# Vice-President of the Council of State (Netherlands)

The vice-president of the Council of State (Dutch: Vice-President van de Raad van State) is the de facto presiding officer of the Council of State. The monarch serves as the ex officio president of the Council of State but in reality seldom chairs meetings, in his absence, the vice-president serves as pro tempore chair of those meetings. The vice-president is also in charge of the council's organisation and administrative duties. The Constitution of the Netherlands stipulates that if the royal house were to become extinct the vice-president will become the acting head of state. Like the other members of the Council of State the vice president is appointed by the monarch upon nomination by the minister of the interior and kingdom relations. The service of the vice-president is a life tenure appointment but is required by law to enter a mandatory retirement at the age of 70. Alternatively, an early retirement or a forced termination of his tenure can be given by the monarch in a royal decree.
The current vice-president of the Council of State is Thom de Graaf.

## List of vice-presidents

| Portrait | Portrait | Name | Term of office | Party | Monarch |
| | | Count Gijsbert Karel van Hogendorp (1762–1834) | 12 April 1814 – 7 November 1816 (2 years, 209 days) | Independent (pro-government) | King William I |
| | | Baron Johan Hendrik Mollerus (1750–1834) | 7 November 1816 – 1 July 1829 (12 years, 236 days) | Independent (pro-government) | King William I |
| | | His Royal Highness William, Prince of Orange (1792–1849) | 1 July 1829 – 7 October 1840 (19 years, 98 days) | Nonpartisan (Royal House) | King William I |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | King William II |
| | | Dr. Baron Henri van Doorn van Westcapelle (1786–1853) | 1 January 1841 – 26 March 1848 (7 years, 85 days) | Independent Conservative (ultraconservative) | King William II |
| | | Jonkheer Willem Gerard van de Poll (1793–1872) | 26 March 1848 – 1 April 1858 (10 years, 6 days) | Independent | King William II |
| | | Jonkheer Willem Gerard van de Poll (1793–1872) | 26 March 1848 – 1 April 1858 (10 years, 6 days) | Independent | King William III |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | King William III |
| | | Baron Aeneas Mackay (1806–1876) | 1 July 1862 – 6 March 1876 (13 years, 249 days) | Independent Antirevolutionary | King William III |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | King William III |
| | | Jonkheer Gerlach Cornelis Joannes van Reenen (1818–1893) | 1 April 1876 – 31 May 1893 (17 years, 60 days) | Independent Conservative | King William III |
| | | Jonkheer Gerlach Cornelis Joannes van Reenen (1818–1893) | 1 April 1876 – 31 May 1893 (17 years, 60 days) | Independent Conservative | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Bram van Panhuys (1837–1907) | 1 August 1893 – 1 January 1897 (3 years, 153 days) | Independent Liberal | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Johan Willem Meinard Schorer (1834–1903) | 1 February 1897 – 1 October 1903 (6 years, 242 days) | Independent Liberal | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Petrus Johannes van Swinderen (1842–1911) | 1 December 1903 – 19 December 1911 (8 years, 18 days) | Christian Historical Party (until 1908) | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Petrus Johannes van Swinderen (1842–1911) | 1 December 1903 – 19 December 1911 (8 years, 18 days) | Christian Historical Union (from 1908) | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Joan Röell (1844–1914) | 1 February 1912 – 13 July 1914 (2 years, 162 days) | League of Free Liberals | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Dr. Wilhelmus Frederik van Leeuwen (1860–1930) | 16 December 1914 – 18 April 1928 (13 years, 124 days) | Independent Liberal (Conservative Liberal) | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Dr. Count Alex van Lynden van Sandenburg (1873–1932) | 1 May 1928 – 25 December 1932 (4 years, 238 days) | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Queen Wilhelmina |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Frans Beelaerts van Blokland (1872–1956) | 20 April 1933 – 27 March 1956 (22 years, 342 days) | Christian Historical Union | Queen Wilhelmina |
| | | Jonkheer Frans Beelaerts van Blokland (1872–1956) | 20 April 1933 – 27 March 1956 (22 years, 342 days) | Christian Historical Union | Queen Juliana |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Juliana |
| | | Dr. Bram Rutgers (1884–1966) | 16 May 1956 – 1 August 1959 (3 years, 77 days) | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Queen Juliana |
| | | Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) | 1 August 1959 – 1 July 1972 (12 years, 335 days) | Catholic People's Party | Queen Juliana |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Queen Juliana |
| | | Marinus Ruppert (1911–1992) | 1 September 1973 – 1 October 1980 (7 years, 30 days) | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Queen Juliana |
| | | Marinus Ruppert (1911–1992) | 1 September 1973 – 1 October 1980 (7 years, 30 days) | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Queen Beatrix |
| | | Willem Scholten (1927–2005) | 1 October 1980 – 1 July 1997 (16 years, 273 days) | Christian Historical Union (until 1980) | Queen Beatrix |
| | | Willem Scholten (1927–2005) | 1 October 1980 – 1 July 1997 (16 years, 273 days) | Christian Democratic Appeal (from 1980) | Queen Beatrix |
| | | Herman Tjeenk Willink (born 1942) | 1 July 1997 – 1 February 2012 (14 years, 215 days) | Labour Party | Queen Beatrix |
| | | Piet Hein Donner (born 1948) | 1 February 2012 – 1 November 2018 (6 years, 273 days) | Christian Democratic Appeal | Queen Beatrix |
| | | Piet Hein Donner (born 1948) | 1 February 2012 – 1 November 2018 (6 years, 273 days) | Christian Democratic Appeal | King Willem-Alexander |
| | | Thom de Graaf (born 1957) | 1 November 2018 (6 years, 10 days) | Democrats 66 | King Willem-Alexander |
    $^{Diedinoffice.}$