List of ministers of foreign affairs of the Netherlands

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
Minister van Buitenlandse Zaken
Incumbent
Tom Berendsen
since 23 February 2026
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
StyleHis/Her Excellency
Member ofCouncil of Ministers
AppointerThe monarch
on advice of the prime minister
Formation9 March 1798 (1798-03-09)
First holderWillem Berend Buys
as Secretary for Foreign Affairs
Salary€205,991 (As of 2025)[1]

The minister of foreign affairs (Dutch: minister van Buitenlandse Zaken) is a member of the cabinet of the Netherlands and the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The officeholder is in charge of the Kingdom's foreign policy and international relations. The current minister, Tom Berendsen, has served since 23 February 2026.

Alongside the minister, a minister without portfolio is usually attached to the ministry to oversee development cooperation and trade promotion. Multiple cabinets have also included a state secretary responisble for specific sub-portfolios, such as European affairs.

List of ministers of foreign affairs

Cabinet Minister Term of office
Image Name Party Start End
Schimmelpenninck Gerrit Schimmelpenninck Independent 25 March 1848 17 May 1848
Arnold Adolf Bentinck van Nijenhuis Independent 17 May 1848 21 November 1848
De Kempenaer–Donker Curtius Leonardus Antonius Lightenvelt Independent 21 November 1848 1 November 1849
Thorbecke I Herman van Sonsbeeck Independent 1 November 1849 16 October 1852
Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt Independent 16 October 1852 19 April 1853
Van Hall–Donker Curtius Floris Adriaan van Hall Independent 19 April 1853 1 July 1856
Van der Brugghen Daniël Théodore Gevers van Endegeest Independent 1 July 1856 18 March 1858
Rochussen Jan Karel van Goltstein Independent 18 March 1858 23 February 1860
Van Hall–Van Heemstra Floris Adriaan van Hall
(ad interim) 		Independent 23 February 1860 4 April 1860
Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt Independent 4 April 1860 14 January 1861
Louis Napoleon van der Goes van Dirxland Independent 14 January 1861 14 March 1861
Van Zuylen van Nijevelt–Van Heemstra Jacob van Zuylen van Nijevelt Independent 14 March 1861 10 November 1861
Martin Pascal Hubert Strens 

(ad interim)

Independent 10 November 1861 1 February 1862
Thorbecke II Anthony Jan Lucas Stratenus
(ad interim) 		Independent 1 February 1862 12 March 1862
Paul Therèse van der Maesen de Sombreff Independent 12 March 1862 2 January 1864
Willem Huyssen van Kattendijke
(ad interim) 		Independent 2 January 1864 15 March 1864
Eppo Cremers Independent 15 March 1864 1 June 1866
Fransen van de Putte
Van Zuylen van Nijevelt Julius van Zuylen van Nijevelt Independent 1 June 1866 4 June 1868
Van Bosse–Fock Joannes Josephus van Mulken
(ad interim) 		Independent 4 June 1868 8 June 1868
Theodorus Marinus Roest van Limburg Independent 8 June 1868 12 December 1870
Thorbecke III Joannes Josephus van Mulken
(ad interim) 		Independent 12 December 1870 18 January 1871
De Vries–Fransen van de Putte Louis Gericke van Herwijnen Independent 18 January 1871 27 August 1874
Heemskerk–Van Lynden van Sandenburg Joseph van der Does de Willebois Independent 27 August 1874 3 November 1877
Kappeyne van de Coppello Willem van Heeckeren van Kell Independent 3 November 1877 20 August 1879
Van Lynden van Sandenburg Theo van Lynden van Sandenburg Independent 20 August 1879 15 September 1881
Willem Frederik Rochussen Independent 15 September 1881 23 April 1883
Jan Heemskerk Joseph van der Does de Willebois Independent 23 April 1883 10 August 1885
Marc Willem du Tour van Bellinchave
(ad interim) 		Independent 10 August 1885 14 September 1885
Joseph van der Does de Willebois Independent 14 September 1885 1 November 1885
Abraham van Karnebeek Independent 1 November 1885 21 April 1888
Mackay Cornelis Hartsen Independent 21 April 1888 21 August 1891
Van Tienhoven Gijsbert van Tienhoven Independent 21 August 1891 21 March 1894
Joannes Coenraad Jansen
(ad interim) 		LU 21 March 1894 9 May 1894
Röell Joan Röell Independent 9 May 1894 27 July 1897
Pierson Willem de Beaufort Independent 27 July 1897 1 August 1901
Kuyper Robert Melvil van Lynden ARP 1 August 1901 9 March 1905
Abraham George Ellis
(ad interim) 		Independent 9 March 1905 22 April 1905
Willem van Weede van Berencamp Independent 22 April 1905 7 August 1905
Abraham George Ellis
(ad interim) 		Independent 7 August 1905 17 August 1905
De Meester Dirk van Tets van Goudriaan Independent 17 August 1905 12 February 1908
Theo Heemskerk René de Marees van Swinderen Independent 12 February 1908 29 August 1913
Cort van der Linden Pieter Cort van der Linden
(ad interim) 		Independent 29 August 1913 27 September 1913
John Loudon Independent 27 September 1913 9 September 1918
Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I Herman van Karnebeek Independent 9 September 1918 1 April 1927
Ruijs de Beerenbrouck II
Colijn I
De Geer I Frans Beelaerts van Blokland CHU 1 April 1927 20 April 1933
Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III
Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck
(ad interim) 		RKSP 20 April 1933 26 May 1933
Colijn II Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff Independent 26 May 1933 24 June 1937
Colijn III
Colijn IV Hendrikus Colijn
(ad interim) 		ARP 24 June 1937 1 October 1937
Jacob Adriaan Patijn Independent 1 October 1937 10 August 1939
Colijn V
De Geer II Eelco van Kleffens Independent 10 August 1939 1 March 1946
Gerbrandy I
Gerbrandy II
Gerbrandy III
Schermerhorn–Drees Herman van Roijen Independent 1 March 1946 3 July 1946
Beel I Pim van Boetzelaer van Oosterhout Independent 3 July 1946 7 August 1948
Drees–Van Schaik Dirk Stikker VVD 7 August 1948 2 September 1952
Drees I
Drees II Johan Beyen Independent 2 September 1952 13 October 1956
Drees III Joseph Luns KVP 13 October 1956 6 July 1971
Beel II
De Quay
Marijnen
Cals
Zijlstra
De Jong
Biesheuvel I Norbert Schmelzer KVP 6 July 1971 11 May 1973
Biesheuvel II
Den Uyl Max van der Stoel PvdA 11 May 1973 19 December 1977
Van Agt I Chris van der Klaauw VVD 19 December 1977 11 September 1981
Van Agt II Max van der Stoel PvdA 11 September 1981 29 May 1982
Van Agt III Dries van Agt CDA 29 May 1982 4 November 1982
Lubbers I Hans van den Broek CDA 4 November 1982 3 January 1993
Lubbers II
Lubbers III
Pieter Kooijmans CDA 3 January 1993 22 August 1994
Kok I Hans van Mierlo D66 22 August 1994 3 August 1998
Kok II Jozias van Aartsen VVD 3 August 1998 22 July 2002
Balkenende I Jaap de Hoop Scheffer CDA 22 July 2002 3 December 2003
Balkenende II
Ben Bot CDA 3 December 2003 22 February 2007
Balkenende III
Balkenende IV Maxime Verhagen CDA 22 February 2007 14 October 2010
Rutte I Uri Rosenthal VVD 14 October 2010 5 November 2012
Rutte II Frans Timmermans PvdA 5 November 2012 17 October 2014
Bert Koenders PvdA 17 October 2014 26 October 2017
Rutte III Halbe Zijlstra VVD 26 October 2017 13 February 2018
Sigrid Kaag
(ad interim) 		D66 13 February 2018 7 March 2018
Stef Blok VVD 7 March 2018 25 May 2021
Sigrid Kaag D66 25 May 2021 17 September 2021
Tom de Bruijn
(ad interim) 		D66 17 September 2021 24 September 2021
Ben Knapen CDA 24 September 2021 10 January 2022
Rutte IV Wopke Hoekstra CDA 10 January 2022 1 September 2023
Liesje Schreinemacher
(ad interim) 		VVD 1 September 2023 5 September 2023
Hanke Bruins Slot CDA 5 September 2023 2 July 2024
Schoof Caspar Veldkamp NSC 2 July 2024 22 August 2025
Ruben Brekelmans
(ad interim) 		VVD 22 August 2025 5 September 2025
David van Weel VVD 5 September 2025 23 February 2026
Jetten Tom Berendsen CDA 23 February 2026 Incumbent

List of ministers without portfolio

Cabinet Minister Term of office Title or role
Image Name Party Start End
Gerbrandy II Edgar Michiels van Verduynen Independent 1 January 1942 25 June 1945 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Gerbrandy III
Schermerhorn–Drees Herman van Roijen Independent 25 June 1945 1 March 1946
Beel I Eelco van Kleffens Independent 1 March 1946 1 July 1947 Permanent Representative to the United Nations Security Council[2]
Drees II Joseph Luns KVP 2 September 1952 13 October 1956 Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Cals Theo Bot KVP 14 April 1965 5 April 1967 Minister for Aid to Developing Countries
Zijlstra
De Jong Bé Udink CHU 5 April 1967 6 July 1971
Biesheuvel I Kees Boertien ARP 6 July 1971 11 May 1973 Minister for Development Cooperation
Biesheuvel II
Den Uyl Jan Pronk PvdA 11 May 1973 19 December 1977
Van Agt I Jan de Koning ARP 19 December 1977 11 September 1981
Van Agt II Kees van Dijk CDA 11 September 1981 4 November 1982
Van Agt III
Lubbers I Eegje Schoo VVD 4 November 1982 14 July 1986
Lubbers II Piet Bukman CDA 14 July 1986 7 November 1989
Lubbers III Jan Pronk PvdA 7 November 1989 3 August 1998
Kok I
Kok II Eveline Herfkens PvdA 3 August 1998 22 July 2002
Balkenende II Agnes van Ardenne CDA 27 May 2003 22 February 2007
Balkenende III
Balkenende IV Bert Koenders PvdA 22 February 2007 23 February 2010
Maxime Verhagen CDA 23 February 2010 14 October 2010
Rutte II Lilianne Ploumen PvdA 5 November 2012 26 October 2017 Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation
Rutte III Sigrid Kaag D66 26 October 2017 10 August 2021
Tom de Bruijn D66 10 August 2021 10 January 2022
Rutte IV Liesje Schreinemacher VVD 10 January 2022 4 December 2023
Geoffrey van Leeuwen
(acting) 		VVD 4 December 2023 15 April 2024
Liesje Schreinemacher VVD 15 April 2024 2 July 2024
Schoof Reinette Klever PVV 2 July 2024 3 June 2025 Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Aid
Caspar Veldkamp
(ad interim) 		NSC 3 June 2025 19 June 2025
Jetten Sjoerd Sjoerdsma D66 23 February 2026 Incumbent Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation

List of state secretaries for foreign affairs

Cabinet State secretary Term of office Portfolio
Image Name Party Start End
Drees–Van Schaik Nico Blom Independent 16 February 1950 2 September 1952 Indonesian Affairs[3]
Drees I
Drees III Ernst van der Beugel PvdA 8 January 1957 22 December 1958 European Affairs
De Quay Hans van Houten VVD 24 August 1959 24 July 1963
Marijnen Leo de Block KVP 3 September 1963 14 April 1965
Isaäc Nicolaas Diepenhorst CHU 28 September 1963 14 April 1965 United Nations Affairs and Aid to Developing Countries
Cals Leo de Block KVP 14 April 1965 22 November 1966 European Affairs
Max van der Stoel PvdA 22 July 1965 22 November 1966 United Nations Affairs
Zijlstra Leo de Block KVP 22 November 1966 5 April 1967 European and United Nations Affairs
De Jong Hans de Koster VVD 12 June 1967 6 July 1971 European Affairs
Biesheuvel I Tjerk Westerterp KVP 17 August 1971 7 March 1973
Biesheuvel II
Den Uyl Laurens Jan Brinkhorst D66 11 May 1973 8 September 1977
Pieter Kooijmans ARP 11 May 1973 19 December 1977 United Nations Affairs
Van Agt I Durk van der Mei CHU 28 December 1977 11 September 1981 European Affairs
Van Agt II Hans van den Broek CDA 11 September 1981 4 November 1982
Van Agt III
Lubbers I Wim van Eekelen VVD 5 November 1982 14 July 1986
Lubbers II René van der Linden CDA 14 July 1986 9 September 1988
Berend-Jan van Voorst tot Voorst CDA 27 September 1988 7 November 1989
Lubbers III Piet Dankert PvdA 7 November 1989 16 July 1994
Kok I Michiel Patijn VVD 22 August 1994 3 August 1998
Kok II Dick Benschop PvdA 3 August 1998 22 July 2002
Balkenende I Agnes van Ardenne CDA 22 July 2002 27 May 2003 Development Cooperation
Atzo Nicolaï VVD 22 July 2002 7 July 2006 European Affairs
Balkenende II
Balkenende IV Frans Timmermans PvdA 22 February 2007 23 February 2010
Rutte I Ben Knapen CDA 14 October 2010 5 November 2012 European Affairs and Development Cooperation
Schoof Hanneke Boerma NSC 19 June 2025 22 August 2025 Foreign Trade
Aukje de Vries VVD 5 September 2025 23 February 2026

References

  1. ^ "Salaris minister, staatssecretaris en bestuurders provincies en gemeenten". Rijksoverheid.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 3 June 2025.
  2. ^ "Mr. van Kleffens gaat naar New-York". De Graafschapbode (in Dutch). 1 March 1946. p. 1. Retrieved 2 March 2026 – via Delpher.
  3. ^ "Kort nieuws". Twentsch dagblad Tubantia (in Dutch). 17 February 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 2 March 2026 – via Delpher.
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