Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Logo of the VVD
	Incumbent; Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius; since 14 August 2023
	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Inaugural holder	Pieter Oud
Formation	15 May 1948

The leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is the most senior politician within the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) in the Netherlands. The post is currently held by Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, who succeeded Mark Rutte in 2023.^[1]^[2]

History

The Leaders outwardly act as the 'figurehead' and the main representative of the party. Within the party, they must ensure political consensus. At election time the Leader is always the Lijsttrekker (top candidate) of the party list. Outside election time the Leader can serve as the Opposition leader. In the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy the Leader is often the Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives. Some VVD leaders became a Minister in a Cabinet.

Leaders

Leader		Term of office	Age as Leader	Position(s) as Leader	Further position(s)	Civil/ Diplomatic/ Judiciary Function(s)	International Function(s)	Local Function(s)	Former Affiliation	Professional Function(s)	Lijsttrekker
	Pieter Oud (1886–1968)	15 May 1948 – 12 January 1963 (14 years, 242 days)^[3]	61–76	Mayor of Rotterdam (1945–1952) Member of the House of Representatives (1948–1963) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1948–1963) Party chairman (1949–1963)	Member of the House of Representatives (VDB) (1917–1933) (1937–1938) Minister of Finance (VDB) (1933–1937) Leader of the Free-thinking Democratic League (1935–1938) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (VDB) (1937–1938) Mayor of Rotterdam (VDB) (1938–1941) Minister of State (1963–1968)				Free-thinking Democratic League	Jurist civil servant Historian Author professor	1948
									Free-thinking Democratic League		1952
									Committee-Oud		1956
									Labour Party		1959
	Edzo Toxopeus (1918–2009)	12 January 1963 – 1 October 1969 (6 years, 262 days)^[3]	44–51	Minister of the Interior (1959–1965) Member of the House of Representatives (1963) (1965–1969) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1963) (1966–1969)	Member of the House of Representatives (1956–1959) Queen's Commissioner of Groningen (1970–1980) Minister of State (1985–2009)	Member of the Council of State (1980–1988)	President of the Liberal International (1966–1970)		Freedom Party	Jurist Lawyer Businessperson Diplomat	1963
	Edzo Toxopeus (1918–2009)	12 January 1963 – 1 October 1969 (6 years, 262 days)^[3]	44–51			Member of the Council of State (1980–1988)	President of the Liberal International (1966–1970)		Freedom Party	Jurist Lawyer Businessperson Diplomat	1967
	Molly Geertsema (1918–1991)	1 October 1969 – 20 July 1971 (1 year, 292 days)^[3]	50–52	Member of the House of Representatives (1959–1971) Mayor of Wassenaar (1961–1971) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1969–1971)	Mayor of Warffum (1953–1957) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1963–1966) Minister of the Interior (1971–1973) Deputy Prime Minister (1971–1973) Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs (1973) Member of the House of Representatives (1973) (1973) Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland (1973–1983) Member of the Senate (1983–1987)				Freedom Party	Jurist Civil servant Teacher	1971
	Hans Wiegel (born 1941)	20 July 1971 – 20 April 1982 (10 years, 274 days)^[3]	30–40	Member of the House of Representatives (1967–1977) (1981–1982) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1971–1977) (1981–1982) Minister of the Interior (1977–1981) Deputy Prime Minister (1977–1981)	Queen's Commissioner of Friesland (1982–1994) Member of the Senate (1995–2000)	Member of the Social and Economic Council (1994–2012)				Businessperson Trade association executive Political pundit Author	1972
											1977
											1981
	Ed Nijpels (born 1950)	20 April 1982 – 27 June 1986 (4 years, 68 days)^[3]	32–36	Member of the House of Representatives (1977–1986) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1982–1986)	Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (1986–1989) Member of the House of Representatives (1989–1990) Mayor of Breda (1990–1995) Queen's Commissioner of Friesland (1999–2008)	Member of the Social and Economic Council (since 2014)				Jurist Civil servant Businessperson Nonprofit director Trade association executive Teacher Activist	1982
	Ed Nijpels (born 1950)	20 April 1982 – 27 June 1986 (4 years, 68 days)^[3]	32–36			Member of the Social and Economic Council (since 2014)					1986
	Dr. Rudolf de Korte (1936–2020)	27 June 1986 – 15 December 1986 (171 days)^{[citation needed]}	49–50	Minister of the Interior (1986) Member of the House of Representatives (1986) Minister of Economic Affairs (1986–1989) Deputy Prime Minister (1986–1989)	Member of the House of Representatives (1977–1986) (1989–1995)		Vice President of the European Investment Bank (1986–1989)			Businessperson Banker
	Dr. Joris Voorhoeve (born 1945)	15 December 1986 – 30 April 1990 (3 years, 136 days)^[3]	40–44	Member of the House of Representatives (1982–1991) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1986–1990)	Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs (1994–1998) Minister of Defence (1994–1998) Member of the House of Representatives (1998–1999)	Member of the Council of State (1999–2011)			Democrats 66	Political scientist Researcher Civil servant Nonprofit director Activist Author Professor	1989
	Frits Bolkestein (born 1933)	30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998 (8 years, 91 days)^[3]	57–65	Member of the House of Representatives (1989–1999) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1990–1998)	Member of the House of Representatives (1978–1982) (1986–1988) State Secretary for Economic Affairs (1982–1986) Minister of Defence (1988–1989)		President of the Liberal International (1996–2000) European Commissioner (1999–2004) ^[Portfolios]			Businessperson Economist Author Historian Professor	1994
	Frits Bolkestein (born 1933)	30 April 1990 – 30 July 1998 (8 years, 91 days)^[3]	57–65							Businessperson Economist Author Historian Professor	1998
	Hans Dijkstal (1943–2010)	30 July 1998 – 16 May 2002 (3 years, 290 days)^[3]	55–59	Minister of the Interior (1994–1998) Deputy Prime Minister (1994–1998) Member of the House of Representatives (1998–2002) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1998–2002)	Member of the House of Representatives (1982–1986) (1986–1994)			Municipal councillor of Wassenaar (1974–1986) Alderman of Wassenaar (1978–1983)		Financial adviser Management consultant Nonprofit director Teacher Lobbyist	2002
	Gerrit Zalm (born 1952)	16 May 2002 – 27 November 2004 (2 years, 195 days)^[3]	50–52	Member of the House of Representatives (2002–2003) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2002–2003) Minister of Finance (2003–2007) Deputy Prime Minister (2003–2007)	Minister of Finance (1994–1996) (1996–2002) Member of the House of Representatives (1998) Minister of Economic Affairs (2006)	Director of the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis (1989–1994)			Labour Party	Economist Civil servant Businessperson Banker Professor	2003
	Jozias van Aartsen (born 1947)	27 November 2004 – 8 March 2006 (1 year, 101 days)^[3]	56–58	Member of the House of Representatives (2002–2006) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2003–2006)	Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Fisheries (1994–1998) Member of the House of Representatives (1998) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1998–2002) Mayor of The Hague (2008–2017) King's Commissioner of Drenthe (2017) Mayor of Amsterdam (2017–2018)	Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Interior (1985–1994)				Political consultant Civil servant Nonprofit director
Vacant (8 March 2006 – 31 May 2006)
	Mark Rutte (born 1967)	31 May 2006 – 14 August 2023 (17 years, 159 days)^[3]	39–56	State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science (2004–2006) Member of the House of Representatives (2006–2010) (2012) (2017) (since 2021) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2006–2010) (2012) (2017) Minister of General Affairs (since 2010) Prime Minister (since 2010)	State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment (2002–2004) Member of the House of Representatives (2003)					Businessperson Historian Teacher	2006
											2010
											2012
											2017
											2021
	Dilan Yeşilgöz- Zegerius (born 1977)	14 August 2023 – Incumbent (257 days)	46–46	Minister of Justice and Security (since 2022)	Member of the House of Representatives (2017–2021) State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (2021–2022)			Municipal councillor of Amsterdam (2014–2017)		Management consultant	2023

Deputy Leaders

The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy doesn't have an official designated Deputy Leader in the party's hierarchy but some are given the title as an unofficial description by the media. Because of the often unofficial nature of the position, reliable sources can sometimes differ over who the deputy actually is or was.

Deputy Leader		Term of office	Position(s) as Deputy Leader	Leader(s)
	Dirk Stikker (1897–1979)	28 January 1948 – 10 July 1952 (4 years, 164 days)	Chairman of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (1948) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1948–1952)	Pieter Oud
	Henk Korthals (1911–1976)	10 July 1952 – 12 January 1963 (10 years, 186 days)	Member of the House of Representatives (1945–1959) Member of the European Parliament (1958–1959) Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs (1959–1963) Minister of Transport and Water Management (1959–1963) Deputy Prime Minister (1959–1963)	Pieter Oud
Not in use (12 January 1963 – 14 July 1963)
	Molly Geertsema (1918–1991)	14 July 1963 – 1 October 1969 (1 year, 273 days)^[1]	Member of the House of Representatives (1959–1971) Mayor of Wassenaar (1961–1971) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1963–1966)	Edzo Toxopeus
	Roelof Zegering Hadders [nl] (1912–1991)	1 October 1969 – 1 July 1971 (1 year, 273 days)^[1]	Member of the House of Representatives (1948–1971)	Molly Geertsema
	Molly Geertsema (1918–1991)	1 July 1971 – 5 May 1973 (1 year, 308 days)^[1]	Minister of the Interior (1971–1973) Deputy Prime Minister (1971–1973) Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs (1973) Member of the House of Representatives (1973) (1973)	Hans Wiegel
	Harm van Riel (1907–1980)	5 May 1973 – 3 June 1976 (3 years, 29 days)^[1]	Member of the Senate (1963–1976) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1956–1976)
	Haya van Someren (1926–1980)	3 June 1976 – 12 November 1980 (†) (4 years, 162 days)^[1]	Member of the Senate (1974–1980) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1976–1980)
Not in use (12 November 1980 – 15 December 1986)
	Dr. Rudolf de Korte (1936–2020)	15 December 1986 – 7 November 1989 (2 years, 327 days)^[1]	Minister of Economic Affairs (1986–1989) Deputy Prime Minister (1986–1989) Member of the House of Representatives (1989–1995)	Joris Voorhoeve
	Loek Hermans (born 1951)	9 July 1986 – 24 September 1990 (4 years, 77 days)^[1]	Member of the House of Representatives (1977–1990)	Rudolf de Korte
				Joris Voorhoeve
				Frits Bolkestein
	Hans Dijkstal (1943–2010)	24 September 1990 – 30 July 1998 (7 years, 309 days)^[1]	Member of the House of Representatives (1986–1994) (1998–2002) Minister of the Interior (1994–1998) Deputy Prime Minister (1994–1998)
	Benk Korthals (born 1944)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 (3 years, 346 days)^[1]	Member of the House of Representatives (1982–1998)
	Benk Korthals (born 1944)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 (3 years, 346 days)^[1]	Member of the House of Representatives (1982–1998)	Hans Dijkstal
	Annemarie Jorritsma (born 1950)	3 August 1998 – 30 January 2003 (4 years, 180 days)^[1]	Minister of Economic Affairs (1998–2002) Deputy Prime Minister (1998–2002) Member of the House of Representatives (2002–2003)	Hans Dijkstal
	Annemarie Jorritsma (born 1950)	3 August 1998 – 30 January 2003 (4 years, 180 days)^[1]		Gerrit Zalm
	Jozias van Aartsen (born 1947)	23 May 2002 – 27 November 2004 (4 years, 188 days)^[1]	Minister of Foreign Affairs (1998–2002) Member of the House of Representatives (2002–2006) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2003–2006)	Gerrit Zalm
Not in use (27 November 2004 – 29 June 2006)
	Edith Schippers (born 1964)	29 June 2006 – 1 November 2012 (6 years, 125 days)	Member of the House of Representatives (2003–2010) (2012) Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (2010–2017)	Mark Rutte
	Stef Blok (born 1964) ^[4]	8 October 2010 – 1 November 2012 (2 years, 24 days)	Member of the House of Representatives (2002–2012) (2012) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2010–2012)
	Halbe Zijlstra (born 1969)	1 November 2012 – 13 February 2018 (5 years, 74 days)	State Secretary for Education, Culture and Science (2010–2012) Member of the House of Representatives (2012–2017) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2012–2017) (2017) Minister of Foreign Affairs (2017–2018)
	Dr. Klaas Dijkhoff (born 1981)	25 October 2017 – 31 March 2021 (3 years, 157 days)	Member of the House of Representatives (2017–2021) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (2017–2021)

References

^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Politiek leider van een partij". Parlement&Politiek. Retrieved 3 November 2012.
^ (in Dutch) Kabinet-Rutte is een feit, NOS, 14 October 2010
^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Partijleiders". Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
^ "Purist stuurt bij naar rechts Stef Blok" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2018.

^{European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services and Taxation and Customs}

External links

Official

(in Dutch) Official website

[Parlement&Politiek-1] ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Politiek leider van een partij". Parlement&Politiek. Retrieved 3 November 2012.

[2] (in Dutch) Kabinet-Rutte is een feit, NOS, 14 October 2010

[RijksuniversiteitGroningen-3] ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Partijleiders". Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. Retrieved 19 August 2023.

[4] "Purist stuurt bij naar rechts Stef Blok" (in Dutch). NRC Handelsblad. 12 October 2012. Retrieved 4 March 2018.

v t e People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Leaders	Oud Toxopeus Geertsema Wiegel Nijpels De Korte Voorhoeve Bolkestein Dijkstal Zalm Van Aartsen Rutte Yeşilgöz
Chairs	Stikker Oud Van der Pols Van Someren Korthals Altes Kamminga Ginjaar Van Leeuwen-Schut Hoekzema Eenhoorn Van Zanen Opstelten Korthals Keizer Van der Wal Hoes Wetzels
Parliamentary leaders in the Senate	Molenaar Van Riel Van Someren Zoutendijk Luteijn Korthals Altes Ginjaar Van den Broek-Laman Trip Rosenthal De Graaf Hermans Jorritsma Schippers
Parliamentary leaders in the House of Representatives	Oud Toxopeus Geertsema Toxopeus Geertsema Wiegel Rietkerk Wiegel Nijpels Voorhoeve Bolkestein Dijkstal Zalm Van Aartsen Van Beek Rutte Blok Rutte Zijlstra Rutte Zijlstra Dijkhoff Rutte Hermans
Party organisations	Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy Telders Foundation Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party Renew Europe Liberal International
Leadership elections	2006 2023