Stef Blok

Stef Blok
File:Stef Blok 2018.jpg Blok in 2018
Born	Stephanus Abraham Blok (1964-12-10) December 10, 1964 Emmeloord, Flevoland, Netherlands
Occupation(s)	Politician, accountant, banker
Years active	1994–2022
Known for	Minister of Foreign Affairs (2018–2021), Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (2021–2022)

Stephanus Abraham "Stef" Blok (born 10 December 1964) is a Dutch statesman who held the position of Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy in the Third Rutte cabinet between 25 May 2021 and 10 January 2022. He is affiliated with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

With a professional background as an accountant, Blok served in the Dutch House of Representatives from 25 August 1998 until 23 May 2002, and again from 3 September 2002 to 5 November 2012. After the 2010 elections, when VVD leader Mark Rutte assumed the role of Prime Minister, Blok took over as parliamentary leader in the House, a role he fulfilled from 8 October 2010 to 20 September 2012. Following the elections in 2012, he was appointed Minister for Housing and the Central Government Sector within the Second Rutte cabinet, officially starting on 5 November 2012. He temporarily acted as Minister of Security and Justice from 10 to 20 March 2015 after Ivo Opstelten resigned, and also served as interim Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations from 29 June to 16 September 2016 during Ronald Plasterk’s medical leave.

On 27 January 2017, after Ard van der Steur stepped down as Minister of Security and Justice, Blok was designated to complete that term, resigning from his housing portfolio simultaneously. He chose not to participate in the 2017 elections and declared his retirement from politics. However, following Halbe Zijlstra’s resignation as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Third Rutte cabinet on 13 February 2018, Blok was nominated as his successor and assumed office on 7 March 2018.

Early life

Stephanus Abraham Blok was born on 10 December 1964 in Emmeloord, located in Flevoland. His secondary education took place at Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden from 1977 to 1983. He pursued higher education in Business Administration at the University of Groningen between 1983 and 1989, earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Business Administration. From 1989 until 1998, Blok worked at ABN AMRO where he held roles as a credit broker and branch manager. Additionally, he was a member of the municipal council of Nieuwkoop between 1994 and 1998.

Among his ancestors was J.F.A. Dligoor, an engineer who contributed to building the Prijetan dam in East Java, Indonesia.

Politics

Blok briefly assumed the role of Acting Minister of Security and Justice from 10 to 20 March 2015 while maintaining his other ministerial responsibilities. On 27 January 2017, he stepped down as Minister for Housing and the Central Government Sector to take over fully as Minister of Security and Justice until his term ended on 26 October 2017, succeeding Ard van der Steur. Between 29 June and 16 September 2016, he also served as Acting Minister of the Interior and Kingdom Relations during Ronald Plasterk’s medical absence. After completing his tenure at the justice ministry, Blok announced his departure from political life.

Following Halbe Zijlstra’s resignation on 13 February 2018, Blok was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Controversy

In July 2018, during a meeting later aired on Zembla, Blok expressed criticism toward multiculturalism by asserting that black African migrants could not be relocated to Eastern European countries due to potential threats of violence. He remarked:

"Provide an example of a multiethnic or multicultural society where the indigenous population continues to live peacefully alongside others with harmonious community relations. I am unaware of any."

When Suriname was mentioned as an example, he referred to it as a "failed state," attributing this characterization to its ethnic diversity. Regarding Singapore, he described it as a “small mini-country” that exercises extreme selectivity in immigration policies by admitting only affluent newcomers.

These comments led Suriname’s government to demand an official apology, while Curaçao—part of the Dutch Kingdom—distanced itself from Blok’s statements. Curaçao highlighted that its multicultural society is founded upon shared principles such as justice, tolerance, and freedom within the Kingdom framework.

Both Suriname’s government and opposition rejected being labeled a failed state based on ethnic composition. Opposition leader Chan Santokhi argued that Suriname’s difficulties stemmed from ineffective governance and corruption rather than its multicultural character.

Honours

Blok has been the recipient of multiple distinctions in acknowledgment of his contributions to public service:

• Officer rank within the Order of Orange-Nassau

  Recipient of the Grand Cross from the Order of Leopold II

  Awarded Member 1st Class of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana on 5 June 2018

  Elevated to Grand Officer (second class) in the Order of the Three Stars

  Holder of the Grand Cross from the Order for Merits to Lithuania

  Decorated with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

External links

Official

• Drs. S.A. (Stef) Blok Parlement & Politiek

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