Editing Barend Biesheuvel

{{Short description|Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1971 to 1973}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [[His Excellency]]
| name                = Barend Biesheuvel
| image               = Barend Biesheuvel 1971.jpg
| caption             = Biesheuvel in 1971
| office              = [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]]
| term_start          = 6 July 1971
| term_end            = 11 May 1973
| monarch             = [[Juliana of the Netherlands|Juliana]]
| deputy              = [[Roelof Nelissen]] <br /> [[Molly Geertsema]]
| predecessor         = [[Piet de Jong]]
| successor           = [[Joop den Uyl]]
| office1             = [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]]
| term_start1         = 24 July 1963
| term_end1           = 5 April 1967
| primeminister1      = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=[[Victor Marijnen]] (1963–1965) <br /> [[Jo Cals]] (1965–1966) <br /> [[Jelle Zijlstra]] (1966–1967)}}
| alongside1          = [[Anne Vondeling]] (1965–1966) <br /> [[Jan de Quay]] (1966–1967)
| predecessor1        = [[Henk Korthals]]
| successor1          = [[Johan Witteveen]] <br /> [[Joop Bakker]]
| office2             = [[List of Ministers of Agriculture of the Netherlands|Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries]]
| term_start2         = 24 July 1963
| term_end2           = 5 April 1967
| primeminister2      = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=[[Victor Marijnen]] (1963–1965) <br /> [[Jo Cals]] (1965–1966) <br /> [[Jelle Zijlstra]] (1966–1967)}}
| predecessor2        = [[Victor Marijnen]]
| successor2          = [[Pierre Lardinois]]
| office3             = [[List of Ministers of Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands|Minister for Suriname and <br /> Netherlands Antilles Affairs]]
| term_start3         = 24 July 1963
| term_end3           = 5 April 1967
| primeminister3      = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|1=[[Victor Marijnen]] (1963–1965) <br /> [[Jo Cals]] (1965–1966) <br /> [[Jelle Zijlstra]] (1966–1967)}}
| predecessor3        = [[Henk Korthals]]
| successor3          = [[Joop Bakker]]
| office4             = [[Parliamentary leader]] in the <br /> [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]
| term_start4         = 7 December 1972
| term_end4           = 7 March 1973
| predecessor4        = [[Willem Aantjes]]
| successor4          = [[Willem Aantjes]]
| term_start5         = 23 February 1967
| term_end5           = 6 July 1971
| predecessor5        = [[Bauke Roolvink]]
| successor5          = [[Willem Aantjes]]
| term_start6         = 5 June 1963
| term_end6           = 24 July 1963
| predecessor6        = [[Henk van Eijsden]]
| successor6          = [[Jan Smallenbroek]]
| parliamentarygroup6 = [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]]
| office7             = [[Anti-Revolutionary Party#Leadership|Leader of the Anti-Revolutionary Party]]
| term_start7         = 5 June 1963
| term_end7           = 15 May 1973
| predecessor7        = [[Sieuwert Bruins Slot]]
| successor7          = [[Willem Aantjes]]
| office8             = [[Member of the European Parliament|Member of the European Parliament]]
| term_start8         = 7 March 1961
| term_end8           = 24 July 1963
| parliamentarygroup8 = [[European People's Party group|Christian Democratic Group]]
| office9             = [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|Member of the House of Representatives]]
| term_start9         = 7 December 1972
| term_end9           = 7 March 1973
| term_start11        = 23 February 1967
| term_end11          = 6 July 1971
| term_start12        = 6 November 1956
| term_end12          = 24 July 1963
| office13            = [[Social and Economic Council|Member of the Social <br /> and Economic Council]]
| term_start13        = 20 March 1956
| term_end13          = 1 July 1959
| 1blankname13        = {{nowrap|Chairman}}
| 1namedata13         = [[Frans de Vries]] <br /> (1956–1958) <br /> [[Gerard Verrijn Stuart]] <br /> (1958–1959)
| birthname           = Barend Willem Biesheuvel
| birth_date          = {{Birth date|df=y|1920|04|05}}
| birth_place         = [[Haarlemmerliede]], Netherlands
| death_date          = {{Death date and age|df=y|2001|04|29|1920|04|05}}
| death_place         = [[Haarlem]], Netherlands
| party               = [[Christian Democratic Appeal]] <br /> (from 1980)
| otherparty          = [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] <br /> (until 1980)
| residence           = 
| alma_mater          = [[Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]] <br /> ([[Bachelor of Laws|LL.B.]], [[Master of Laws|LL.M.]])
| occupation          = Politician · civil servant · [[Jurist]] · Businessperson · Banker · [[Board of directors|Corporate director]] · [[Nonprofit organization|Nonprofit director]] · [[Trade association]] executive · [[Lobbyist]]
| signature           = 
}}

'''Barend Willem Biesheuvel''' ({{pronunciation|NL-nl Barend Biesheuvel.ogg}}; 5 April 1920 – 29 April 2001) was a [[politics of the Netherlands|Dutch politician]] of the [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] (ARP) and jurist who served as [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] from 6 July 1971 until 11 May 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/bwn1880-2000/lemmata/bwn6/biesheuvel|title=Biesheuvel, Barend Willem (1920–2001)|publisher=Huygens ING|date=12 November 2013|access-date=20 May 2019|language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/nieuws/2005/december/Mr-B-W-Barend-Biesheuvel.html Mr. B. W. (Barend) Biesheuvel 6 juli 1971 – 11 mei 1973], Geschiedenis24.nl, 9 December 2005</ref>

Biesheuvel studied law at the [[Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam]] obtaining a [[Master of Laws]] degree and worked as a civil servant for the [[provincial executive]] of [[North Holland]] from September 1945 until January 1952 and as trade association executive for the [[Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association]] (CBTB) from January 1952 until July 1959 and as chairman from August 1956. Biesheuvel became a member of the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] shortly after the number of seats was raised from 100 to 150 seats following the [[1956 Dutch general election|1956 general election]], taking office on 6 November 1956. He served as a [[frontbencher]] and spokesperson for agriculture, local government affairs and Kingdom relations. Biesheuvel was also selected as a [[Member of the European Parliament]], taking office on 7 March 1961. After party leader [[Sieuwert Bruins Slot]] announced his retirement Biesheuvel served as one of the [[lead candidate]]s for the [[1963 Dutch general election|1963 general election]], and following the election, he was selected as party leader and [[parliamentary leader]] on 5 June 1963. Following a [[1963 Dutch cabinet formation|cabinet formation]], Biesheuvel was appointed as [[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[List of Ministers of Agriculture of the Netherlands|Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries]] with the responsibility for [[List of Ministers of Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands|Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs]] in the [[Marijnen cabinet]] taking office on 24 July 1963. The cabinet fell on 27 February 1965 and was replaced by the [[Cals cabinet]], with Biesheuvel continuing his offices. This cabinet in turn fell on 14 October 1966 and was replaced by the [[caretaker government|caretaker]] [[Zijlstra cabinet]], with Biesheuvel again retaining his functions. For the [[1967 Dutch general election|1967 general election]] Biesheuvel served as lead candidate, but following a difficult [[1967 Dutch cabinet formation|cabinet formation]] failed to achieve a coalition and returned to the House of Representatives as parliamentary leader taking office on 23 February 1967. For the [[1971 Dutch general election|1971 general election]], Biesheuvel again served as lead candidate, and after a successful [[1971 Dutch cabinet formation|cabinet formation]] formed the [[First Biesheuvel cabinet|Biesheuvel I cabinet]], becoming [[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] on 6 July 1971.

The first Biesheuvel cabinet fell on 19 July 1972 just a year into its term and was replaced by the caretaker [[Second Biesheuvel cabinet|Biesheuvel II cabinet]], with Biesheuvel continuing as Prime Minister. For the [[1972 Dutch general election|1972 general election]], Biesheuvel served once again as lead candidate, but the following [[1972-1973 Dutch cabinet formation|cabinet formation]] resulted in a coalition led by [[Joop den Uyl]], [[Leader of the Labour Party (Netherlands)|Leader of the Labour Party]]. Biesheuvel left office upon the installation of the [[Den Uyl cabinet]] on 11 May 1973 and announced his retirement, stepping down as party leader on 15 May 1973.

Biesheuvel retired from active politics at just 53 and became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and continued to be active as a lobbyist for the [[European Union]] advocating for more [[European integration]]. Biesheuvel was known for his abilities as skilful manager and effective [[Debate]]r. During his premiership, his cabinets were responsible for several major public sector reforms by stimulating further deregulation and endorsing more privatization. Biesheuvel continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death at the age of 81 from [[cardiovascular disease]]. He holds the distinction as leading the last cabinet in which the prime minister was not from the largest party in the coalition, and his premiership is consistently [[historical rankings of prime ministers of the Netherlands|considered]] both by scholars and the public to have been below average.<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.volkskrant.nl/wca_item/boeken_detail/453/171723/Mooie-Barend-De-vergeten-premier.html Mooie Barend. De vergeten premier], Volkskrant, 9 June 2012</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.historischnieuwsblad.nl/nl/artikel/5703/de-driftbuien-van-mooie-barend.html De driftbuien van Mooie Barend], Historischnieuwsblad.nl, 6 May 2001</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.geschiedenis24.nl/nieuws/2006/januari/Willem-Drees-gekozen-tot-D-premier-na-WO-II.html Willem Drees gekozen tot ‘Dé premier na WO II’], Geschiedenis24.nl, 15 January 2006</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2013/09/28/nrc-enquete-drees-en-lubbers-beste-premiers-sinds-1900/ NRC-enquête: Drees en Lubbers beste premiers sinds 1900], NRC Handelsblad, 28 September 2013</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [https://www.ioresearch.nl/actueel/mark-rutte-gezien-als-beste-premier-sinds-woii/ I&O Research], I&O Research, 13 March 2020</ref>

==Early life==
[[File:Premier Biesheuvel ontvangt premier Trygve Bratteli van Noorwegen in Catshuis De, Bestanddeelnr 925-2933.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Prime Minister of Norway]] [[Trygve Bratteli]] and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the [[Catshuis]] on 8 January 1972.]]
[[File:Andrei Gromyko and Barend Biesheuvel 1972.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Soviet Union)|Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union]] [[Andrei Gromyko]] and Prime Minister Barend Biesheuvel at the [[Catshuis]] op 5 July 1972.]]

Barend Willem Biesheuvel was born on 5 April 1920 in [[Haarlemmerliede]] in the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]] of [[North Holland]] in a [[Reformed Churches in the Netherlands|Reformed]] family, the son of Arie Biesheuvel (born 21 January 1883 in Haarlemmerliede – died 21 May 1952 in Haarlemmerliede)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-hans-meijer/I15270.php|title=Arie Biesheuvel (1883-1952) » Stamboom Hans Meijer » Genealogie Online}}</ref> and Johanna Margaretha "Antje" Troost (born 22 February 1881 in [[Sloten, Amsterdam|Sloten]] – died 12 December 1955 in Fijnaart).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.genealogieonline.nl/stamboom-hans-meijer/I15271.php|title=Johanna Margaretha Troost (1881-1955) » Stamboom Hans Meijer » Genealogie Online}}</ref> Biesheuvel had three brothers and two sisters. After completing his secondary education at local schools, he graduated in law at the Free University of Amsterdam in September 1945. For the next two years Biesheuvel worked in [[Alkmaar]] as secretary to the Food Commissioner for the Province of [[North Holland]]. In 1947 he became secretary to the Foreign Division of the Agricultural Society (now the Agricultural Board). In 1952 Biesheuvel became general secretary of the Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association of the Netherlands (CBTB) and in 1959 chairman of that organisation. From the same year he was also a member of the Agricultural Board, the Labour Foundation and the boards of the Centrale Raifeissen Bank and Heidemij.

==Politics==
Between 1956 and 1963 he represented the [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] in the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] (the [[lower house]] of parliament). From 1957 to 1961 he held a seat on the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe and from 1961 to 1963 in the European Parliament.

In the successive administrations headed by Marijnen, Cals and Zijlstra between 24 July 1963 and 5 April 1967 he was Deputy Prime Minister with additional responsibility for matters concerning Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles, and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.

In 1967 he returned to the [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]] and became leader of the parliamentary [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]]. During the same period he also chaired the Shipbuilding Board and the Committee on Government Information Reform.

From 1971 to 1973 Biesheuvel was prime minister of the Netherlands.

==After politics==
Following his political career, Biesheuvel went on to occupy many other positions in the public and private sectors. Among other things, he was chairman of the supervisory board of the National Investment Bank, a member of the supervisory boards of OGEM and KLM, and chaired the working party on the [[Netherlands Antilles]], the national advisory committee on the relationship between the electorate and policy-making, the Provisional Council for Transport, Public Works and Water Management and the Interministerial Coordinating Committee on North Sea Affairs (ICONA).

==Personal life==
On 22 November 1945, Biesheuvel married his longtime partner, Wilhelmina Jacoba "Mies" Meuring (born 7 August 1919). They had two daughters and one son. Mies Meuring died on 17 January 1989 at the age of 69. Barend Biesheuvel died in a hospital in [[Haarlem]] from [[cardiovascular disease]] on 29 April 2001 at the age of 81. Biesheuvel and his wife were buried at the main cemetery in [[Bloemendaal]].<ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.trouw.nl/tr/nl/5009/Archief/archief/article/detail/2772195/2001/05/01/Barend-Biesheuvel-overleden.dhtml Barend Biesheuvel overleden], Trouw, 1 May 2001</ref><ref>{{in lang|nl}} [http://www.volkskrant.nl/archief_gratis/article886867.ece/Barend_Biesheuvel_81_overleden Barend Biesheuvel (81) overleden], Volkskrant, 1 May 2001</ref>

==Decorations==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:60%;"
|+ Honours
! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Honour !! Country !! Date !! Comment
|-
| [[File:NLD Order of the Dutch Lion - Commander BAR.png|80px]]
| [[Order (distinction)|Commander]] of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
| Netherlands
| 8 June 1973
| 
|-
| [[File:Order of Orange-Nassau ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg|80px]]
| [[Grand Cross|Knight Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]
| Netherlands
| 21 March 1991
| <small>Elevated from Grand Officer (27 April 1967)</small>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

* [http://www.parlement.com/id/vg09lky45kyg/b_w_barend_biesheuvel Mr. B.W. (Barend) Biesheuvel] Parlement & Politiek {{in lang|nl}}
* [https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/regering/over-de-regering/kabinetten-sinds-1945/kabinet-biesheuvel Kabinet-Biesheuvel] Rijksoverheid {{in lang|nl}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Jelle Zijlstra]] <br /> 1959}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lead candidate]] of the <br /> [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]]|years=1963, 1967, 1971, 1972|with=[[Jan Smallenbroek]] <small>(1963)</small> <br /> [[Bauke Roolvink]] <small>(1963)</small>}}
{{s-non|reason=Party merged into <br/> [[Christian Democratic Appeal]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Sieuwert Bruins Slot]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Anti-Revolutionary Party#Leaders|Leader of the Anti-Revolutionary Party]]|years=1963–1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Willem Aantjes]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Henk van Eijsden]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Parliamentary leader]] of the <br /> [[Anti-Revolutionary Party]] in the <br /> [[House of Representatives (Netherlands)|House of Representatives]]|years=1963 <br /> 1967–1971 <br /> 1972–1973|rows=3}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Jan Smallenbroek]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Bauke Roolvink]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Willem Aantjes]]|rows=2}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Willem Aantjes]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Henk Korthals]]|rows=3}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands|Deputy Prime Minister]]|years=1963–1967|with=[[Anne Vondeling]] <small>(1965–1966)</small> <br /> [[Jan de Quay]] <small>(1966–1967)</small>|rows=2}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Johan Witteveen]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joop Bakker]]|rows=2}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ministers of Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands|Minister for Suriname and <br /> Netherlands Antilles Affairs]]|years=1963–1967}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Victor Marijnen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Ministers of Agriculture of the Netherlands|Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries]]|years=1963–1967}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Pierre Lardinois]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Piet de Jong]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Prime Minister of the Netherlands]] <br/> [[Ministry of General Affairs|Minister of General Affairs]]|years=1971–1973}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joop den Uyl]]}}
{{s-end}}

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{{Prime Ministers of the Netherlands}}
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{{Second Biesheuvel cabinet}}
{{First Biesheuvel cabinet}}
{{Zijlstra cabinet}}
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}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Biesheuvel, Barend}}
[[Category:1920 births]]
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