Ministry of General Affairs (Netherlands)
Encyclopedia
The Dutch Ministry of General Affairs ("Ministerie van Algemene Zaken") is the ministry headed by the Prime Minister of the Netherlands
(currently Mark Rutte
). It is comparable to the Chancellery of the Chancellor of Germany
, British Cabinet Office
, and (at a stretch) the American Executive Office of the President, although its designation as "ministry" emphasises the role of Prime Minister of the Netherlands as primus inter pares
among the ministers of the Dutch government.
The Ministry of General Affairs was instituted in 1947. Since that year every prime minister of the Netherlands has held the post. Between 1959 and 1963 there was a state secretary added to the ministry.
The ministry has three responsibilities: namely coordination of government policy, the Dutch Royal House
and government communication on the Royal house and government policy. The ministry also houses the secretariat of the Cabinet of the Netherlands
. The main office of the ministry is located in the Binnenhof
, the political centre of the Netherlands. With only about 400 employees this ministry is by far the smallest ministry in the Netherlands.
The most important divisions of the Ministry of General Affairs are:
The following are also part of the Ministry, but operate relatively independent of the Prime Minister:
Prime 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...
(currently Mark Rutte
Mark Rutte
Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician who has been Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 14 October 2010, as well as Minister of General Affairs in the Rutte cabinet...
). It is comparable to the Chancellery of the Chancellor of Germany
German Chancellery
The German Chancellery is a federal agency serving the executive office of the Chancellor, the head of the German federal government. The chief of the Chancellery holds the rank of either a Secretary of State or a Federal Minister ...
, British Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
, and (at a stretch) the American Executive Office of the President, although its designation as "ministry" emphasises the role of Prime Minister of the Netherlands as primus inter pares
Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
among the ministers of the Dutch government.
The Ministry of General Affairs was instituted in 1947. Since that year every prime minister of the Netherlands has held the post. Between 1959 and 1963 there was a state secretary added to the ministry.
The ministry has three responsibilities: namely coordination of government policy, the Dutch Royal House
Dutch Royal House
In the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Monarchy is a constitutional office and is controlled by the constitution of the Netherlands. A distinction is made between members of the royal family and members of the Royal House. The royal family is the Orange-Nassau family, however not every member is a...
and government communication on the Royal house and government policy. The ministry also houses the secretariat of the Cabinet of the Netherlands
Cabinet of the Netherlands
The cabinet of the Netherlands is the main executive body of the Dutch government. The current cabinet of the Netherlands is the Rutte cabinet.-Composition and role:...
. The main office of the ministry is located in the Binnenhof
Binnenhof
The Binnenhof , is a complex of buildings in The Hague. It has been the location of meetings of the Staten-Generaal, the Dutch parliament, since 1446, and has been the centre of Dutch politics for many centuries....
, the political centre of the Netherlands. With only about 400 employees this ministry is by far the smallest ministry in the Netherlands.
The most important divisions of the Ministry of General Affairs are:
- The Office of the Prime Minister ("Het Kabinet van de Minister-President").
- The Netherlands Government Information ServiceNetherlands Government Information ServiceThe Netherlands Government Information Service is a Dutch government agency. The RVD is the official information service of the Dutch government and is the spokesbody for the prime minister, the Council of Ministers and the Dutch Royal House...
("Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst" or "RVD").
The following are also part of the Ministry, but operate relatively independent of the Prime Minister:
- The Scientific Council for Government PolicyScientific Council for Government PolicyThe Scientific Council for Government Policy is an independent think tank of the Dutch government....
("Wetenschappelijke Raad voor het Regeringsbeleid" or "WRR"). - The Commission of Dutch Intelligence Services ("Commissie van Toezicht op de Inlichtingen en Veiligheidsdiensten").