page_title: Marga Klompé
section_title: Biography
hierarchical_section_title: Marga Klompé / Biography
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Collectie / Archief&#160;: Fotocollectie Anefo Reportage / Serie&#160;: [ onbekend ] Beschrijving&#160;: Behandeling van de omroep- en TV-wet in de Tweede Kamer; v.l.n.r.: minister De Quay, minister Klompé en dhr. Verhoeven (directeur-generaal Maatschappelijk Werk) Datum&#160;: 16 januari 1967 Locatie&#160;: Den Haag, Zuid-Holland Trefwoorden&#160;: ambtenaren, mediabeleid, ministers, parlementaire debatten, politiek Persoonsnaam&#160;: Klompé, Marga, Quay, J.E. de Fotograaf&#160;: Nijs, Jac. de / Anefo Auteursrechthebbende&#160;: Nationaal Archief Materiaalsoort&#160;: Negatief (zwart/wit) Nummer archiefinventaris&#160;: bekijk toegang 2.24.01.05 Bestanddeelnummer&#160;: 919-9886
context_page_description: Margaretha Albertina Maria "Marga" Klompé was a Dutch politician of the defunct Catholic People's Party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal party and chemist. She was granted the honorary title of Minister of State on 17 July 1971.
  Klompé attended a Gymnasium in Arnhem from June 1925 until June 1929 and applied at the Utrecht University in June 1929 majoring in Chemistry and obtaining an Bachelor of Science in Chemistry degree in April 1931 before graduating with an Master of Science in Chemistry degree in July 1932. Klompé worked as a science teacher in Nijmegen from July 1932 until August 1949. Klompé returned to the Utrecht University in June 1933 for a postgraduate education in Physics and Mathematics obtaining an Bachelor of Science degree in Physics and an Bachelor of Mathematics degree in July 1934 before graduating with an Master of Physics degree and an Master of Mathematics degree in July 1936. On 10 May 1940 Nazi Germany invaded the Netherlands and the government fled to London to escape the German occupation.
context_section_description: Margaretha Albertina Maria Klompé was born on 16 August 1912 in Arnhem in the Netherlands into a Catholic family of five children. Her father was the Dutch J. P. M. Klompé, who owned a stationery shop and her mother was the German-born A. M. J. A. Verdang.
  Klompé attended the Utrecht University in 1929, where she obtained an MSc degree in chemistry in 1937. During these years, and as a result of her studies, Klompé started to question several aspects of religion and in particular the institute itself. Following this crisis, Klompé's commitment to religion was reinforced which she combined with an open mind.
  Klompé received a PhD degree in mathematics and physics in 1941 and went on to teach chemistry and physics in the Mater Dei High School for girls between 1932 and 1949 in Nijmegen.
  In 1942, Klompé also started to study medicine at the University of Utrecht, but when the Second World War broke out the university was closed. During the war years, Klompé was active in the Dutch underground resistance as a messenger.
  After the war, Klompé started to focus on politics, which was rather unusual for a woman at the time. In 1948, she entered the House of Representatives and by 1956 she became the first female secretary of the Netherlands focusing on Social Affairs. Her main contribution was the passing of the Social Security Bill in 1963, which replaced the previous Poverty Bill.
  Klompé was also a member of several national and international associations, such as the Council of Europe and the Joint Task Force for European Cooperation in Development.
  In addition, Klompé was involved in the Catholic community. She was a member of the national council for the Bishops' Conference, member of the Papal Commission 'Justitia et Pax', and also founded the union of Roman Catholic female graduates.
  Furthermore, Klompé supported the underprivileged in society. Therefore, her critics called her 'Our Lady of Perpetual Succour'.
  Klompé died on 28 October 1986 in The Hague.
caption: Deputy Prime Minister Jan de Quay, Minister of Culture, Recreation and Social Work Marga Klompé and the Director of the Social Service Jan Verhoeven during public broadcasting debate in the House of Representatives on 16 January 1967.
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