Dick Schoof

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Dick Schoof
A Caucasian man in suit looking at the camera in front of a grey background
Schoof in 2016
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Assuming office
TBA
MonarchWillem-Alexander
DeputyTBA
SucceedingMark Rutte
Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Security
In office
1 March 2020 – 28 May 2024
Preceded bySiebe Riedstra
Succeeded byTBD
Director-General of the General Intelligence and Security Service
In office
20 November 2018 – 10 February 2020
Preceded byRob Bertholee
Succeeded byErik Akerboom
National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism
In office
1 March 2013 – 19 November 2018
Preceded byErik Akerboom
Succeeded byPieter-Jaap Aalbersberg
Chief Director of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service
In office
1 December 1999 – 1 March 2003
Personal details
Born
Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof

(1957-03-08) 8 March 1957 (age 67)
Santpoort, Netherlands
Political partyIndependent (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		PvdA (until 2021)
SpouseYolanda Senf (div.)
Children2
RelativesNico Schoof [nl] (brother)
Alma materRadboud University (MSc)
OccupationCivil servant

Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria "Dick" Schoof (born 8 March 1957) is a Dutch civil servant. Since March 2020, he has been secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security. As of May 2024, Schoof is being considered for Prime Minister of the Netherlands by the coalition parties PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB.[1]

Schoof was born in Santpoort in 1957 and studied at Radboud University. He started his career at the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG), then became a civil servant at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in 1988 and deputy secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security in 1996. Schoof later led the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, reformed immigration laws, and restructured the police into a national force. As the head of the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, he faced criticism over the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 investigation. In 2019, Schoof was announced as secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security to address scandals in the Ministry.[2]

Early life and education[edit]

Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof was born into a large Catholic family of seven,[1][3] in the village of Santpoort on 8 March 1957.[4] At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Hengelo, where he attended the Lyceum Grundel.[5] From 1975 to 1982, he studied urban and regional planning at Radboud University.[4] He was a member of its rowing-oriented student association Phocas and served as its chair.[6]

Civil service career[edit]

Schoof's first job was as an education policy advisor for the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG).[6] In 1988 he became a civil servant at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences and in 1996 he was appointed as deputy secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice.[4] After this, Schoof was appointed as head of a number of justice and security related services: he was chief director at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (from 1999 until 2003), project-director-general for the development of the new immigration legislation, director-general for the police (from 2010 until 2013), National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (head of the national counter terrorism unit) and director-general of the General Intelligence and Security Service.[7]

During his time at the Immigration and Naturalisation Service, Schoof played an important role in reforming the immigration legislation.[8] As director-general for the police, he was in charge during the restructuring of the police from a number of regional organizations into a single national police.[9] As head of the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, he was criticized for trying to influence the investigations around the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.[10][11]

In December 2019, Schoof was announced as the new secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security, the highest non-political position in the Ministry. Schoof was appointed to replace Siebe Riedstra [nl], who was not able to stem the flow of scandals at the Ministry.[10][12] The appointment took effect on 1 March 2020.[13] In his role, he was involved in negotiations on asylum reform that led to the collapse of the fourth Rutte cabinet in July 2023, as the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the Christian Union (CU) were unable to reach agreement. Schoof chose not to retire in March 2024 and was granted an exemption to continue working for three more years.[6]

Political career[edit]

Schoof was a member of the Labour Party (PvdA) for over 30 years, until he left in early 2021.[14] He was nominated as Prime Minister of the Netherlands on 28 May 2024 by the Party for Freedom (PVV), People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB), who had been in the process of forming a right-wing governing coalition since the November 2023 general election.[15][16] As part of negotiations, the four party leaders agreed none of them would serve as prime minister.[17] Following the conclusion of a coalition agreement on 16 May, the PVV had proposed Ronald Plasterk for the function, but he withdrew from consideration following a controversy.[16][18]

Personal life[edit]

Schoof's brother Nico Schoof [nl], who is ten years older, is a former mayor of various Dutch cities.[3][19]

Schoof has a girlfriend and two daughters adopted from China with his ex-wife, Yolanda Senf.[20] He lives in Zoetermeer with his partner.[21] He likes running, having completed his 18th marathon in 2024.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Blacquière, Jan; Bovenkamp, Niels van den (28 May 2024). "Geboren katholiek, die door de jaren heen krasjes opliep. Wie is Dick Schoof, de beoogd premier?". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  2. ^ Adriaanse, Mark Lievisse (19 December 2019). "AIVD-baas Schoof gaat Justitie leiden". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Drs. H.W.M. (Dick) Schoof". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Harreveld, Mark van; Verbeek, Julian (28 May 2024). "Dit weten we over Dick Schoof, de premierskandidaat van PVV, VVD, NSC & BBB". BNR Nieuwsradio (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ "De Hengelose roots van beoogd premier Dick Schoof: 'Bij thuiskomst zag ik allemaal gemiste oproepen en appjes'". 1Twente (in Dutch). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Dick Schoof zeer ervaren op gebied van justitie en asiel" [Dick Schoof particularly experienced on matters of justice and asylum]. NOS (in Dutch). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Dick Schoof". Follow the Money (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  8. ^ Adriaanse, Mark Lievisse (19 December 2019). "AIVD-baas Schoof gaat Justitie leiden". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  9. ^ Keken, Kim van (11 October 2017). "Reconstructie: hoe bij de schepping van de nationale politie alle waarschuwingen werden genegeerd". De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  10. ^ a b "Insider Schoof moet rust brengen op Justitie en Veiligheid". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. ^ "Kamer eist opheldering na bemoeienis Schoof bij MH17-onderzoek: 'Absolute no go'". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 8 February 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Dick Schoof vertrekt als directeur van de AIVD". BeveiligingNieuws (in Dutch). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Dick Schoof benoemd tot secretaris-generaal JenV". Rijksoverheid (in Dutch). 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  14. ^ "Schoof: ik ben niet de PVV-premier, ik ben gevraagd door vier partijen". NOS.nl (in Dutch). 27 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  15. ^ Kroet, Cynthia (29 May 2024). "Who is Dick Schoof and why did Geert Wilders choose him as new PM?". euronews. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Topambtenaar Dick Schoof (ex-AIVD, ex-NCTV) kandidaat-premier" [High-ranking official Dick Schoof (former AIVD and NCTV) nominated as prime minister]. NOS (in Dutch). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  17. ^ Goot, Edo van der (13 March 2024). "Wilders geeft premierschap op, leiders PVV, VVD, NSC en BBB niet in kabinet" [Wilders surrenders position of prime minister, leaders of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB not in cabinet]. NU.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  18. ^ "Partijleiders nu definitief akkoord • Presentatie verschoven naar vanochtend" [Party leaders definitively in agreement • Presentation postponed to this morning]. NOS (in Dutch). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  19. ^ Kouwenhoven, Andreas; Versteegh, Kees (14 February 2015). "Mister Veiligheid neemt alle ruimte". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  20. ^ Hartog, Tobias den; Keultjes, Hanneke; Verweij, Elodie (28 May 2024). "'Dick Donder' en 'Lachende moordenaar': met Dick Schoof krijgt Nederland premier die stiekem best op Rutte lijkt". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  21. ^ Kleijwegt, Francis (29 May 2024). "Dick Schoof op hardloopschoenen, Zoetermeer kijkt er niet van op". Omroep West (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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