# Second Beel cabinet

The second Beel cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 22 December 1958 until 19 May 1959. The cabinet was formed by the Christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) after the fall of the previous Third Drees cabinet. The caretaker cabinet was a centre-right coalition and had a slim majority in the House of Representatives with former Catholic Prime Minister Louis Beel returning as Prime Minister and dual served as Minister of Social Affairs and Health. Prominent Catholic politician Teun Struycken continued as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Property and Public Organisations from previous cabinet and dual served as Minister of Justice.
The cabinet served during final years of the turbulent 1950s. Domestically its primary objective was to make preparations for a snap election in 1959. Following the election the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the De Quay cabinet.

## Formation

On 11 December 1958 the Third Drees cabinet fell after a crises between the Labour Party and the Catholic People's Party over the prolonging for a proposed tax increase from the initial two years to only one fiscal year. Following the fall of the cabinet the Labour Party left the coalition and the Catholic People's Party, Anti-Revolutionary Party and Christian Historical Union formed a rump cabinet. Former Prime Minister Louis Beel was appointed as Prime Minister on 22 December 1958.

## Cabinet Members

| Ministers | Ministers | Ministers | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party |
| | | Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) | Prime Minister | General Affairs | | 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) | Minister | Social Affairs and Health | | 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Teun Struycken (1906–1977) | Deputy Prime Minister | Interior, Property and Public Organisations | | 29 October 1956 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Teun Struycken (1906–1977) | Minister | Interior, Property and Public Organisations | | 29 October 1956 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Teun Struycken (1906–1977) | Minister | Justice | | 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Joseph Luns (1911–2002) | Minister | Foreign Affairs | | 13 October 1956 – 6 July 1971 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Dr. Jelle Zijlstra (1918–2001) | Minister | Finance | | 22 December 1958 – 24 July 1963 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Dr. Jelle Zijlstra (1918–2001) | Minister | Economic Affairs | | 2 September 1952 – 19 May 1959 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Kees Staf (1905–1973) | Minister | War and Navy | | 15 March 1951 – 19 May 1959 | Christian Historical Union |
| | | Kees Staf (1905–1973) | Minister | Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies | | 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 | Christian Historical Union |
| | | Jo Cals (1914–1971) | Minister | Education, Arts and Sciences | | 2 September 1952 – 24 July 1963 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Jan van Aartsen (1909–1992) | Minister | Transport and Water Management | | 1 November 1958 – 19 May 1959 | Anti-Revolutionary Party |
| | | Herman Witte (1909–1973) | Minister | Housing and Construction | | 2 September 1952 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986) | Minister | Social Work | | 13 October 1956 – 24 July 1963 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Gerard Helders (1905–2013) | Minister | Colonial Affairs | | 16 February 1957 – 19 May 1959 | Christian Historical Union |
| State Secretaries | State Secretaries | State Secretaries | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party |
| | | Norbert Schmelzer (1921–2008) | State Secretary | Interior, Property and Public Organisations | • Public Organisations | 29 October 1956 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Dr. Gerard Veldkamp (1921–1990) | State Secretary | Economic Affairs | • Small and Medium-sized Businesses • Consumer Protection • Tourism | 10 October 1952 – 17 July 1961 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | Vice admiral Harry Moorman (1899–1971) | State Secretary | Navy | • Navy | 1 May 1949 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
| | | René Höppener (1903–1983) | State Secretary | Education, Arts and Sciences | • Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport | 12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party |
    $^{Retainedfromthepreviouscabinet}$
    $^{Continuedinthenextcabinet}$