (1970–1971) and Roelof Kruisinga (1971–1977) of the Christian Historical Union.
Five cabinet members had previous experience as scholars and professors: Dries van Agt (Criminal Law and Procedure), Louis Stuyt (Internal Medicine), Willem Drees Jr. (Public Economics), Kees Boertien (Commercial Law) and Roelof Kruisinga (Otorhinolaryngology).
Four cabinet members (later) served as Queen's Commissioner: Molly Geertsema (Gelderland), Dries van Agt (North Brabant), Kees Boertien (Zeeland) and Henk Vonhoff (Groningen).

References

↑ "Ideeën van Drees jr. waren te afwijkend" (in Dutch). Volkskrant. 8 September 1998. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
↑ (in Dutch) Mooie Barend. De vergeten premier, Volkskrant, 9 June 2012
↑ (in Dutch) De driftbuien van Mooie Barend, Historischnieuwsblad.nl, 6 May 2001
↑ "Biesheuvel, Barend Willem (1920–2001)" (in Dutch). Huygens ING. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
↑ (in Dutch) Mr. B. W. (Barend) Biesheuvel 6 juli 1971 – 11 mei 1973, Geschiedenis24.nl, 9 December 2005

External links

Official

(in Dutch) Kabinet-Biesheuvel I en II Parlement & Politiek
(in Dutch) Kabinet-Biesheuvel Rijksoverheid

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[1] "Ideeën van Drees jr. waren te afwijkend" (in Dutch). Volkskrant. 8 September 1998. Retrieved 1 May 2018.

[2] (in Dutch) Mooie Barend. De vergeten premier, Volkskrant, 9 June 2012

[3] (in Dutch) De driftbuien van Mooie Barend, Historischnieuwsblad.nl, 6 May 2001

[4] "Biesheuvel, Barend Willem (1920–2001)" (in Dutch). Huygens ING. 12 November 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2019.

[5] (in Dutch) Mr. B. W. (Barend) Biesheuvel 6 juli 1971 – 11 mei 1973, Geschiedenis24.nl, 9 December 2005

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[Retained]

First Biesheuvel cabinet (1971–1972)
Preceded: De Jong cabinet Succeed: Second Biesheuvel cabinet
Prime Minister	Barend Biesheuvel (General Affairs)
Deputy Prime Ministers	Roelof Nelissen (Finance) Molly Geertsema (Interior)
Ministers	Norbert Schmelzer (Foreign Affairs) Dries van Agt (Justice) Harrie Langman (Economic Affairs) Hans de Koster (Defence) Louis Stuyt (Health and the Environment) Jaap Boersma (Social Affairs) Chris van Veen (Education and Sciences) Willem Drees Jr. (Transport and Water Management) (1971–1972) Bé Udink (Transport and Water Management) (from 1972) Pierre Lardinois (Agriculture and Fisheries) Bé Udink (Housing and Spatial Planning) Piet Engels (Culture, Recreation and Social Work)
Ministers without portfolio	Roelof Nelissen (Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) (1971–1972) Pierre Lardinois (Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs) (from 1972) Kees Boertien (Development Cooperation) Mauk de Brauw (Higher Education and Science Policy) (1971–1972) Chris van Veen (Higher Education and Science Policy) (from 1972)
State Secretaries	Jan van Stuijvenberg (Interior) (1971–1972) Tjerk Westerterp (Foreign Affairs) Willem Scholten (Finance) Fons van der Stee (Finance) Hans Grosheide (Justice) Jan Oostenbrink (Economic Affairs) Adri van Es (Defence) Koos Rietkerk (Social Affairs) Kees Schelfhout (Education and Sciences) Roelof Kruisinga (Transport and Water Management) Werner Buck (Housing and Spatial Planning) Fia van Veenendaal-van Meggelen (Culture, Recreation and Social Work) (1971–1972) Henk Vonhoff (Culture, Recreation and Social Work)