Dirk Uipko Stikker (February 5, 1897 - December 23, 1979) is a Dutch banker, industrialist, politician, and diplomat.

Born in Winschoten, he studied law at the University of Groningen. After his studies he began a career in the banking sector. In 1935, he became director of Heineken, the famous beer company. He held this post until 1948.

In 1945, he was among the organizers of the Stichting van de Arbeid (Dutch Labour Foundation), thus helping to lay the foundation of post-war collective bargaining in The Netherlands.

In 1964, Stikker was awarded a honorary doctorate by Brown University. He died in Wassenaar in 1979, aged 81.

Political career

Stikker entered politics in 1945, when he was elected to the First Chamber of the States General. On March 23, 1946, he co-founded the Partij van de Vrijheid (PvdV, Freedom Party), together with some former members of the pre-war Liberale Staatspartij (LSP, Liberal State Party). On January 24, 1948, the PvdV was absorbed by the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD, Popular Party for Freedom and Democracy), which is as of 2004 the country's most important Liberal party. Stikker was the VVD's first chairman.

Minister of Foreign Affairs

In 1948, Stikker became minister of foreign affairs in the first government led by Willem Drees, holding that position until 1951. After his party adopted a no-confidence motion over the government's colonial policy in New Guinea, Stikker resigned on January 23, 1951, prompting the cabinet's fall. He returned to that position less than two months later. The Netherlands played an important role in the creation of NATO and the European Coal and Steel Community during Stikker's time in office as minister of foreign affairs.

Later political roles

After his ministerial office, Stikker was ambassador to the United Kingdom (1952 - 1958) and head of the Dutch Permanent Representation to the North Atlantic council and to the Organization for European Economy Co-operation, the predecessor of the OECD (1958 - 1961). On April 21, 1961, he succeeded Paul-Henri Spaak as NATO Secretary General. He resigned due to poor health on August 1, 1964.