Barend Biesheuvel
Barend Willem Biesheuvel | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Haarlemmerliede, North Holland, Netherlands |
| Died | April 29, 2001 (aged 81) Haarlem, Netherlands |
| Occupation(s) | Jurist, politician |
| Years active | 1945–1973 (politics) |
| Known for | Prime Minister of the Netherlands (1971–1973) |
Barend Willem Biesheuvel (5 April 1920 – 29 April 2001) was a Dutch jurist and politician affiliated with the Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), who held the office of Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 6 July 1971 until 11 May 1973.
After obtaining his Master of Laws degree from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Biesheuvel began his career as a civil servant within the provincial executive of North Holland (1945–1952). He subsequently took on leadership roles in trade organizations, serving as both executive and chairman of the Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association (CBTB) between 1952 and 1959. Entering the House of Representatives in 1956, he concentrated on issues related to agriculture, local governance, and affairs concerning the Kingdom. Additionally, he was a Member of the European Parliament starting in 1961.
Following the retirement of ARP leader Sieuwert Bruins Slot, Biesheuvel assumed the positions of party leader and parliamentary leader in June 1963. He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries with oversight for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs in the Marijnen cabinet that same year. Despite several cabinet dissolutions, he maintained these responsibilities until 1967. As the party’s lead candidate in the 1967 elections, he returned to parliament as parliamentary leader amid challenging coalition negotiations.
Leading the ARP in the 1971 election, Biesheuvel formed the First Biesheuvel cabinet and became Prime Minister. This cabinet collapsed in July 1972, after which he headed a caretaker government until May 1973. The subsequent coalition talks following the 1972 election resulted in a Labour Party-led administration under Joop den Uyl, marking the end of Biesheuvel’s tenure as prime minister. He stepped down as party leader shortly afterwards.
After leaving frontline politics, Biesheuvel engaged in various corporate and nonprofit board roles, participated in governmental commissions, and championed enhanced European integration. Recognized for his managerial capabilities and effectiveness in parliamentary debates, his cabinets advanced policies promoting deregulation and privatization. His time as prime minister is notable for being the last instance where the officeholder did not hail from the largest party within the coalition and is generally assessed as below average by historians and public opinion.
Early life
Born on 5 April 1920 in Haarlemmerliede, North Holland, Barend Willem Biesheuvel came from a Reformed family background. He was one of six children born to Arie Biesheuvel and Johanna Margaretha "Antje" Troost. After completing his secondary education locally, he graduated with a law degree from the Free University of Amsterdam in September 1945. Subsequently, he served as secretary to North Holland’s Food Commissioner until 1947 before becoming secretary for the Foreign Division of the Agricultural Society (currently known as the Agricultural Board). In 1952, he was appointed general secretary of the Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association of the Netherlands (CBTB), rising to chairman in 1959. That same year, he also joined several boards including those of the Agricultural Board, Labour Foundation, Centrale Raiffeisen Bank, and Heidemij.
Politics
From 1956 to 1963, Biesheuvel represented the Anti-Revolutionary Party in the House of Representatives. During this period, he also served on the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe (1957–1961) and held a seat in the European Parliament (1961–1963). Between 24 July 1963 and 5 April 1967, he fulfilled duties as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries across the Marijnen, Cals, and Zijlstra cabinets, with added responsibilities for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles affairs.
In 1967, he resumed his role as leader of the Anti-Revolutionary Party within the House of Representatives. At that time, he also chaired both the Shipbuilding Board and the Committee on Government Information Reform. From 1971 until 1973, Biesheuvel served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands.
Post-political career
Following his departure from politics, Biesheuvel assumed various positions across both governmental and corporate spheres. He was the chairman of the supervisory board at the National Investment Bank, participated as a supervisory board member for OGEM and KLM, and chaired multiple advisory panels focused on issues such as the Netherlands Antilles, voter-policy dynamics, transportation, public infrastructure, water management, and North Sea matters (ICONA).
Private life
Biesheuvel wed Wilhelmina Jacoba "Mies" Meuring (born 7 August 1919) on 22 November 1945. Together, they had two daughters and one son. Mies Meuring passed away on 17 January 1989 at the age of 69. Biesheuvel himself died from heart disease on 29 April 2001 in Haarlem, aged 81. Both were interred at Bloemendaal’s main cemetery.
Awards
| Ribbon bar | Award | Nation | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commander of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 8 June 1973 | ||
| Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 21 March 1991 | Promoted from Grand Officer (27 April 1967) |