List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken
120px State Coat of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Incumbent Bert Koenders since 17 October 2014
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Style	His Excellency
Member of	Council of Ministers
Appointer	Mark Rutte as Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Formation	9 March 1798 (1798-03-09)
First holder	Willem Berend Buys (as Agent for Foreign Affairs)
Deputy	Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
Salary	€144,000 (including €7,887.24 expenses)
Website	Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Dutch: Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken) is the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Cabinet of the Netherlands. Bert Koenders has been the Minister of Foreign Affairs since 17 October 2014.

List of Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs			Term of office	Party	Prime Minister (Cabinet)
		Gerrit Schimmelpenninck (Prime Minister) (1794–1863)	25 March 1848 – 17 May 1848	Independent	Gerrit Schimmelpenninck (Schimmelpenninck)
		Arnold Adolf Bentinck van Nijenhuis (1798–1868)	17 May 1848 – 21 November 1848	Independent
		Leonardus Antonius Lightenvelt (1795–1873)	21 November 1848 – 1 November 1849	Independent	Jacob de Kempenaer (De Kempenaer-Donker Curtius)
		Herman van Sonsbeeck (1796–1865)	1 November 1849 – 16 October 1852	Independent	Johan Rudolph Thorbecke (Thorbecke I)
		Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt (1816–1890)	16 October 1852 – 19 April 1853	Independent
		Floris Adriaan van Hall (Prime Minister) (1791–1866)	19 April 1853 – 1 July 1856	Independent	Floris Adriaan van Hall (Van Hall-Donker Curtius)
		Daniël Théodore Gevers van Endegeest (1793–1877)	1 July 1856 – 18 March 1858	Independent	Justinus van der Brugghen (Van der Brugghen)
		Jan Karel van Goltstein (1794–1872)	18 March 1858 – 23 February 1860	Independent	Jan Jacob Rochussen (Rochussen)
		Floris Adriaan van Hall (Ad interim Prime Minister) (1791–1866)	23 February 1860 – 4 April 1860	Independent	Floris Adriaan van Hall (Van Hall-Van Heemstra)
		Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt (1819–1894)	4 April 1860 – 14 January 1861	Independent
		Louis Napoleon van der Goes van Dirxland (1806–1885)	14 January 1861 – 14 March 1861	Independent
		Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt (Prime Minister) (1816–1890)	14 March 1861 – 10 November 1861	Independent	Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt (Van Zuylen van Nijevelt-Van Heemstra)
		Martin Pascal Hubert Strens (Ad interim) (1807–1875)	10 November 1861 – 1 February 1862	Independent	Schelto van Heemstra (Van Zuylen van Nijevelt-Van Heemstra)
		Anthony Jan Lucas Stratenus (Ad interim) (1807–1872)	1 February 1862 – 12 March 1862	Independent	Johan Rudolph Thorbecke (Thorbecke II)
		Paul Therèse van der Maesen de Sombreff (1827–1902)	12 March 1862 – 2 January 1864	Independent
	Willem Huyssen van Kattendijke	Willem Huyssen van Kattendijke (Ad interim Minister of the Navy) (1816–1866)	2 January 1864 – 15 March 1864	Independent
		Eppo Cremers (1823–1896)	15 March 1864 – 1 June 1866	Independent	Johan Rudolph Thorbecke (Thorbecke II) Isaäc Dignus Fransen van de Putte (Fransen van de Putte)
		Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt (Prime Minister) (1819–1894)	1 June 1866 – 4 June 1868	Independent	Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt (Van Zuylen van Nijevelt)
	Joannes Josephus van Mulken	Joannes Josephus van Mulken (Ad interim Minister of War) (1796–1879)	4 June 1868 – 8 June 1868	Independent	Pieter Philip van Bosse (Van Bosse-Fock)
		Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg (Ad interim 8 June – 1 September 1868) (1806–1887)	8 June 1868 – 12 December 1870	Independent
	Joannes Josephus van Mulken	Joannes Josephus van Mulken (Ad interim Minister of War) (1796–1879)	12 December 1870 – 4 January 1871	Independent
	Louis Gericke van Herwijnen	Louis Gericke van Herwijnen (1814–1899)	18 January 1871 – 27 August 1874	Independent	Johan Rudolph Thorbecke (Thorbecke III) Gerrit de Vries (De Vries-Fransen van de Putte)
	Joseph van der Does de Willebois	Joseph van der Does de Willebois (1816–1892)	27 August 1874 – 3 November 1877	Independent	Jan Heemskerk (Heemskerk-Van Lynden van Sandenburg)
	Willem van Heeckeren van Kell	Willem van Heeckeren van Kell (1815–1914)	3 November 1877 – 19 August 1879	Independent	Jan Kappeyne van de Coppello (Kappeyne van de Coppello)
		Theo van Lynden van Sandenburg (Prime Minister) (1826–1885)	19 August 1879 – 15 September 1881	Independent	Theo van Lynden van Sandenburg (Van Lynden van Sandenburg)
	Willem Frederik Rochussen	Willem Frederik Rochussen (1832–1912)	15 September 1881 – 23 April 1883	Independent
	Joseph van der Does de Willebois	Joseph van der Does de Willebois (1816–1892)	23 April 1883 – 1 November 1885	Independent	Jan Heemskerk (J. Heemskerk)
		Marc Willem du Tour van Bellinchave (Ad interim Minister of Justice) (1835–1908)	10 August 1885 – 1 November 1885	Independent
	Abraham van Karnebeek	Abraham van Karnebeek (1836–1925)	1 November 1885 – 21 April 1888	Independent
	Cornelis Hartsen	Cornelis Hartsen (1823–1895)	21 April 1888 – 21 August 1891	Independent	Aeneas Mackay (Mackay)
		Gijsbert van Tienhoven (Prime Minister) (1841–1914)	21 August 1891 – 21 March 1894	Independent	Gijsbert van Tienhoven (Van Tienhoven)
	Joannes Coenraad Jansen	Joannes Coenraad Jansen (Ad interim Minister of the Navy) (1840–1925)	21 March 1894 – 8 May 1894	Liberal Union
		Joan Röell (Prime Minister) (1844–1914)	8 May 1894 – 27 July 1897	Independent	Joan Röell (Röell)
	Willem Hendrik de Beaufort	Willem Hendrik de Beaufort (1845–1918)	27 July 1897 – 1 August 1901	Independent	Nicolaas Pierson (Pierson)
		Robert Melvil van Lynden (1843–1910)	1 August 1901 – 9 March 1905	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Abraham Kuyper (Kuyper)
	Abraham George Ellis	Abraham George Ellis (Ad interim Minister of the Navy) (1846–1916)	9 March 1905 – 22 April 1905	Independent
		Willem Marcus van Weede van Berencamp (1848–1925)	22 April 1905 – 7 August 1905	Independent
	Abraham George Ellis	Abraham George Ellis (Ad interim Minister of the Navy) (1846–1916)	7 August 1905 – 17 August 1905	Independent
		Dirk Arnold Willem van Tets van Goudriaan (1844–1930)	17 August 1905 – 12 February 1908	Independent	Theo de Meester (Meester)
	René de Marees van Swinderen	René de Marees van Swinderen (1860–1955)	12 February 1908 – 29 August 1913	Independent	Theo Heemskerk (T. Heemskerk)
		Pieter Cort van der Linden (Ad interim Prime Minister) (1846–1935)	29 August 1913 – 27 September 1913	Independent	Pieter Cort van der Linden (Cort van der Linden)
	John Loudon	John Loudon (1866–1955)	27 September 1913 – 9 September 1918	Independent
	Herman van Karnebeek	Herman van Karnebeek (1874–1942)	9 September 1918 – 1 April 1927	Independent	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I • II) Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn I) Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer I)
	Frans Beelaerts van Blokland	Frans Beelaerts van Blokland (1872–1956)	1 April 1927 – 20 April 1933	Christian Historical Union	Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer I) Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III)
		Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ad interim Prime Minister) (1869–1944)	20 April 1933 – 26 May 1933	Roman-Catholic State Party	Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs III)
	Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff	Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff (1872–1957)	26 May 1933 – 24 June 1937	Independent	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn II • III)
		Hendrikus Colijn (Ad interim Prime Minister) (1869–1944)	24 June 1937 – 1 October 1937	Anti-Revolutionary Party	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn IV)
		Jacob Adriaan Nicolaas Patijn (1873–1961)	1 October 1937 – 10 August 1939	Independent	Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn IV • Colijn V)
	Eelco van Kleffens	Eelco van Kleffens (1894–1983)	10 August 1939 – 1 March 1946	Independent	Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer II)
					Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy I • II • III)
					Wim Schermerhorn (Schermerhorn-Drees)
		Herman van Roijen (1905–1991)	1 March 1946 – 3 July 1946	Independent	Wim Schermerhorn (Schermerhorn-Drees)
	Pim van Boetzelaer van Oosterhout	Pim van Boetzelaer van Oosterhout (1892–1986)	3 July 1946 – 7 August 1948	Independent	Louis Beel (Beel I)
		Dirk Stikker (1897–1979)	7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Willem Drees (Drees-Van Schaik • Drees I)
	Johan Beyen Joseph Luns	Johan Beyen (1897–1976) Joseph Luns (1911–2002)	2 September 1952 – 13 October 1956	Independent (Beyen) Catholic People's Party (Luns)	Willem Drees (Drees II)
	Joseph Luns	Joseph Luns (1911–2002)	13 October 1956 – 6 July 1971	Catholic People's Party	Willem Drees (Drees III)
					Louis Beel (Beel II)
					Jan de Quay (De Quay)
					Victor Marijnen (Marijnen)
					Jo Cals (Cals)
					Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra)
					Piet de Jong (De Jong)
	Norbert Schmelzer	Norbert Schmelzer (1921–2008)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973	Catholic People's Party	Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II)
		Max van der Stoel (1924–2011)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977	Labour Party	Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl)
	Chris van der Klaauw	Chris van der Klaauw (1924–2005)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Dries van Agt (Van Agt I)
		Max van der Stoel (1924–2011)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982	Labour Party	Dries van Agt (Van Agt II)
		Dries van Agt (Prime Minister) (born 1931)	29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982	Christian Democratic Appeal	Dries van Agt (Van Agt III)
		Hans van den Broek (born 1936)	4 November 1982 – 2 January 1993	Christian Democratic Appeal	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I • II • III)
	Pieter Kooijmans	Pieter Kooijmans (1933–2013)	2 January 1993 – 22 August 1994	Christian Democratic Appeal	Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III)
		Hans van Mierlo (Deputy Prime Minister) (1931–2010)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998	Democrats 66	Wim Kok (Kok I)
	Jozias van Aartsen	Jozias van Aartsen (born 1947)	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Wim Kok (Kok II)
		Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (born 1948)	22 July 2002 – 3 December 2003	Christian Democratic Appeal	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I • II)
	Ben Bot	Ben Bot (born 1937)	3 December 2003 – 22 February 2007	Christian Democratic Appeal	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende II • III)
		Maxime Verhagen (born 1956)	22 February 2007 – 14 October 2010	Christian Democratic Appeal	Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV)
	Uri Rosenthal	Uri Rosenthal (born 1945)	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Mark Rutte (Rutte I)
		Frans Timmermans (born 1961)	5 November 2012 – 17 October 2014	Labour Party	Mark Rutte (Rutte II)
		Bert Koenders (born 1958)	17 October 2014 – Incumbent	Labour Party

^Res. Resigned.

^Appt. Appointment: Hans van den Broek appointed European Commissioner 1993; Jaap de Hoop Scheffer appointed Secretary General of NATO 2003; Frans Timmermans appointed European Commissioner 2014.

Living former Ministers of Foreign Affairs

Minister of Foreign Affairs	Term	Age
Dries van Agt	1982	(1931-02-02) 2 February 1931
Hans van den Broek	1982–1993	(1936-12-11) 11 December 1936
Jozias van Aartsen	1998–2002	(1947-12-25) 25 December 1947
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer	2002–2003	(1948-04-03) 3 April 1948
Ben Bot	2003–2007	(1937-11-21) 21 November 1937
Maxime Verhagen	2007–2010	(1956-09-14) 14 September 1956
Uri Rosenthal	2010–2012	(1945-07-19) 19 July 1945
Frans Timmermans	2012–2014	(1961-05-06) 6 May 1961

See also

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Minister for Development Cooperation