Victor Halberstadt

Victor Halberstadt
Born	Template:Birth date Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died	September 13, 2024(2024-09-13) (aged 85)
Occupation(s)	Economist, academic, public finance expert
Years active	1965–2024
Known for	Crown Member of the Social-Economic Council (1972–2004); President of International Institute of Public Finance (1987–1990); Director of Het Concertgebouw (1988–2011)

Victor Halberstadt (16 June 1939 – 13 September 2024) was a prominent Dutch economist known for his extensive contributions in academia, public finance, and cultural institutions. His career highlights include serving as a Crown Member of the Social-Economic Council from 1972 until 2004, presiding over the International Institute of Public Finance between 1987 and 1990, and directing Het Concertgebouw from 1988 through 2011.

Biography

Halberstadt was born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, into a Jewish family and was a Holocaust survivor. Between 1965 and 1974, he held the position of senior lecturer specializing in public sector finance at the University of Amsterdam. During the early 1970s, specifically from 1971 to 1973, he provided expert advice on the National Budget to the Directorate-General within the Dutch Ministry of Finance. In 1974, he accepted a professorship in public sector finance at Leiden University. Notably, in 1981, together with economist Cees de Galan, he played a crucial role as mediator during the Dutch Cabinet crisis.

Throughout his career, Halberstadt occupied several significant roles: he was a Crown Member of the Social-Economic Council for over three decades (1972–2004), served as honorary secretary-general of the Bilderberg Group from 1980 to 2000, led the International Institute of Public Finance as president between 1987 and 1990, and managed Het Concertgebouw from 1988 to 2011. Additionally, he contributed as faculty at the World Economic Forum starting in 1990 and joined the international advisory board of Goldman Sachs Group Inc from 1991 onward. Between 1995 and 2005, he chaired the international advisory board for Daimler-Chrysler. His trusteeships included roles with the Dutch National Opera, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, and the Boekman Foundation. In recognition of his service, he was appointed a Knight in the Order of the Netherlands Lion in 1990 and participated on the steering committee of the Bilderberg Group.

Halberstadt's dedication extended to nonprofit governance on an international scale through his board membership at the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, an organization focused on combating child abduction and exploitation.

He died on 13 September 2024 at age 85.