Gerard Helders
Gerard Helders | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gerardus Philippus Helders 9 March 1905 Rotterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 6 January 2013 (aged 107) |
| Occupation(s) | Jurist, diplomat, politician |
| Years active | 1931–1975 |
| Known for | Minister of Colonial Affairs (1957–1959), Member of the Council of State (1959–1975) |
Gerardus Philippus "Gerard" Helders (born 9 March 1905, deceased 6 January 2013) was a Dutch jurist, diplomat, and politician associated with the former Christian Historical Union (CHU), which later merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
Helders pursued legal studies at Leiden University, obtaining his Bachelor of Laws degree in 1927 followed by a Master of Laws in 1929. His professional journey started as a paralegal in Rotterdam, before moving to the Ministry of Colonial Affairs in Batavia, located in the Dutch East Indies, where he served from 1931 until 1942. His positions included senior and chief tax collector. During the Dutch East Indies campaign, he held the rank of Major in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army. Captured during the 1942 Battle of Borneo, Helders spent the remainder of World War II as a prisoner under Japanese captivity until 1945.
Post-war, Helders returned to the Netherlands and joined the Ministry of Finance between 1945 and 1948, eventually rising to Director-General of Legal Affairs. In 1948, he transitioned into banking as Chief Financial Officer and soon thereafter Chief Executive Officer of the Nationale Handelsbank.
Following the general election of 1956, Helders was appointed Minister of Colonial Affairs in the Cabinet Drees III starting February 1957. After this cabinet collapsed in December 1958, he maintained his ministerial role within the caretaker Cabinet Beel II until May 1959. He was not included in the subsequent Cabinet De Quay. In August 1959, Helders became a Member of the Council of State, a position he held until September 1975.
Apart from his political career, Helders was active in various corporate boards and nonprofit organizations and served as a diplomat and advocate for economic delegations representing Dutch governmental interests.
Early life
Born in Rotterdam, Helders was the son of a wine merchant. Between 1925 and 1929, he studied civil law at Leiden University. He married in 1930 and fathered one son along with four daughters.
Politics
Helders initiated his political activities with the Christian Historical Union while residing in the Dutch colony of the Dutch East Indies, holding seats on municipal councils in both Bandung and Batavia (present-day Jakarta). During the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, he was interned as a prisoner. In the 1950s, he briefly held the post of Minister of Colonial Affairs under Prime Ministers Willem Drees and Louis Beel, managing governmental affairs related to development in what later became Indonesia’s New Guinea province. From 1959 through 1975, he served on the Council of State.
Longevity
At the time of his passing at age 107, Helders was recognized as the longest-lived former Dutch politician. Having served under Prime Minister Willem Drees—who himself lived to be 101—Helders resided in Wassenaar. The local mayor paid him visits on his 105th, 106th, and 107th birthdays, remarking on his remarkable vitality and continued engagement with current events. Following the death of Cornelis Geurtz at age 110 in August 2012, Helders became the oldest living man in the Netherlands. He was survived by twelve grandchildren and multiple great-grandchildren. Helders passed away on 6 January 2013.
Decorations
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knight of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | Netherlands | 9 June 1959 | ||
| Commander of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 29 April 1969 | ||