# Joop Wijn

Joannes Gerardus "Joop" Wijn (Dutch pronunciation:; born 20 May 1969) is a retired Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) and businessman.

## Early life and education

Wijn attended a gymnasium in Haarlem from April 1981 until May 1987 and applied at the University of Amsterdam in June 1987 majoring in Economics and obtaining a Bachelor of Economics degree in June 1989 before graduating with a Master of Economics degree in July 1991 and applied subsequently for a postgraduate education in Law and obtaining a Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1992 before graduating with a Master of Economics degree in July 1994. Wijn worked as a economics teacher at the Kennemer Lyceum in Overveen and Schoevers from August 1991 until July 1994. Wijn worked as a financial analyst at the ABN AMRO from July 1994 until May 1998.

## Politics

Wijn was elected to the House of Representatives for the Christian Democratic Appeal in the 1998 general election, taking office on 19 May 1998. As an MP he served as spokesperson for finance, small business and integration, and as deputy spokesperson for economic affairs and postal services. In 2000, he was one of the few CDA MPs that voted in favour of the introduction of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands. The debate about same-sex marriage caused friction between his personal life and his political affiliation, as Wijn himself is gay.
After the 2002 general election, Wijn was appointed State Secretary for Economic Affairs responsible for foreign trade in the Balkenende I cabinet, taking office on 22 July 2002. The cabinet fell just four months later on 16 October 2002 after tensions in the coalition over the instability of the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity.
After the 2003 general election, Wijn returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 January 2003. Following the 2003 cabinet formation, Wijn was appointed as State Secretary for Finance in the Balkenende II cabinet, taking office on 27 May 2003. Among other things, Wijn was responsible for the functioning of the Tax and Customs Administration, which he transformed into an organisation that not only collects but also redistributes funds, e.g. for healthcare expenses, rent support and child benefits. His platform was the reduction of red tape and the promotion of tax benefits for families with children.
Wijn is credited with leading the creation of the famous Dutch Sandwich BEPS tax scheme, one of the world's largest tax sheltering BEPS tools, (amongst other Dutch multinational BEPS tools, including Dutch "double dip" hybrid Debt-based BEPS tool, as used by Dutch based global mining/resource companies to avoid taxes in developing nations), after lobbying from U.S. tax lawyers from 2003-2006. They are credited with making the Netherlands one of the world’s largest corporate havens (see the ten major tax havens).
The Balkenende II cabinet fell on 30 June 2006 after the Democrats 66 (D66) had lost confidence in the functioning of Minister of Integration and Asylum Affairs Rita Verdonk and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until the 2006–2007 cabinet formation, when it was replaced by the caretaker Balkenende III cabinet, with Wijn appointed as Minister of Economic Affairs, taking office on 7 July 2006. After the 2006 general election, Wijn again returned to the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 November 2006. On 6 February 2007, Wijn unexpectedly announced his retirement from national politics and per his own request asked not to be considered for a cabinet post in the new cabinet, the Balkenende III cabinet was replaced by the Balkende IV cabinet on 22 February 2007 and he resigned from the House of Representatives the same day.

## Business

Wijn left politics after the Balkenende IV cabinet was installed. He was asked earlier by the CDA party leadership to take on the parliamentary leadership of his party, but Wijn declined that position in August. Wijn retired from national politics and became active in the private sector, in June 2007 he was named as chief business officer (CBO) of the Rabobank, in 2009 Gerrit Zalm asked him to join ABN AMRO, which he did. In February 2009 Wijn was named as chief marketing officer (CMO) of the ABN AMRO. In May 2017 Wijn was named as chief strategy officer (CSO) and chief risk officer (CRO) of Adyen. Wijn also became active in the public sector and occupied numerous seats as a nonprofit director on several boards of directors and supervisory boards (Orange Foundation, nl:Stadsherstel Amsterdam and the Jaarbeurs). Wijn also works as a trade association executive for VNO-NCW.

## Decorations

Honours :
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
| | Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 11 April 2007 | |