Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands or Minister President is in the Politics_of_the_Netherlands the head of government and active executive authority of the Dutch Government. Although formally no special powers are assigned, the Prime Minister functions as the "face" of the cabinet of the Netherlands. Usually, the prime minister is also minister of General Affairs (Minister van Algemene Zaken). Until 1945, the position of head of the council of ministers officially switched between the ministers, although practices differed throughout history. In 1945, the position was formally instituted. The Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or coalition in the lower house of parliament (Tweede Kamer), and is a member of the Council of Ministers.
Dutch Prime Ministers since World War II
| Prime Minister | From | Until | Party |
| Willem Schermerhorn | June 24, 1945 | July 3, 1946 | PvdA |
| Louis Beel | July 3, 1946 | August 7, 1948 | KVP |
| Willem Drees | August 7, 1948 | December 22, 1958 | PvdA |
| Louis Beel | December 22, 1958 | May 19, 1959 | KVP |
| Jan de Quay | May 19, 1959 | July 24, 1963 | KVP |
| Victor Marijnen | July 24, 1963 | April 14, 1965 | KVP |
| Jo Cals | April 14, 1965 | November 22, 1966 | KVP |
| Jelle Zijlstra | November 22, 1966 | April 5, 1967 | ARP |
| Piet de Jong | April 5, 1967 | July 6, 1971 | KVP |
| Barend Biesheuvel | July 6, 1971 | May 11, 1973 | ARP |
| Joop den Uyl | May 11, 1973 | December 19, 1977 | PvdA |
| Dries van Agt | December 19, 1977 | November 4, 1982 | CDA |
| Ruud Lubbers | November 4, 1982 | August 22, 1994 | CDA |
| Wim Kok | August 22, 1994 | July 22, 2002 | PvdA |
| Jan Peter Balkenende | July 22, 2002 | CDA |
For earlier ones, see List of Prime Ministers of the Netherlands
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