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Dries van Agt | |
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![]() Van Agt in 1980 | |
Prime Minister of the Netherlands | |
In office 19 December 1977 – 4 November 1982 | |
Monarchs | Juliana Beatrix |
Deputy | See list
|
Preceded by | Joop den Uyl |
Succeeded by | Ruud Lubbers |
Ambassador of the European Union to the United States | |
In office 1 January 1990 – 1 April 1995 | |
Preceded by | Roy Denman |
Succeeded by | Hugo Paemen |
Ambassador of the European Union to Japan | |
In office 1 January 1987 – 1 January 1990 | |
Preceded by | Laurens Jan Brinkhorst |
Succeeded by | Jean-Pierre Leng |
Queen's Commissioner of North Brabant | |
In office 1 June 1983 – 22 April 1987 | |
Monarch | Beatrix |
Preceded by | Jan Dirk van der Harten |
Succeeded by | Frank Houben |
Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
In office 28 May 1982 – 4 November 1982 | |
Prime Minister | Himself |
Preceded by | Max van der Stoel |
Succeeded by | Hans van den Broek |
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives | |
In office 10 June 1981 – 24 August 1981 | |
Preceded by | Ruud Lubbers |
Succeeded by | Ruud Lubbers |
In office 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Willem Aantjes |
Parliamentary group | Christian Democratic Appeal |
Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal | |
In office 10 December 1976 – 25 October 1982 | |
Deputy | See list
|
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Ruud Lubbers |
Deputy Prime Minister | |
In office 11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977 | |
Prime Minister | Joop den Uyl |
Preceded by | Roelof Nelissen Molly Geertsema |
Succeeded by | Gaius de Gaay Fortman |
Member of the House of Representatives | |
In office 16 September 1982 – 16 June 1983 | |
In office 10 June 1981 – 9 September 1981 | |
In office 8 June 1977 – 19 December 1977 | |
In office 23 January 1973 – 22 April 1973 | |
Minister of Justice | |
In office 6 July 1971 – 8 September 1977 | |
Prime Minister | Barend Biesheuvel Joop den Uyl |
Preceded by | Carel Polak |
Succeeded by | Gaius de Gaay Fortman |
Personal details | |
Born | Andreas Antonius Maria van Agt 2 February 1931 Geldrop, Netherlands |
Died | 5 February 2024 Nijmegen, Netherlands | (aged 93)
Political party | Christian Democratic Appeal (1980–2021) |
Other political affiliations | Catholic People's Party (until 1980) |
Spouse | Eugenie Krekelberg |
Children | 3 |
Residence(s) | Nijmegen, Netherlands |
Alma mater | Radboud University Nijmegen (LL.B., LL.M.) |
Signature | ![]() |
Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt (Dutch: [ˈdris fɑn ˈɑxt] ;[1] 2 February 1931 – 5 February 2024) was a Dutch politician, jurist and diplomat who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 19 December 1977 until 4 November 1982. He was a prominent leader of the Catholic People's Party (KVP) and later its successor party, the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA).
Van Agt was known for his abilities as a skilful debater and negotiator. During his premiership, his cabinets were responsible for several major public sector and civil service reforms and further reducing the deficit following the recession in the 1980s. Van Agt continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until he suffered a major stroke in May 2019 which forced him to undergo rehabilitation. He held the distinction as the oldest living and earliest serving former prime minister following the death of Piet de Jong in July 2016, until his own death in February 2024.