Gijs van Aardenne
Encyclopedia
Gijsbert Michiel Vredenrijk van Aardenne (March 18, 1930 in Rotterdam
– August 10, 1995 in Dordrecht
) was a Dutch
politician.
Van Aardenne was the son of a surgeon and studied mathematics and physics at the Leiden University
. After his studies he was employed at a steel factory in Dordrecht
, becoming its general manager from 1967-1971.
He joined the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) in 1964 and was a Member of Parliament between 1971 and 1977, and again in 1981. He became minister of economic affairs in the first van Agt
cabinet (1977–81). Nuclear energy
and problems in the shipbuilding industry were prominent issues during these years. He took the same post as well as vice-premier in the first Lubbers
cabinet (1982–1986).
He got into political trouble for downplaying the financial struggles of the Rijn Schelde Verolme shipyard, which would collapse in 1983 in spite of many years of large financial support from the government. For this reason he was omitted from the 1986 Lubbers cabinet.
Van Aardenne remained politically active, amongst others acting in the formation of the first Kok
cabinet in 1994 and rejecting the post of minister of finances in that. By then he had been diagnosed with ALS
, which bound him to a wheel chair and of which he died in 1995.
Rotterdam
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...
– August 10, 1995 in Dordrecht
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
) was a Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
politician.
Van Aardenne was the son of a surgeon and studied mathematics and physics at the 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...
. After his studies he was employed at a steel factory in Dordrecht
Dordrecht
Dordrecht , colloquially Dordt, historically in English named Dort, is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It is the fourth largest city of the province, having a population of 118,601 in 2009...
, becoming its general manager from 1967-1971.
He joined the Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie (VVD) in 1964 and was a Member of Parliament between 1971 and 1977, and again in 1981. He became minister of economic affairs in the first van Agt
Dries van Agt
Andreas Antonius Maria "Dries" van Agt is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from December 19, 1977, until November 4, 1982....
cabinet (1977–81). Nuclear energy
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
and problems in the shipbuilding industry were prominent issues during these years. He took the same post as well as vice-premier in the first Lubbers
Ruud Lubbers
Rudolphus Franciscus Marie "Ruud" Lubbers is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from November 4, 1982 until August 22, 1994....
cabinet (1982–1986).
He got into political trouble for downplaying the financial struggles of the Rijn Schelde Verolme shipyard, which would collapse in 1983 in spite of many years of large financial support from the government. For this reason he was omitted from the 1986 Lubbers cabinet.
Van Aardenne remained politically active, amongst others acting in the formation of the first Kok
Wim Kok
Willem "Wim" Kok ; born September 29, 1938) is a retired Dutch politician of the Labour Party . He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from August 22, 1994 until July 22, 2002....
cabinet in 1994 and rejecting the post of minister of finances in that. By then he had been diagnosed with ALS
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, which bound him to a wheel chair and of which he died in 1995.