Max van der Stoel

Maximilianus "Max" van der Stoel (Dutch pronunciation: [ˌmɑksimiliˈjaːnʏs ˈmɑks vɑn dər ˈstul];[note 1] 3 August 1924 – 23 April 2011) was a Dutch politician and diplomat, member of the Labour Party (PvdA) and activist who served as High Commissioner on National Minorities of the OSCE from 1 January 1993 until 1 July 2001.

His Excellency Max van der Stoel
Max van der Stoel in 1981
High Commissioner on National Minorities of the OSCE
In office 1 January 1993 – 1 July 2001
Secretary-General	See list Wilhelm Höynck (1993–1996) Giancarlo Aragona (1996–1999) Ján Kubiš (1999–2001)
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Rolf Ekeus
Member of the Council of State
In office 1 August 1986 – 1 January 1993
Vice President	Willem Scholten
Ambassador to the United Nations
In office 1 July 1983 – 1 August 1986
Preceded by	Hugo Scheltema
Succeeded by	Peter van Walsum
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982
Prime Minister	Dries van Agt
Preceded by	Chris van der Klaauw
Succeeded by	Dries van Agt
In office 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977
Prime Minister	Joop den Uyl
Preceded by	Norbert Schmelzer
Succeeded by	Chris van der Klaauw
Member of the European Parliament
In office 22 September 1971 – 11 May 1973
Parliamentary group	Socialist Group
Constituency	Netherlands
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
In office 22 July 1965 – 22 November 1966 Serving with Leo de Block
Prime Minister	Jo Cals
Preceded by	Isaäc Nicolaas Diepenhorst
Succeeded by	Leo de Block
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 16 January 1978 – 11 September 1981
In office 8 June 1977 – 8 September 1977
In office 23 February 1967 – 11 May 1973
In office 5 June 1963 – 22 July 1965
Parliamentary group	Labour Party
Member of the Senate
In office 27 September 1960 – 5 June 1963
Parliamentary group	Labour Party
Personal details
Born	Maximilianus van der Stoel (1924-08-03)3 August 1924 Voorschoten, Netherlands
Died	23 April 2011(2011-04-23) (aged 86) The Hague, Netherlands
Political party	Labour Party (from 1950)
Spouse	Maria Aritia de Kanter ​ ​ (m. 1953; div. 1976)​
Children	4 daughters and 1 son
Alma mater	Leiden University (LL.B., B.Soc.Sc, LL.M., MSS)
Occupation	Politician · Diplomat · Civil servant · Jurist · Researcher · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist · Activist · Author · Professor
Signature

Van der Stoel studied Law at the Leiden University obtaining a Master of Laws degree followed by a postgraduate education in Sociology at his alma mater obtaining a Master of Social Science degree. Van der Stoel worked as a researcher at the Wiardi Beckman Foundation from April 1953 until August 1958 and for the Labour Party party board from June 1958 until July 1965. After the Senate election of 1960 Van der Stoel was elected as a Member of the Senate on 27 September 1960 serving as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs. After the election of 1963 Van der Stoel was elected as a member of the House of Representatives on 5 June 1963 and served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs. Van der Stoel was appointed as State Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Cals taking office on 22 July 1965. The Cabinet Cals fell just one year into its term after a major political crisis and was replaced on 22 November 1966. After the election of 1967 Van der Stoel returned to the House of House of Representatives on 23 February 1967 and again served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs. After the election of 1972 Van der Stoel was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Den Uyl, taking office on 11 May 1973. The Cabinet Den Uyl fell just before the end of its term. After the election of 1977 Van der Stoel returned to the House of Representatives serving from 8 June 1977 until 8 September 1977 and again from 16 January 1978 serving as a frontbencher chairing the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and spokesperson for European Affairs. After the election of 1981 Van der Stoel was appointed again as Minister of Foreign Affairs 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 with the caretaker Cabinet Van Agt III on 29 May 1982. Shortly thereafter Van der Stoel announced that he wouldn't stand for the election of 1982.

Van der Stoel continued to be active in politics and in June 1983 he was nominated as the next Ambassador to the United Nations serving from 1 July 1983 until 1 August 1986 when he was appointed as a Member of the Council of State serving until 1 January 1993. In December 1992 Van der Stoel was nominated as the first High Commissioner on National Minorities of the OSCE serving from 1 January 1993 until 1 July 2001. Van der Stoel also became active as a diplomat for the United Nations, serving as an expert on Human rights.

Van der Stoel retired from active politics at 76 and became active in the public sector as a non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government and as an occasional diplomat for and diplomatic delegations, and worked as a distinguished professor of Peace and conflict studies, Minority rights and International relations at his alma mater from April 1999 until April 2000 and as distinguished visiting professor of International and European law at the Tilburg University from January 2001 until January 2003. Following his retirement Van der Stoel continued to be active as an advocate and activist for the Human rights and Minority rights. Van der Stoel was known for his abilities as a skillful negotiator and effective mediator. Van der Stoel was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 17 May 1991 and continued to comment on political affairs until his death in April 2011 at the age of 86.

In 2013, the PvdA-associated Foundation Max van der Stoel (FMS), which promotes international solidarity, human rights and democracy among other things, was named after Van der Stoel.