Willem Schermerhorn
Encyclopedia
Willem "Wim" Schermerhorn (December 17, 1894 – March 10, 1977) was a Dutch
politician of the Labour Party
(PvdA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands
from 1945 until 1946. He was the first Prime Minister after World War II
.
of North Holland
. He grew up in a protestant family of farmers. He became professor
at the Delft University of Technology
on 7 September 1926. Schermerhorn remained professor until 1944, when he was removed by the German
occupational forces because of his activities in the Dutch resistance. He was interned by the German occupational forces as a hostage in Sint-Michielsgestel
from May 1942 until December 1943. After he was removed as professor in 1944 Schermerhorn went into hiding to avoid being taken prisoner by the German occupational forces.
, the first cabinet after World War II. Schermerhorn was the first Dutch Prime Minister who appointed civil servants with a political background, people like Koos Vorrink
and Hendrik Brugmans
(nicknamed 'The Schermerboys"). After the elections of 1946 he became a member of parliament, as a member of the social-democratic Labour Party
. He remained a member of parliament until 1951. After his parliamentarian career ended he became director of the International Training Center for Aerial Survey
in 1951 (until 1969).
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 Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
(PvdA). He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands
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...
from 1945 until 1946. He was the first Prime Minister after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Willem Schermerhorn was born on December 17, 1894 in Akersloot in the Dutch ProvinceProvinces of the Netherlands
A Dutch province represents the administrative layer in between the national government and the local municipalities, having the responsibility for matters of subnational or regional importance. The government of each province consists of three major parts: the Provinciale Staten which is the...
of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. He grew up in a protestant family of farmers. He became professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
at the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
on 7 September 1926. Schermerhorn remained professor until 1944, when he was removed by the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
occupational forces because of his activities in the Dutch resistance. He was interned by the German occupational forces as a hostage in Sint-Michielsgestel
Sint-Michielsgestel
Sint-Michielsgestel is a municipality and a town in the southern part of the Netherlands.Sint-Michielsgestel is located directly south of 's-Hertogenbosch, the capital of North Brabant province. Its name refers to archangel St...
from May 1942 until December 1943. After he was removed as professor in 1944 Schermerhorn went into hiding to avoid being taken prisoner by the German occupational forces.
Politics
On 24 June 1945 he became Prime Minister of the cabinet Schermerhorn/DreesNetherlands cabinet Schermerhorn/Drees
The Schermerhorn-Drees cabinet was in office in the Netherlands from 24 June 1945 until 3 July 1946.- Introduction :The Schermerhorn-Drees cabinet, the first Dutch cabinet after World War II, was appointed by Queen Wilhelmina just a month after the Netherlands were liberated by the Allied forces...
, the first cabinet after World War II. Schermerhorn was the first Dutch Prime Minister who appointed civil servants with a political background, people like Koos Vorrink
Koos Vorrink
Jacobus Jan Vorrink, better known as Koos Vorrink , was a charismatic socialist leader in the Netherlands.- Early life :Koos Vorrink was born on June 7, 1891 in Vlaardingen, in the Dutch province of Zuid-Holland....
and Hendrik Brugmans
Hendrik Brugmans
Hendrik Brugmans was the son of historian Hajo Brugmans and Maria Keizer. He studied history of French literature at the Universiteit van Amsterdam and the Sorbonne University in Paris....
(nicknamed 'The Schermerboys"). After the elections of 1946 he became a member of parliament, as a member of the social-democratic Labour Party
Labour Party (Netherlands)
The Labour Party , is a social-democratic political party in the Netherlands. Since the 2003 Dutch General Election, the PvdA has been the second largest political party in the Netherlands. The PvdA was a coalition member in the fourth Balkenende cabinet following 22 February 2007...
. He remained a member of parliament until 1951. After his parliamentarian career ended he became director of the International Training Center for Aerial Survey
ITC Enschede
The International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation was an institute of higher education located in Enschede, The Netherlands...
in 1951 (until 1969).
Decorations
- Knight - Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Grand Officer - 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...