Wim Cool
Encyclopedia
Willem Cool (born 12 February 1943) is a Dutch
business consultant, mediator
and politician. As a member of Democrats 66
(D66) he has been a member of the States-Provincial
of North Holland
since 18 April 2011.
at the University of Amsterdam. He was a D66 member of the municipal council
of Noorder-Koggenland
from 1994 to 2002 and independent alderman
of the municipality of Niedorp
from 2004 to 2010.
. As a member of the North Holland States-Provincial he was entitled to vote for the new Dutch Senate on 23 May 2011 but was not able to find the red writing device (usually a pencil
) prescribed for voting. Instead he voted with a blue one (his fountain pen
). As a result his vote was declared invalid and Democrats 66 missed a seat in the new Senate. His mistake was in favour of the Socialist Party
(SP) which gained an extra seat. Cool regretted his mistake and apologised. Appeal of his party to the Election Council was not granted.
, which is a town in the municipality of Medemblik
.
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...
business consultant, mediator
Mediation
Mediation, as used in law, is a form of alternative dispute resolution , a way of resolving disputes between two or more parties. A third party, the mediator, assists the parties to negotiate their own settlement...
and politician. As a member of Democrats 66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
(D66) he has been a member of the States-Provincial
States-Provincial
The States'-Provincial is the provincial parliament and legislative assembly in each of the Provinces of the Netherlands. It is elected for each province simultaneously once every four years and has the responsibility for matters of sub-national or regional importance...
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:...
since 18 April 2011.
Biography
Cool studied lawLaw
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Amsterdam. He was a D66 member of the municipal council
Municipal council
A municipal council is the local government of a municipality. Specifically the term can refer to the institutions of various countries that can be translated by this term...
of Noorder-Koggenland
Noorder-Koggenland
Noorder-Koggenland is a former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. Abbekerk, located in the municipality of Noorder-Koggenland, received city rights in 1414.The municipality merged into Medemblik in 2007.- Population centres :...
from 1994 to 2002 and independent alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the municipality of Niedorp
Niedorp
Niedorp is a municipality in the north-western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia...
from 2004 to 2010.
Senate election, 2011
Cool became national news because he made a mistake during the Dutch Senate election, 2011Dutch Senate election, 2011
The elections of the Dutch Senate of 2011 were held on 23 May 2011, following the provincial elections on 2 March 2011. The 566 members of the twelve States-Provincial elected the 75 Senate members...
. As a member of the North Holland States-Provincial he was entitled to vote for the new Dutch Senate on 23 May 2011 but was not able to find the red writing device (usually a pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
) prescribed for voting. Instead he voted with a blue one (his fountain pen
Fountain pen
A fountain pen is a nib pen that, unlike its predecessor the dip pen, contains an internal reservoir of water-based liquid ink. The pen draws ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and deposits it on paper via a combination of gravity and capillary action...
). As a result his vote was declared invalid and Democrats 66 missed a seat in the new Senate. His mistake was in favour of the Socialist Party
Socialist Party (Netherlands)
The Socialist Party is a democratic socialist political party in the Netherlands. After the 2006 general election, the Socialist Party became one of the major parties of the Netherlands with 25 seats of 150, an increase of 16 seats. The party was in opposition against the fourth Balkenende cabinet...
(SP) which gained an extra seat. Cool regretted his mistake and apologised. Appeal of his party to the Election Council was not granted.
Personal life
Wim Cool lives in HauwertHauwert
Hauwert is a town in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Medemblik, and lies about 7 km north of Hoorn....
, which is a town in the municipality of Medemblik
Medemblik
Medemblik is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.- History :...
.