Jet Bussemaker

Who is Jet Bussemaker?

Mariëtte Bussemaker is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party. She has been Minister for Education, Culture and Science in the second Rutte cabinet since November 5, 2012.

Jet Bussemaker attended primary and secondary education in Oegstgeest. She subsequently studied at the University of Amsterdam where she graduated cum laude and obtained a MSc degree in political science. In 1993 she received her PhD degree in political and social-cultural sciences at the same university. Between 1993 and 1998 she was assistant professor of political science at the University of Amsterdam. She had been a member of the GreenLeft party during that period, but in 1995 she left it to join the Dutch Labour Party.

In the 1998 elections Bussemaker was elected into the House of Representatives. She specialized in employment policy, health care and taxes. In 2000 she was co-initiator of a proposal to allow conscientious objection for working on Sundays. This proposal became law in 2002. She remained assistant professor during her membership of the House of Representatives, now at the VU University of Amsterdam.