Dirk Stikker

Who was Dirk Stikker?

Dirk Uipko Stikker, GBE, GCVO was a Dutch banker, industrialist, politician, and diplomat.

Born in Winschoten, he studied law at the University of Groningen. After his studies he began a career in the banking sector. In 1935, he became director of Heineken International, the famous beer company. He held this post until 1948.

In 1945, he was among the organizers of the Stichting van de Arbeid, thus helping to lay the foundation of post-war collective bargaining in the Netherlands.

In 1964, Stikker was awarded an honorary doctorate by Brown University. He died in Wassenaar in 1979, aged 82.