Eddy van HijumMinister of Social Affairs and Employment, Deputy Prime Minister
Born on 17 April 1972 in Delft, married
Party: New Social Contract (NSC)
A steady income, knowing you can pay the rent and the grocery bill. Knowing that by working you can build a good future – for yourself and your family. That is the essence of socioeconomic security. A solid basis which everyone in the Netherlands is entitled to. I will put my heart and soul into achieving this.
General socioeconomic policy and budget policy
Income policy
Socioeconomic security, purchasing power
Employee insurance (and following up the recommendations of the independent commission on the future of the incapacity insurance system (OCTAS))
Labour market policy (including labour relations, termination of employment, labour migration and discrimination)
Pension system
International matters
Coordinating minister for the Working on Implementation (WAU) programme – Agenda for the simplification of income support
Netherlands Labour Authority, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), the Social Insurance Bank (SVB), the Benefits Intelligence Agency
Coordinating the follow-up to the parliamentary committee of inquiry into Fraud Policy and Public Services
Winding down coronavirus pandemic-related measures
2 July 2024
Appointed Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Schoof government
6 December 2023 – 2 July 2024
Member of the House of Representatives for NSC; party spokesperson on finance, central government expenditure, and financial matters in public administration
November 2014 – December 2023
Member of Overijssel provincial executive with responsibility for the regional economy, the labour market, finance and European affairs; first deputy King’s Commissioner; acting King’s Commissioner (October – December 2017); member of the governing board of the Association of Provincial Authorities (IPO)
September 2003 – November 2014
Member of the House of Representatives for the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA); party spokesperson on transport and water management, social affairs and employment, finance, central government expenditure, asylum and migration; member of the Presidium and Deputy President of the House of Representatives (2010-2012)
2001 – 2003
Consultant at PwC Consulting and KPMG, advising local government on governance structures, cooperation, organisational development and operational management
1997 – 2001
Research staff member, University of Twente: PhD research, teaching and supervising graduation projects
1995 – 1997
Water policy and management consultant, Infram BV
7 June 2001
PhD in administrative science, University of Twente. Dissertation subject: the organisation and funding of water management
1990 – 1995
Degree in public administration, University of Twente
July 2023 – November 2023
Member of the supervisory board, RENDO Groep, Meppel
January 2023 – October 2023
Chair of the Schiphol Civic Advisory Board, Hoofddorp
2007 – 2010
Member of the supervisory board, Zorgcombinatie Zwolle
2004 – 2009
Member of the governing board, Arcon (welfare organisation in Overijssel focusing on participation in society and societal development)
2001 – 2009
Member of the editorial team of the magazine Bestuursforum published by the CDA public administrators’ association
2001 – 2003
Member of the editorial team of the social science magazine Facta
1998 – 2003
Member of Zwolle municipal council for the CDA; party spokesperson on finance, public order/security, work and welfare; leader of the CDA group in the council (from 2002)
1990 – 1998
Various national, provincial and local positions in the CDJA, the youth wing of the CDA
