Frits Bolkestein, Date of Birth, Place of Birth

    

Frits Bolkestein

Dutch politician

Date of Birth: 04-Apr-1933

Place of Birth: Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands

Profession: writer, politician, economist, historian, playwright, university teacher, autobiographer

Nationality: Kingdom of the Netherlands

Zodiac Sign: Aries


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About Frits Bolkestein

  • Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (Dutch pronunciation: ['fre?d?r?k fr?dz 'b?lk?st?i?n] (listen); born 4 April 1933) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman. Bolkestein attended the Barlaeus Gymnasium in Amsterdam from June 1945 until June 1951.
  • He then studied at the Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon from June 1951, majoring in Mathematics and graduated with a Bachelor of Mathematics degree in June 1953 before transferring to the University of Amsterdam graduating with an Master of Mathematics degree in July 1955.
  • Bolkestein continued his postgraduate study at the University of Amsterdam in Philosophy and Greek literature graduating with both Master of Philosophy and Master of Arts in Philosophy degrees in April 1959.
  • Bolkestein applied to the London School of Economics of the University of London in May 1959 for further postgraduate education, in Economics graduating with a Master of Economics degree in June 1963.
  • Bolkestein subsequently applied at Leiden University in June 1963 for postgraduate education in Law graduating with an Master of Laws degree in July 1965.
  • Bolkestein worked as a corporate director for Royal Dutch Shell from May 1960 until September 1976 as a operations manager in Nairobi, Kenya from May 1960 until June 1964 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras from June 1964 until July 1965 in San Salvador, El Salvador from July 1965 until September 1968 in London, England from September 1968 until January 1970 in Jakarta, Indonesia from January 1970 until March 1972 and as Chief operating officer (COO) of Shell Chemicals in Asia, Oceania and the Middle East from March 1972 until April 1973 and as chief operating officer of Shell Chemicals in Europe from April 1973 until July 1976. Bolkestein became a Member of the House of Representatives after Henk Koning was appointed as State Secretary for the Interior in the Cabinet Van Agt–Wiegel after the election of 1977, taking office on 16 January 1978.
  • After the election of 1982 Bolkestein was appointed as State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Cabinets Lubbers I, taking office on 5 November 1982.
  • After the election of 1986 Bolkestein returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 3 June 1986.
  • Following the cabinet formation of 1986 Bolkestein was not giving a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the Cabinet Lubbers I was replaced by the Cabinet Lubbers II on 14 July 1986 and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a frontbencher.
  • Bolkestein was appointed as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Lubbers II following the resignation of Wim van Eekelen, taking office on 24 September 1988.
  • After the election of 1989 Bolkestein returned as a Member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 14 September 1989.
  • The Cabinet Lubbers II was replaced by the Cabinet Lubbers III following the cabinet formation of 1989 on 7 November 1989. After the Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the House of Representatives Joris Voorhoeve announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives following the defeat in the election, Bolkestein announced his candidacy to succeed Voorhoeve and was subsequently elected as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 April 1990.
  • For the election of 1994 Bolkestein served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate).
  • The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy made a large win, gaining 9 seats and now had 33 seats in the House of Representatives.
  • The following cabinet formation of 1994 resulted in a coalition agreement between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the Labour Party (PvdA) and the Democrats 66 (D66) which formed the Cabinet Kok I with Bolkestein opting to remain in the House of Representatives instead of accepting a cabinet post in the new cabinet and he continued to serve in the House of Representatives as Parliamentary leader.
  • Bolkestein also served as President of the Liberal International from 15 April 1996 until 18 April 2000.
  • For the election of 1998 Bolkestein again served as Lijsttrekker (top candidate).
  • The People's Party for Freedom and Democracy made another large win, gaining 7 seats and became the second largest party for the first time and now had 38 seats in the House of Representatives.
  • On 30 July 1998 shortly after the election Bolkestein announced he was stepping down as Leader and Parliamentary leader but continued to serve in the House of Representatives as a backbencher.
  • The following cabinet formation of 1998 resulted in a continuation of the coalition agreement between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the Labour Party and the Democrats 66 which formed the Cabinet Kok II with Bolkestein again opting to remain in the House of Representatives instead of accepting a cabinet post in the new cabinet.
  • In August 1999 Bolkestein was nominated as the next European Commissioner from the Netherlands.
  • Bolkestein was giving the heavy portfolios of Internal Market and Services and Taxation and Customs in the Prodi Commission, he was installed as European Commissioner, serving from 16 September 1999 until 22 November 2004 and resigned as a Member of the House of Representatives on 21 September 1999.

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