List of ministers of education of the Netherlands

The minister of education, culture and science (Dutch: Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap) is the head of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The current minister of education, culture and science is Gouke Moes of Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB). The minister of education, culture and science is often assigned a state secretary who is tasked with specific portfolios, currently Koen Becking of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). In the past, there have been ministers without portfolio assigned to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.

Minister of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands
Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Flag of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Incumbent Gouke Moes since 5 September 2025
Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
Style	His/Her Excellency
Member of	Council of Ministers
Appointer	The monarch on advice of the prime minister
Formation	17 February 1798; 227 years ago (1798-02-17)
First holder	Theodorus van Kooten as Secretary of National Education
Deputy	Koen Becking as State Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education and Equal Opportunities
Salary	€205,991 (As of 2025^[update])

List of ministers of education

Education, arts and sciences (1918–1965)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Johannes Theodoor de Visser (1857–1932)	25 September 1918 – 4 August 1925		Christian Historical Union	Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I, II
	Victor Rutgers (1877–1945)	4 August 1925 – 8 March 1926		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Colijn I
	Marius Waszink (1881–1943)	8 March 1926 – 10 August 1929		Roman Catholic State Party	De Geer I
	Jan Terpstra (1888–1952)	10 August 1929 – 26 May 1933		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III
	Henri Marchant (1869–1956)	26 May 1933 – 18 May 1935 Resigned		Free-thinking Democratic League	Colijn II
	Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941)	18 May 1935 – 25 July 1939 ^[Minister]		Christian Historical Union
					Colijn III, IV
	Bep Schrieke (1890–1945)	25 July 1939 – 10 August 1939		Independent Liberal	Colijn V
	Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956)	10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945		Free-thinking Democratic League	De Geer II
					Gerbrandy I, II, III
	Gerard van der Leeuw (1898–1981)	25 June 1945 – 3 July 1946		Social Democratic Workers' Party	Schermerhorn–Drees
				Labour Party
	Jos Gielen (1898–1981)	3 July 1946 – 7 August 1948		Catholic People's Party	Beel I
	Theo Rutten (1899–1980)	7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952		Catholic People's Party	Drees–Van Schaik
					Drees I
	Jo Cals (1914–1971)	2 September 1952 – 24 July 1963 ^[Note]		Catholic People's Party	Drees II, III
					Beel II
					De Quay
	Theo Bot (1911–1984)	24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965		Catholic People's Party	Marijnen

^{Replaced by Marga Klompé during medical leaves of absence from 7 November 1961 until 4 February 1962, and from 23 April 1963 until 24 July 1963}

Education and sciences (1965–1994)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Dr. Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1916–2004)	14 April 1965 – 5 April 1967		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Cals
					Zijlstra
	Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999)	5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971		Catholic People's Party	De Jong
	Chris van Veen (1922–2009)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973		Christian Historical Union	Biesheuvel I, II
	Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977		Labour Party	Den Uyl
	Arie Pais (1930–2022)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Van Agt I
	Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 Resigned		Labour Party	Van Agt II
	Wim Deetman (born 1945)	29 May 1982 – 14 September 1989 ^[App]		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt III
					Lubbers I
					Lubbers II
	Gerrit Braks (1933–2017)	14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989 Ad interim ^[Minister]		Christian Democratic Appeal
	Jo Ritzen (born 1945)	7 November 1989 – 22 August 1994		Labour Party	Lubbers III

^{Appointed as Speaker of the House of Representatives}

^{Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries}

Education, culture and science (since 1994)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945)	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998		Labour Party	Kok I
	Loek Hermans (born 1951)	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Kok II
	Maria van der Hoeven (born 1949)	22 July 2002 – 22 February 2007		Christian Democratic Appeal	Balkenende I, II, III
	Dr. Ronald Plasterk (born 1957)	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 Resigned		Labour Party	Balkenende IV
	André Rouvoet (born 1962) ^[Deputy]	23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010 ^[Minister]		Christian Union
	Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012		Christian Democratic Appeal	Rutte I
	Dr. Jet Bussemaker (born 1961)	5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017		Labour Party	Rutte II
	Ingrid van Engelshoven (born 1966)	26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022		Democrats 66	Rutte III
	Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960)	10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024		Democrats 66	Rutte IV
	Eppo Bruins (born 1969)	2 July 2024 – 22 August 2025		New Social Contract	Schoof
	Sophie Hermans (born 1981)	22 August 2025 – 5 September 2025 ^[Acting]		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Gouke Moes (born 1991)	5 September 2025 – Incumbent		Farmer–Citizen Movement

^{Deputy Prime Minister}

^{Minister without Portfolio for Health, Welfare and Sport}

List of ministers without portfolio

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Jonkheer Mauk de Brauw (1925–1984)	• Higher Education • Science Policy	6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 Resigned		Democratic Socialists '70	Biesheuvel I
	Chris van Veen (1922–2009)		21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973 ^[Minister]		Christian Historical Union
						Biesheuvel II
	Boy Trip (1921–1990)	• Science Policy	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977		Political Party of Radicals	Den Uyl
	Rinus Peijnenburg (1928–1979)	• Science Policy	19 December 1977 – 1 April 1979 Died in office		Catholic People's Party	Van Agt I
	Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003)		1 April 1979 – 3 May 1979 Acting ^[Minister]		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Ton van Trier (1926–1983)		3 May 1979 – 11 September 1981		Independent Catholic
					Catholic People's Party
					Christian Democratic Appeal
Not in use (1981–2017)
	Arie Slob (born 1961)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Preschool • Media	26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022		Christian Union	Rutte III
	Dennis Wiersma (born 1986)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Preschool • Media	10 January 2022 – 22 June 2023		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte IV
	Mariëlle Paul (born 1966)		21 July 2023 – 2 July 2024		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Not in use (since 2024)

^{Minister of Education and Sciences}

^{Minister of Health and Environment}

List of state secretaries of education

Education, arts and sciences (1950–1965)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Jo Cals (1914–1971)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	15 March 1950 – 2 September 1952		Catholic People's Party	Drees–Van Schaik
						Drees I
	Dr. Anna de Waal (1906–1981)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Youth Care	2 February 1953 – 16 March 1957 Resigned		Catholic People's Party	Drees II
						Drees III
	René Höppener (1903–1983)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959		Catholic People's Party
						Beel II
	Gerard Stubenrouch (1918–1962)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education	16 June 1959 – 22 April 1962 Died in office		Catholic People's Party	De Quay
	Dr. Harry Janssen (1910–1982)		4 June 1962 – 24 July 1963		Catholic People's Party
	Ynso Scholten (1918–1984)	• Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	16 June 1959 – 24 July 1963		Christian Historical Union
	Hans Grosheide (1930–2022)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	3 September 1963 – 14 April 1965		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Marijnen
	Louis van de Laar (1921–2004)	• Social Services • Youth Care • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	24 October 1963 – 14 April 1965		Catholic People's Party

Education and sciences (1965–1994)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Hans Grosheide (1930–2022)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	14 April 1965 – 6 July 1971		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Cals
						Zijlstra
						De Jong
	Kees Schelfhout (1918–1983)	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	28 July 1971 – 11 May 1973		Catholic People's Party	Biesheuvel I, II
	Dr. Ger Klein (1925–1998)	• Higher education	11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977 Resigned		Labour Party	Den Uyl
	Dr. Antoon Veerman (1916–1993)	• Secondary Education • Special Education	11 May 1973 – 1 September 1975 Resigned		Anti-Revolutionary Party
	Klaas de Jong Ozn. (1926–2011)		1 September 1975 – 19 December 1977		Anti-Revolutionary Party
		• Secondary Education	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981			Van Agt I
	Ad Hermes (1929–2002)	• Primary Education	9 January 1978 – 29 May 1982		Catholic People's Party
					Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt II
		• Primary Education • Special Education	29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982			Van Agt III
	Wim Deetman (born 1945)	• Secondary Education • Adult Education	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt II
	Nell Ginjaar-Maas (1931–2012)	• Secondary Education • Adult Education	5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Lubbers I
		• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Adult Education	14 July 1986 – 7 November 1989			Lubbers II
	Gerard van Leijenhorst (1928–2001)	• Primary Education	8 November 1982 – 14 July 1986		Christian Democratic Appeal	Lubbers I
	Jacques Wallage (born 1946)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	7 November 1989 – 9 June 1993 ^[App]		Labour Party	Lubbers III
	Dr. Roel in 't Veld (born 1942)	• Secondary Education • Higher education • Science Policy	9 June 1993 – 19 June 1993 Resigned		Labour Party
	Dr. Job Cohen (born 1947)	• Higher education • Science Policy	2 July 1993 – 22 August 1994		Labour Party

^{Appointed as State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment}

Education, culture and science (since 1994)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Tineke Netelenbos (born 1944)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998		Labour Party	Kok I
	Aad Nuis (1933–2007)	• Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art	22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998		Democrats 66
	Karin Adelmund (1949–2005)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002		Labour Party	Kok II
	Dr. Rick van der Ploeg (born 1956)	• Media • Culture • Art	3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002		Labour Party
	Annette Nijs (born 1961)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy	22 July 2002 – 9 June 2004 Resigned		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Balkenende I
						Balkenende II
	Mark Rutte (born 1967)		17 June 2004 – 27 June 2006 Resigned		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Bruno Bruins (born 1963)		29 June 2006 – 3 July 2006		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
		• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy	3 July 2006 – 22 February 2007			Balkenende III
	Cees van Leeuwen (born 1951)	• Media • Culture • Art	22 July 2002 – 27 May 2003		Pim Fortuyn List	Balkenende I
	Medy van der Laan (born 1968)	• Media • Culture • Art	27 May 2003 – 3 July 2006 Resigned		Democrats 66	Balkenende II
	Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961)	• Secondary Education	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010		Christian Democratic Appeal	Balkenende IV
		• Higher Education • Secondary Education • Science • Media • Culture • Art • Emancipation	23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010
	Sharon Dijksma (born 1971)	• Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool	22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 Resigned		Labour Party
	Halbe Zijlstra (born 1969)	• Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy • Culture • Art	14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte I
	Sander Dekker (born 1975)	• Higher Education • Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art	5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Rutte II
Vacant
	Dr. Gunay Uslu (born 1972)	• Culture • Media • Art	10 January 2022 – 1 December 2023		Democrats 66	Rutte IV
	Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960)		1 December 2023 – 6 December 2023 Acting		Democrats 66
	Steven van Weyenberg (born 1973)		6 December 2023 – 12 January 2024		Democrats 66
	Fleur Gräper (born 1974)		12 January 2024 – 2 July 2024		Democrats 66
	Mariëlle Paul (born 1966)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Equal Opportunities	2 July 2024 – 5 September 2025		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Schoof
	Koen Becking (born 1969)	• Primary Education • Secondary Education • Equal Opportunities	5 September 2025 – Incumbent		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

List of ministers of social work

Social work (1952–1965)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) ^[Deputy]	2 September 1952 – 9 September 1952 Ad Interim ^[Minister]		Catholic People's Party	Drees II
	Frans-Jozef van Thiel (1906–1993)	9 September 1952 – 13 October 1956		Catholic People's Party
	Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	13 October 1956 – 24 July 1963		Catholic People's Party	Drees III
					Beel II
					De Quay
	Jo Schouwenaar- Franssen (1909–1995)	24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy	Marijnen

^{Deputy Prime Minister}

^{Minister of the Interior}

Culture, recreation and social work (1965–1982)

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Maarten Vrolijk (1919–1994)	14 April 1965 – 22 November 1966		Labour Party	Cals
	Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 November 1966 – 7 January 1971 ^[Note]		Catholic People's Party	Zijlstra
					De Jong
	Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999)	7 January 1971 – 22 February 1971 Acting ^[Minister]		Catholic People's Party
	Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986)	22 February 1971 – 6 July 1971		Catholic People's Party
	Piet Engels (1922–2009)	6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973		Catholic People's Party	Biesheuvel I, II
	Harry van Doorn (1915–1992)	11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977		Political Party of Radicals	Den Uyl
	Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981		Catholic People's Party	Van Agt I
				Christian Democratic Appeal
	André van der Louw (1933–2005)	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 Resigned		Labour Party	Van Agt II
	Hans de Boer (born 1937)	29 May 1982 – 11 October 1982 ^[Note]		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt III
	Til Gardeniers- Berendsen (1925–2019)	11 October 1982 – 4 November 1982 Ad Interim ^[Minister]		Christian Democratic Appeal

^{Medical leave of absence from 7 January 1971 until 22 February 1971}

^{Medical leave of absence from 11 October 1982}

^{Minister of Education and Sciences}

^{Minister of Health and Environment}

List of state secretaries of social work

Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Portfolio(s)	Term of office	Party		Cabinet
	Cees Egas (1913–2001)	• Social Services • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	10 May 1965 – 22 November 1966		Labour Party	Cals
Vacant
	Hein van de Poel (1915–1993)	• Unemployment • Social Services • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	29 May 1967 – 6 July 1971		Catholic People's Party	De Jong
	Fia van Veenendaal- van Meggelen (1918–2005)	• Social Services • Disability Policy	28 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 Resigned		Democratic Socialists '70	Biesheuvel I
	Henk Vonhoff (1931–2010)	• Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973 Resigned		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
		• Social Services • Disability Policy • Youth Care • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport				Biesheuvel II
	Wim Meijer (born 1939)	• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature • Recreation	11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977 Resigned		Labour Party	Den Uyl
	Jeltien Kraaijeveld-Wouters (1932–2025)	• Unemployment • Equality • Emancipation	28 December 1977 – 9 September 1981 Resigned		Anti-Revolutionary Party	Van Agt I
					Christian Democratic Appeal
	Gerard Wallis de Vries (1936–2018)	• Social Services • Environmental Policy • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport	4 January 1978 – 11 September 1981		People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
	Hans de Boer (born 1937)	• Social Services • Nature • Culture • Art • Recreation	11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982		Christian Democratic Appeal	Van Agt II

See also

• Ministry of Education, Culture and Science