# Chair of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

The Chair of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is the party chair, chief administrator and manager of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (Dutch: Volkspartij voor Vrijheid en Democratie, VVD) in the Netherlands. The current chair is Eric Wetzels.

## History

The VVD chair is the head of the party board and leads several committees. The duties of the chair are typically concerned with the party membership as a whole, and the activities of the party organization, the internal party governance, its finances and the Telders Foundation think tank.
The Chair plays an important role in strategies to recruit and retain members, in campaign fundraising.
Due to a separation of power in the VVD's structure the chair is relatively weak and merely controls the party organization. The leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy is the most senior politician within the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy and decides over the party's political course.

## Chairs

| Chair | Chair | Term of office | Age as Chair | Position(s) as Chair | Further position(s) | Leader(s) |
| | Dirk Stikker (1897–1979) | 28 January 1948 – 7 August 1948 (192 days) | 50–51 | Member of the Senate (1945–1948) | Leader of the Freedom Party (1946–1948) Minister of Foreign Affairs (1948–1952) Ambassador of the Netherlands to Iceland (1952–1958) Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United Kingdom (1952–1958) Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (1958–1961) Permanent Representative of the Netherlands to NATO (1958–1961) Secretary General of NATO (1961–1964) | Pieter Oud (1948–1963) |
| Pieter Oud (1948–1963) |||||||
| | Pieter Oud (1886–1968) | 8 April 1949 – 9 November 1963 (15 years, 215 days) | 62–76 | Mayor of Rotterdam (1945–1952) Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (1948–1963) Member of the House of Representatives (1948–1963) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1948–1963) | Member of the House of Representatives (VDB) (1917–1933; 1937–1938) Minister of Finance (VDB) (1933–1937) Leader of the Free-thinking Democratic League (1935–1938) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (VDB) (1937–1938) Mayor of Rotterdam (VDB) (1938–1941) Minister of State (1963–1968) | Pieter Oud (1948–1963) |
| | Pieter Oud (1886–1968) | 8 April 1949 – 9 November 1963 (15 years, 215 days) | 62–76 | Mayor of Rotterdam (1945–1952) Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (1948–1963) Member of the House of Representatives (1948–1963) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (1948–1963) | Member of the House of Representatives (VDB) (1917–1933; 1937–1938) Minister of Finance (VDB) (1933–1937) Leader of the Free-thinking Democratic League (1935–1938) Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives (VDB) (1937–1938) Mayor of Rotterdam (VDB) (1938–1941) Minister of State (1963–1968) | Edzo Toxopeus (1963–1969) |
| | Kornelis van der Pols (1906–1995) | 9 November 1963 – 29 March 1969 (5 years, 140 days) | 57–63 | | | Edzo Toxopeus (1963–1969) |
| | Haya van Someren (1926–1980) | 29 March 1969 – 15 March 1975 (5 years, 351 days) | 42–48 | Member of the Senate (1974–1980) | Member of the House of Representatives (1959–1968) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1976–1980) | Edzo Toxopeus (1963–1969) |
| | Haya van Someren (1926–1980) | 29 March 1969 – 15 March 1975 (5 years, 351 days) | 42–48 | Member of the Senate (1974–1980) | Member of the House of Representatives (1959–1968) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1976–1980) | Molly Geertsema (1969–1971) |
| | Haya van Someren (1926–1980) | 29 March 1969 – 15 March 1975 (5 years, 351 days) | 42–48 | Member of the Senate (1974–1980) | Member of the House of Representatives (1959–1968) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1976–1980) | Hans Wiegel (1971–1982) |
| | Frits Korthals Altes (1931–2025) | 15 March 1975 – 22 May 1981 (6 years, 68 days) | 43–50 | | Member of the Senate (1981–1982) (1991–2001) Minister of Justice (1982–1989) Minister of the Interior (1986) Member of the House of Representatives (1989–1991) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1995–1997) President of the Senate (1997–2001) Minister of State (since 2001) | Hans Wiegel (1971–1982) |
| | Jan Kamminga (born 1947) | 22 May 1981 – 29 November 1986 (5 years, 191 days) | 34–39 | | Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland (1997–2005) | Hans Wiegel (1971–1982) |
| | Jan Kamminga (born 1947) | 22 May 1981 – 29 November 1986 (5 years, 191 days) | 34–39 | | Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland (1997–2005) | Ed Nijpels (1982–1986) |
| | Jan Kamminga (born 1947) | 22 May 1981 – 29 November 1986 (5 years, 191 days) | 34–39 | | Queen's Commissioner of Gelderland (1997–2005) | Rudolf de Korte (1986) |
| | Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003) | 29 November 1986 – 4 October 1991 (4 years, 309 days) | 58–63 | Member of the Senate (1981–2003) | Minister of Health and Environmental Hygiene (1977–1981) Minister for Science Policy (1979) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1997–1999) | Rudolf de Korte (1986) |
| | Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003) | 29 November 1986 – 4 October 1991 (4 years, 309 days) | 58–63 | Member of the Senate (1981–2003) | Minister of Health and Environmental Hygiene (1977–1981) Minister for Science Policy (1979) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1997–1999) | Joris Voorhoeve (1986–1990) |
| | Dr. Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003) | 29 November 1986 – 4 October 1991 (4 years, 309 days) | 58–63 | Member of the Senate (1981–2003) | Minister of Health and Environmental Hygiene (1977–1981) Minister for Science Policy (1979) Parliamentary leader in the Senate (1997–1999) | Frits Bolkestein (1990–1998) |
| | Dian van Leeuwen-Schut (born 1939) | 4 October 1991 – 27 May 1994 (2 years, 235 days) | 51–54 | Member of the Senate (1991–1995) | | Frits Bolkestein (1990–1998) |
| | Willem Hoekzema (born 1939) | 27 May 1994 – 28 May 1999 (5 years, 1 day) | 54–59 | Mayor of Huizen (1987–1995) Mayor of Den Helder (1995–2001) | Mayor of Coevorden (1975–1982) State Secretary for Defence (1982–1986) Member of the Senate (2003–2007) | Frits Bolkestein (1990–1998) |
| | Willem Hoekzema (born 1939) | 27 May 1994 – 28 May 1999 (5 years, 1 day) | 54–59 | Mayor of Huizen (1987–1995) Mayor of Den Helder (1995–2001) | Mayor of Coevorden (1975–1982) State Secretary for Defence (1982–1986) Member of the Senate (2003–2007) | Hans Dijkstal (1998–2002) |
| | Bas Eenhoorn (born 1946) | 28 May 1999 – 28 November 2003 (4 years, 184 days) | 52–57 | | Mayor of Schiermonnikoog (1976–1983) Mayor of Voorburg (1983–1996) Mayor of Lansingerland (2007) Mayor of Kaag en Braassem (2009–2010) Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn (2010–2014) Mayor of Vlaardingen (2014) Mayor of Amstelveen (2017–present) | Hans Dijkstal (1998–2002) |
| | Bas Eenhoorn (born 1946) | 28 May 1999 – 28 November 2003 (4 years, 184 days) | 52–57 | | Mayor of Schiermonnikoog (1976–1983) Mayor of Voorburg (1983–1996) Mayor of Lansingerland (2007) Mayor of Kaag en Braassem (2009–2010) Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn (2010–2014) Mayor of Vlaardingen (2014) Mayor of Amstelveen (2017–present) | Gerrit Zalm (2002–2004) |
| | Jan van Zanen (born 1961) | 28 November 2003 – 23 May 2008 (4 years, 177 days) | 41–46 | Mayor of Amstelveen (2005–2014) | Mayor of Utrecht (since 2014) | Gerrit Zalm (2002–2004) |
| | Jan van Zanen (born 1961) | 28 November 2003 – 23 May 2008 (4 years, 177 days) | 41–46 | Mayor of Amstelveen (2005–2014) | Mayor of Utrecht (since 2014) | Jozias van Aartsen (2004–2006) |
| | Jan van Zanen (born 1961) | 28 November 2003 – 23 May 2008 (4 years, 177 days) | 41–46 | Mayor of Amstelveen (2005–2014) | Mayor of Utrecht (since 2014) | Mark Rutte (since 2006) |
| | Ivo Opstelten (born 1944) | 23 May 2008 – 14 October 2010 (2 years, 144 days) | 64–66 | | Mayor of Dalen (1972–1977) Mayor of Doorn (1977–1980) Mayor of Delfzijl (1980–1987) Mayor of Beerta (1983–1984) Mayor of Utrecht (1992–1999) Mayor of Rotterdam (1999–2009) Mayor of Tilburg (2009–2010) Minister of Security and Justice (2010–2015) | Mark Rutte (since 2006) |
| Mark Rutte (since 2006) |||||||
| | Benk Korthals (born 1944) | 22 May 2011 – 14 June 2014 (3 years, 23 days) | 66–69 | | Member of the House of Representatives (1982–1998) (2002) Minister of Justice (1998–2002) Minister of Defence (2002) | Mark Rutte (since 2006) |
| | Henry Keizer (1960–2019) | 14 June 2014 – 18 May 2017 (2 years, 338 days) | 53–56 | | | Mark Rutte (since 2006) |
| Mark Rutte (since 2006) |||||||
| | Christianne van der Wal (born 1973) | 25 November 2017 – 10 January 2022 (4 years, 46 days) | 44–48 | Alderwoman in Harderwijk (2014–2019) Minister without portfolio (since 2020) | | Mark Rutte (since 2006) |
| | Onno Hoes (born 1961) | 10 January 2022 – Incumbent (3 years, 41 days) | 60– | Mayor of Maastricht (2010–2015) Mayor of Haarlemmermeer (2017–2019) | | Mark Rutte (since 2006) |

## Vice Chairs

* Pieter Oud (28 January 1948 – 8 April 1949)
* Harm van Riel (8 April 1949 – 15 May 1963)
* Johan Witteveen (15 May 1963 – 24 July 1963)
* Hans Roelen (24 July 1963 – 16 July 1969)
* Henk Talsma (16 July 1969 – 1978)
* Hendrik Toxopeus (1978 – 1979)
* Jan Kamminga (1979 – 22 May 1981)
* Liesbeth Tuijnman (22 May 1981 – December 1985)
* Ivo Opstelten (February 1986 – 22 May 1993)
* Jan Gmelich Meijling (22 May 1993 – 22 Augustus 1994)
* Ronald Haafkens (22 Augustus 1994 – 28 May 1999)
* Sari van Heemskerck Pillis-Duvekot (28 May 1999 – 2004; Co-Chair)
* Rudolf Sandberg tot Essenburg (28 May 1999 – 2000; Co-Chair)
* Paul Tirion (2000 – 2001; Co-Chair)
* Mark Harbers (2001 – 2005; Co-Chair)
* Ines Adema (2004 – 4 April 2008; Co-Chair)
* Rogier van der Sande (2005 – 4 April 2008; Co-Chair)
* Mark Verheijen (4 April 2008 – 21 May 2012)
* Wiet de Bruijn (21 May 2012 – 14 June 2014; Co-Chair)
* Robert Reibestein (21 May 2012 – 14 June 2014;Co-Chair)
* Jeannette Baljeu (14 June 2014 – 20 May 2017)
* Eric Wetzels (since 20 May 2017)