Jan Peter Balkenende
| Jan Peter Balkenende | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 49th Prime Minister of the Netherlands | |
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In office 22 July 2002 – 14 October 2010 |
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| Monarch | Beatrix |
| Deputy | |
| Preceded by | Wim Kok |
| Succeeded by | Mark Rutte |
| Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal | |
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In office 1 October 2001 – 9 June 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Jaap de Hoop Scheffer |
| Succeeded by | Maxime Verhagen |
| Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal in the House of Representatives | |
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In office 30 November 2006 – 21 February 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Maxime Verhagen |
| Succeeded by | Pieter van Geel |
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In office 30 January 2003 – 21 May 2003 |
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| Preceded by | Maxime Verhagen |
| Succeeded by | Maxime Verhagen |
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In office 1 October 2001 – 11 July 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Jaap de Hoop Scheffer |
| Succeeded by | Maxime Verhagen |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
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In office 30 November 2006 – 22 February 2007 |
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In office 30 January 2003 – 27 May 2003 |
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In office 19 May 1998 – 22 July 2002 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Jan Pieter Balkenende, Jr. 7 May 1956 Biezelinge, Netherlands |
| Political party | Christian Democratic Appeal |
| Spouse(s) | Bianca Hoogendijk (1996–present) |
| Children | Amelie |
| Alma mater | VU University Amsterdam |
| Signature |  |
Jan Pieter "Jan Peter" Balkenende, Jr. (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjɑn ˈpeːtər ˈbɑlkənˌɛndə]; born 7 May 1956) is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 22 July 2002 until 14 October 2010.
Balkenende, a jurist by occupation, worked for the and the from 1982 until 1998. Balkenende became a professor of Christian theology at the VU University Amsterdam in 1993. He was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the Dutch general election of 1998, serving from 19 May 1998 until 22 July 2002. After the then Leader of the Christian Democratic Appeal and Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives Jaap de Hoop Scheffer stepped down after an internal power struggle between him and then Party chair Marnix van Rij, Balkenende was selected to succeed him in both positions, and became the Lijsttrekker (top candidate) for the Dutch general election of 2002. The Christian Democratic Appeal became the surprising winner of the election, gaining 14 seats becoming the largest party in the House of Representatives. This success was in part owed to Balkenende's neutral attitude in the debates with Pim Fortuyn, the eponymous leader of the Pim Fortuyn List party who was assassinated during the national election campaign on 6 May 2002.
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