# List of ministers of social affairs of the Netherlands

The minister of social affairs and employment (Dutch: Minister van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid) is the head of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The current minister is Eddy van Hijum of the New Social Contract (NSC) party who has been in office since 2 July 2024. Regularly, a state secretary is assigned to the ministry who is tasked with specific portfolios. The current state secretary is Jurgen Nobel of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), who has been in office since 2 July 2024 and has been responsible for labor participation and integration. In the past, there have also been ministers without portfolio assigned to the ministry.

## List of ministers of social affairs
### 1918–1945

| Minister of Labour | Minister of Labour | Minister of Labour | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Piet Aalberse (1871–1948) | 25 September 1918 – 1 January 1923 | Roman Catholic State Party | Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I • II) |
| Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry | Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry | Minister of Labour, Commerce and Industry | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Piet Aalberse (1871–1948) | 1 January 1923 – 4 August 1925 | Roman Catholic State Party | Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck II) |
| | | Dr. Dionysius Koolen (1871–1945) | 4 August 1925 – 8 March 1926 | Roman Catholic State Party | Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn I) |
| | | Dr. Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941) | 8 March 1926 – 10 August 1929 | Christian Historical Union | Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer I) |
| | | Timotheus Verschuur (1886–1945) | 10 August 1929 – 1 May 1932 | Roman Catholic State Party | Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III) |
| Minister of Economic Affairs and Labour | Minister of Economic Affairs and Labour | Minister of Economic Affairs and Labour | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Timotheus Verschuur (1886–1945) | 1 May 1932 – 8 June 1933 | Roman Catholic State Party | Charles Ruijs de Beerenbrouck (Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III) |
| | | Timotheus Verschuur (1886–1945) | 1 May 1932 – 8 June 1933 | Roman Catholic State Party | Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn II) |
| Minister of Social Affairs | Minister of Social Affairs | Minister of Social Affairs | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Dr. Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941) | 8 June 1933 – 31 July 1935 | Christian Historical Union | Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn II) |
| | | Marcus Slingenberg (1881–1941) | 31 July 1935 – 24 June 1937 | Free-thinking Democratic League | Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn III) |
| | | Carl Romme (1896–1980) | 24 June 1937 – 25 July 1939 | Roman Catholic State Party | Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn IV) |
| | | Dr. Marinus Damme (1876–1966) | 25 July 1939 – 10 August 1939 | Independent Liberal (Classical Liberal) | Hendrikus Colijn (Colijn V) |
| | | Dr. Jan van den Tempel (1877–1955) | 10 August 1939 – 23 February 1945 | Social Democratic Workers' Party | Dirk Jan de Geer (De Geer II) |
| | | Dr. Jan van den Tempel (1877–1955) | 10 August 1939 – 23 February 1945 | Social Democratic Workers' Party | Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy I • II) |
| | | Frans Wijffels (also Ministers of Water Management Feb.Apr.) (1899–1968) | 23 February 1945 – 25 June 1945 | Roman Catholic State Party | Pieter Sjoerds Gerbrandy (Gerbrandy III) |

### Since 1945

| Minister of Social Affairs | Minister of Social Affairs | Minister of Social Affairs | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Willem Drees (1886–1988) | 25 June 1945 – 7 August 1948 | Social Democratic Workers' Party | Willem Schermerhorn (Schermerhorn– Drees) |
| | | Willem Drees (1886–1988) | 25 June 1945 – 7 August 1948 | Labour Party | Louis Beel (Beel I) |
| | | Dr. Dolf Joekes (1884–1962) | 7 August 1948 – 15 September 1951 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees–Van Schaik • Drees I) |
| Minister of Social Affairs and Health | Minister of Social Affairs and Health | Minister of Social Affairs and Health | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Dr. Dolf Joekes (1884–1962) | 15 September 1951 – 2 September 1952 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees I) |
| | | Ko Suurhoff (1905–1967) | 2 September 1952 – 22 December 1958 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees II • III) |
| | | Dr. Louis Beel (Prime Minister) (1902–1985) | 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 | Catholic People's Party | Louis Beel (Beel II) |
| | | Dr. Charles van Rooy (1912–1996) | 19 May 1959 – 3 July 1961 | Catholic People's Party | Jan de Quay (De Quay) |
| | | Victor Marijnen (1917–1975) | 3 July 1961 – 17 July 1961 | Catholic People's Party | Jan de Quay (De Quay) |
| | | Dr. Gerard Veldkamp (1921–1990) | 17 July 1961 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jan de Quay (De Quay) |
| | | Dr. Gerard Veldkamp (1921–1990) | 17 July 1961 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Victor Marijnen (Marijnen) |
| | | Dr. Gerard Veldkamp (1921–1990) | 17 July 1961 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jo Cals (Cals) |
| | | Dr. Gerard Veldkamp (1921–1990) | 17 July 1961 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra) |
| | | Bauke Roolvink (1912–1979) | 5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Piet de Jong (De Jong) |
| Minister of Social Affairs | Minister of Social Affairs | Minister of Social Affairs | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Jaap Boersma (1929–2012) | 6 July 1971 – 19 December 1977 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II) |
| | | Jaap Boersma (1929–2012) | 6 July 1971 – 19 December 1977 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) |
| | | Dr. Wil Albeda (1925–2014) | 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) |
| | | Dr. Wil Albeda (1925–2014) | 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) |
| Minister of Social Affairs and Employment | Minister of Social Affairs and Employment | Minister of Social Affairs and Employment | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Joop den Uyl (1919–1987) | 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 | Labour Party | Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) |
| | | Louw de Graaf (1930–2020) | 29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Dries van Agt (Van Agt III) |
| | | Jan de Koning (1926–1994) | 4 November 1982 – 3 February 1987 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I) |
| | | Jan de Koning (1926–1994) | 4 November 1982 – 3 February 1987 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers II) |
| | | Louw de Graaf (1930–2020) | 3 February 1987 – 6 May 1987 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers II) |
| | | Jan de Koning (1926–1994) | 6 May 1987 – 7 November 1989 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers II) |
| | | Dr. Bert de Vries (born 1938) | 7 November 1989 – 22 August 1994 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III) |
| | | Ad Melkert (born 1956) | 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 | Labour Party | Wim Kok (Kok I) |
| | | Klaas de Vries (born 1943) | 3 August 1998 – 24 March 2000 | Labour Party | Wim Kok (Kok II) |
| | | Dr. Willem Vermeend (born 1948) | 24 March 2000 – 22 July 2002 | Labour Party | Wim Kok (Kok II) |
| | | Aart Jan de Geus (born 1955) | 22 July 2002 – 22 February 2007 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I • II • III) |
| | | Piet Hein Donner (born 1948) | 22 February 2007 – 14 October 2010 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV) |
| | | Henk Kamp (born 1952) | 14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Mark Rutte (Rutte I) |
| | | Dr. Lodewijk Asscher (born 1974) | 5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017 | Labour Party | Mark Rutte (Rutte II) |
| | | Wouter Koolmees (born 1977) | 26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022 | Democrats 66 | Mark Rutte (Rutte III) |
| | | Karien van Gennip (born 1968) | 10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Mark Rutte (Rutte IV) |
| | | Eddy van Hijum (born 1972) | 2 July 2024 – Incumbent | New Social Contract | Dick Schoof (Schoof) |
    $^{Resigned}$
    $^{Acting}$
    $^{AdInterim}$
    $^{DeputyPrimeMinister}$
    $^{ActingDeputyPrimeMinisterfrom1November2019until14May2020}$
    $^{DeputyPrimeMinisterfrom5September2023}$
    $^{MinisterofAgricultureandFisheries}$
    $^{MinisterforKingdomRelations}$
    $^{MinisterofHealth,WelfareandSportfrom16October2002until27May2003}$
    $^{AppointedasactingMinisteroftheInterior}$
    $^{AppointedasMinisteroftheInterior}$

## List of ministers without portfolio

| Ministers without Portfolio | Ministers without Portfolio | Ministers without Portfolio | Portfolio | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Carola Schouten (born 1977) | • Welfare • Civic Engagement • Pensions | 10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024 | Christian Union | Mark Rutte (Rutte IV) |

## List of state secretaries for social affairs

| State Secretary for Social Affairs | State Secretary for Social Affairs | State Secretary for Social Affairs | Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Dr. Piet Muntendam (1901–1986) | • Primary Healthcare • Elderly Care • Disability Policy | 1 April 1950 – 15 September 1951 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees–Van Schaik) |
| | | Dr. Aat van Rhijn (1892–1986) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 15 February 1950 – 15 September 1951 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees–Van Schaik) |
| State Secretary for Social Affairs and Health | State Secretary for Social Affairs and Health | State Secretary for Social Affairs and Health | Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Dr. Piet Muntendam (1901–1986) | • Primary Healthcare • Elderly Care • Disability Policy | 15 September 1951 – 1 October 1953 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees I • II) |
| | | Dr. Aat van Rhijn (1892–1986) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 15 September 1951 – 22 December 1958 | Labour Party | Willem Drees (Drees I • II • III) |
| Vacant |||||||
| | | Bauke Roolvink (1912–1979) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 15 June 1959 – 24 July 1963 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Jan de Quay (De Quay) |
| | | Dr. Louis Bartels (1915–2002) | • Primary Healthcare • Elderly Care • Disability Policy • Medical Ethics | 3 September 1963 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Victor Marijnen (Marijnen) |
| | | Dr. Louis Bartels (1915–2002) | • Primary Healthcare • Elderly Care • Disability Policy • Medical Ethics | 3 September 1963 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jo Cals (Cals) |
| | | Dr. Louis Bartels (1915–2002) | • Primary Healthcare • Elderly Care • Disability Policy • Medical Ethics | 3 September 1963 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra) |
| | | Dr. José de Meijer (1915–2000) | • Occupational Safety • Public Organisations | 15 November 1963 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Victor Marijnen (Marijnen) |
| | | Dr. José de Meijer (1915–2000) | • Occupational Safety • Public Organisations | 15 November 1963 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jo Cals (Cals) |
| | | Dr. José de Meijer (1915–2000) | • Occupational Safety • Public Organisations | 15 November 1963 – 5 April 1967 | Catholic People's Party | Jelle Zijlstra (Zijlstra) |
| | | Dr. Roelof Kruisinga (1922–2012) | • Primary Healthcare • Elderly Care • Disability Policy • Medical Ethics | 18 April 1967 – 6 July 1971 | Christian Historical Union | Piet de Jong (De Jong) |
| State Secretary for Social Affairs | State Secretary for Social Affairs | State Secretary for Social Affairs | Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Koos Rietkerk (1927–1986) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety | 28 July 1971 – 23 April 1973 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Barend Biesheuvel (Biesheuvel I • II) |
| | | Jan Mertens (1916–2000) | • Social Security • Occupational Safety | 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977 | Catholic People's Party | Joop den Uyl (Den Uyl) |
| | | Louw de Graaf (1930–2020) | • Social Security • Occupational Safety | 28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 | Anti-Revolutionary Party | Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) |
| | | Louw de Graaf (1930–2020) | • Social Security • Occupational Safety | 28 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Dries van Agt (Van Agt I) |
| State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment | State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment | State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment | Portfolio(s) | Term of office | Party | Prime Minister (Cabinet) |
| | | Ien Dales (1931–1994) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Elderly Care • Disability Policy | 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 | Labour Party | Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) |
| | | Hedy d'Ancona (born 1937) | • Occupational Safety • Adult Education • Equality • Emancipation | 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 | Labour Party | Dries van Agt (Van Agt II) |
| | | Piet van Zeil (1927–2012) | • Occupational Safety • Elderly Care • Disability Policy | 12 June 1982 – 4 November 1982 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Dries van Agt (Van Agt III) |
| | | Louw de Graaf (1930–2020) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety | 5 November 1982 – 3 February 1987 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I • II) |
| | | Louw de Graaf (1930–2020) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety | 6 May 1987 – 1 October 1989 | Christian Democratic Appeal | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I • II) |
| | | Annelien Kappeyne van de Coppello (1936–1990) | • Disability Policy • Family Policy • Equality • Emancipation | 8 November 1982 – 14 July 1986 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers I) |
| | | Elske ter Veld (1944–2017) | • Social Services • Equality • Emancipation | 7 November 1989 – 4 June 1993 | Labour Party | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III) |
| | | Jacques Wallage (born 1946) | • Social Services • Equality • Emancipation | 9 June 1993 – 22 August 1994 | Labour Party | Ruud Lubbers (Lubbers III) |
| | | Robin Linschoten (born 1956) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety | 22 August 1994 – 28 June 1998 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Wim Kok (Kok I) |
| | | Frank de Grave (born 1955) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety | 2 July 1996 – 3 August 1998 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Wim Kok (Kok I) |
| | | Hans Hoogervorst (born 1956) | • Social Security • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Wim Kok (Kok II) |
| | | Annelies Verstand (born 1949) | • Unemployment • Equality • Emancipation | 3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002 | Democrats 66 | Wim Kok (Kok II) |
| | | Mark Rutte (born 1967) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 22 July 2002 – 17 June 2004 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I) |
| | | Mark Rutte (born 1967) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 22 July 2002 – 17 June 2004 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende II) |
| | | Henk van Hoof (born 1947) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 17 June 2004 – 22 February 2007 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende II) |
| | | Henk van Hoof (born 1947) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 17 June 2004 – 22 February 2007 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende III) |
| | | Philomena Bijlhout (born 1957) | • Family Policy • Equality • Emancipation | 22 July 2002 – 24 July 2002 | Pim Fortuyn List | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I) |
| | | Khee Liang Phoa (born 1955) | • Family Policy • Equality • Emancipation | 9 September 2002 – 27 May 2003 | Pim Fortuyn List | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende I) |
| | | Ahmed Aboutaleb (born 1961) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 22 February 2007 – 18 December 2008 | Labour Party | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV) |
| | | Jetta Klijnsma (born 1957) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 18 December 2008 – 23 February 2010 | Labour Party | Jan Peter Balkenende (Balkenende IV) |
| | | Paul de Krom (born 1963) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services | 14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Mark Rutte (Rutte I) |
| | | Jetta Klijnsma (born 1957) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services • Equality • Emancipation | 5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017 | Labour Party | Mark Rutte (Rutte II) |
| | | Tamara van Ark (born 1974) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services • Youth Care • Equality • Emancipation | 26 October 2017 – 9 July 2020 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Mark Rutte (Rutte III) |
| | | Bas van 't Wout (born 1979) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services • Youth Care • Equality • Emancipation | 9 July 2020 – 20 January 2021 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Mark Rutte (Rutte III) |
| | | Dennis Wiersma (born 1986) | • Social Security • Unemployment • Occupational Safety • Social Services • Youth Care • Equality • Emancipation | 10 August 2021 – 10 January 2022 | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Mark Rutte (Rutte III) |
| | | Jurgen Nobel (born 1988) | • Participation • Integration | 2 July 2024 – Incumbent | People's Party for Freedom and Democracy | Dick Schoof (Schoof) |
    $^{Resigned}$
    $^{AppointedasStateSecretaryforEducation,CultureandScience}$
    $^{AppointedasMayorofRotterdam}$
    $^{AppointedasMinisterwithoutPortfolioforHealth,WelfareandSport}$
    $^{AppointedasMinisterofEconomicAffairsandClimatePolicy}$
    $^{StateSecretaryforEconomicAffairs}$