Gerardus Philippus Helders
Encyclopedia
Gerardus Philippus Helders (born March 9, 1905) is a retired Dutch
politician of the defunct Christian Historical Union
(CHU) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA). He served as Minister of Colonial Affairs from February 16, 1957 until May 19, 1959 in the cabinets Drees IV and Beel II
. As of he is currently the oldest living former Dutch
politician at the age of .
. His father worked as a winetrader. From 1925 to 1929 he studied civil law at Leiden University
. He married in 1930 and is the father of one son and four daughters.
in the Dutch colony of the Dutch East Indies
where he worked as a member of the city council in the cities Bandung
and Batavia (nowadays Jakarta
). From 1942 until 1945, during which Indonesia was occupied by Japan, Helders was interned. During the 1950s, Helders was for a short time minister of colonial affairs in two governments. In 1957 and 1958 in a government led by prime minister Willem Drees and a second one which was led by Louis Beel. During this period he was responsible for building up a government in the now Indonesian province of New-Guinea. From 1959 to 1975 he was a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands.
. For his 105th and 106th birthday the mayor of Wassenaar
visited him and on both occasions he wrote at his blog he was surprised to notice that the former politician is in such good health and well aware of all current affairs.
Willem Drees
who himself reached the high age of 101. As of 2011 Helders is one of the three oldest living men in the Netherlands. He has twelve grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician of the defunct Christian Historical Union
Christian Historical Union
The Christian Historical Union was a Dutch conservative Protestant political party. The CHU is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.-History before 1908:...
(CHU) now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal
Christian Democratic Appeal
The Christian Democratic Appeal is a centre-right Dutch Christian democratic political party. It suffered severe losses in the 2010 elections and fell from the first to the fourth place...
(CDA). He served as Minister of Colonial Affairs from February 16, 1957 until May 19, 1959 in the cabinets Drees IV and Beel II
Netherlands cabinet Beel-2
Beel II was a Dutch rump cabinet, headed by Louis Beel, installed after the fall of the fourth Drees cabinet.-Source: , Rijksoverheid.nl...
. As of he is currently the oldest living former Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
politician at the age of .
Early life
Helders was born in RotterdamRotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. His father worked as a winetrader. From 1925 to 1929 he studied civil law at Leiden University
Leiden University
Leiden University , located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close...
. He married in 1930 and is the father of one son and four daughters.
Politics
Helders started his career as a politician for the Christian Historical UnionChristian Historical Union
The Christian Historical Union was a Dutch conservative Protestant political party. The CHU is one of the predecessors of the Christian Democratic Appeal.-History before 1908:...
in the Dutch colony of the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
where he worked as a member of the city council in the cities Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
and Batavia (nowadays Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
). From 1942 until 1945, during which Indonesia was occupied by Japan, Helders was interned. During the 1950s, Helders was for a short time minister of colonial affairs in two governments. In 1957 and 1958 in a government led by prime minister Willem Drees and a second one which was led by Louis Beel. During this period he was responsible for building up a government in the now Indonesian province of New-Guinea. From 1959 to 1975 he was a member of the Council of State of the Netherlands.
Later life
Helders currently lives in WassenaarWassenaar
Wassenaar is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. A fairly affluent suburb of The Hague, Wassenaar lies 10 km north of that city on the N44 highway near the North Sea coast. It is part of the Haaglanden region...
. For his 105th and 106th birthday the mayor of Wassenaar
Wassenaar
Wassenaar is a town in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. A fairly affluent suburb of The Hague, Wassenaar lies 10 km north of that city on the N44 highway near the North Sea coast. It is part of the Haaglanden region...
visited him and on both occasions he wrote at his blog he was surprised to notice that the former politician is in such good health and well aware of all current affairs.
Trivia
Helders is at the age of the oldest living former Dutch politician. As Minister of Colonial Affairs he worked under Prime MinisterPrime Minister of the Netherlands
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands is the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Netherlands. He is the de facto head of government of the Netherlands and coordinates the policy of the government...
Willem Drees
Willem Drees
Willem Drees was a Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 7, 1948 until December 22, 1958....
who himself reached the high age of 101. As of 2011 Helders is one of the three oldest living men in the Netherlands. He has twelve grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Decorations
- Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Knight (June 9, 1959)
- Order of Orange-NassauOrder of Orange-NassauThe Order of Orange-Nassau is a military and civil order of the Netherlands which was created on 4 April 1892 by the Queen regent Emma of the Netherlands, acting on behalf of her under-age daughter Queen Wilhelmina. The Order is a chivalry order open to "everyone who have earned special merits for...
- Commander (Aril 29, 1969)