Jan de Koning (politician)

Jan de Koning (31 August 1926 – 8 October 1994) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP) and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and social geographer.[1]

His Excellency Jan de Koning
Jan de Koning in 1978
Extraordinary Member of the Council of State
In office 1 January 1990 – 8 October 1994
Vice President	Willem Scholten
Minister of the Interior
In office 3 February 1987 – 6 May 1987 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Frits Korthals Altes (Ad interim)
Succeeded by	Kees van Dijk
Minister of Social Affairs and Employment
In office 6 May 1987 – 7 November 1989
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Louw de Graaf (Ad interim)
Succeeded by	Bert de Vries
In office 4 November 1982 – 3 February 1987
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Louw de Graaf
Succeeded by	Louw de Graaf (Ad interim)
Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs
In office 4 November 1982 – 7 November 1989
Prime Minister	Ruud Lubbers
Preceded by	Himself as Minister for Netherlands Antilles Affairs
Succeeded by	Ruud Lubbers (Ad interim)
Minister for Netherlands Antilles Affairs
In office 29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Joop den Uyl
Succeeded by	Himself as Minister for Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
In office 11 September 1981 – 4 November 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Gerrit Braks
Succeeded by	Gerrit Braks
Minister of Defence
In office 4 March 1978 – 8 March 1978 Ad interim
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Roelof Kruisinga
Succeeded by	Willem Scholten
Minister for Development Cooperation
In office 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Jan Pronk
Succeeded by	Kees van Dijk
Chairman of the Anti-Revolutionary Party
In office 11 May 1973 – 13 December 1975
Leader	Barend Biesheuvel (1973) Willem Aantjes (1973–1975)
Preceded by	Antoon Veerman
Succeeded by	Hans de Boer
Member of the European Parliament
In office 22 September 1971 – 19 December 1977
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Group
Constituency	Netherlands
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 3 June 1986 – 14 July 1986
In office 16 September 1982 – 4 November 1982
In office 10 June 1981 – 9 September 1981
In office 10 May 1971 – 19 December 1977
Parliamentary group	Christian Democratic Appeal (1981–1986) Anti-Revolutionary Party (1971–1977)
Member of the Senate
In office 16 September 1969 – 10 May 1971
Parliamentary group	Anti-Revolutionary Party
Member of the Social and Economic Council
In office 1 February 1964 – 16 September 1969
Chairman	See list Gerard Verrijn Stuart (1964) Jan de Pous (1964–1969)
Personal details
Born	Jan de Koning (1926-08-31)31 August 1926 Zwartsluis, Netherlands
Died	8 October 1994(1994-10-08) (aged 68) Leiden, Netherlands
Cause of death	Cancer
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980)
Other political affiliations	Anti-Revolutionary Party (until 1980)
Spouse	Molly Rellum ​ (m. 1956)​
Children	2 sons
Alma mater	Utrecht University (B.Soc.Sc, MSSc)
Occupation	Politician · Civil servant · Social geographer · Researcher · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Trade association executive · Professor · Soldier
Military service
Allegiance	Netherlands
Branch/service	Royal Netherlands East Indies Army
Years of service	1945–1948 (Active duty) 1948–1952 (Reserve)
Rank	Corporal
Battles/wars	Indonesian National Revolution Operation Product

De Koning joined the Dutch resistance against the German occupation in September 1943 and was at the time barely 17-years old. Following the end of World De Koning volunteered and enlisted in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army as a corporal serving in the Dutch East Indies from August 1945 until June 1948. De Koning studied Social geography at the Utrecht University obtaining a Master of Social Science degree. De Koning worked as a trade association executive for the Christian Farmers and Gardeners association (CBTB) from February 1955 until May 1971 and as a researcher at the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences from November 1961 until January 1964. After the Senate election of 1969 De Koning was elected as a Member of the Senate on 16 September 1969 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Agriculture. After the election of 1971 De Koning was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives on 10 May 1971 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Agriculture and Development Cooperation. De Koning was also selected as a Member of the European Parliament on 22 September 1971 and dual served in both positions and served as Party Chairman from 11 May 1973 until 13 December 1975.

After the election of 1977 De Koning was appointed as Minister for Development Cooperation in the Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel, taking office on 19 December 1977. After the election of 1981 De Koning was appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the Cabinet Van Agt II taking office on 11 September 1981. The Cabinet Van Agt II fell just seven months into its term and was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Van Agt III with continuing his position and also took over the portfolio of Netherlands Antilles Affairs taking office on 29 May 1982. After the election of 1982 De Koning was appointed as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment and also retained the portfolio of Netherlands Antilles and Aruba Affairs in the Cabinet Lubbers I taking office on 4 November 1982. After the election of 1986 De Koning again continued his offices in the Cabinet Lubbers II. De Koning was appointed as acting Minister of the Interior following a cabinet reshuffle serving from 3 February 1987 until 6 May 1987. In July 1989, De Koning announced that he wouldn't stand for the election of 1989 and declined to serve in new cabinet.

De Koning continued to be active in politics and in December 1989 was nominated as a Member of the Council of State on 1 January 1990. De Koning also became active in the public sector as non-profit director and serves on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a distinguished professor of Social geography at the University of Groningen from January 1991. In August 1994, De Koning was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died just three months later in October 1994 at the age of 68. De Koning was known for his abilities as a skillful manager and effective consensus builder. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Social Affairs with 7 years, 3 days in Dutch History.