Barend Biesheuvel

Who was Barend Biesheuvel?

Barend Willem Biesheuvel was a Dutch politician of the defunct Anti Revolutionary Party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal. He served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from July 6, 1971 until May 11, 1973.

A Civil servant and Trade Union Leader by occupation, he was General Secretary of the Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association of the Netherlands from 1952 until 1959 and Chairman 1959 until 1963. Biesheuvel became a Member of the House of Representatives on November 6, 1956 after the Dutch general election of 1956. On March 7, 1961 he was selected as a Member of the European Parliament and dual served in those positions until July 24, 1963. Biesheuvel became the lijsttrekker of the Anti Revolutionary Party for the Dutch general election of 1963 and served as Party leader from July 1, 1963 until March 7, 1973. The Anti Revolutionary Party lost one seat but the following cabinet formation resulted in a coalition agreement which formed the Cabinet Marijnen, Biesheuvel became Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Suriname and Netherlands Antilles Affairs.