1. Barend Willem Biesheuvel was a Dutch politician of the Anti-Revolutionary Party and jurist who served as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 6 July 1971 until 11 May 1973.
13 Facts About Barend Biesheuvel
1. 2.
Barend Biesheuvel became a member of the House of Representatives shortly after the number of seats was raised from 100 to 150 seats following the 1956 general election, taking office on 6 November 1956.
3.
Barend Biesheuvel served as a frontbencher and spokesperson for agriculture, local government affairs and Kingdom relations.
4.
Barend Biesheuvel was selected as a Member of the European Parliament, taking office on 7 March 1961.
5.
The cabinet fell on 27 February 1965 and was replaced by the Cals cabinet, with Barend Biesheuvel continuing his offices.
6.
Barend Biesheuvel left office upon the installation of the Den Uyl cabinet on 11 May 1973 and announced his retirement, stepping down as party leader on 15 May 1973.
7.
Barend Biesheuvel retired from active politics at just 53 and became active in the private and public sectors as a corporate and non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and continued to be active as a lobbyist for the European Union advocating for more European integration.
8.
Barend Biesheuvel was known for his abilities as skilful manager and effective Debater.
9.
Barend Biesheuvel continued to comment on political affairs as a statesman until his death at the age of 81 from cardiovascular disease.
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Barend Biesheuvel holds the distinction as leading the last cabinet in which the prime minister was not from the largest party in the coalition, and his premiership is consistently considered both by scholars and the public to have been below average.
11.
In 1952 Barend Biesheuvel became general secretary of the Christian Farmers and Gardeners Association of the Netherlands and in 1959 chairman of that organisation.
12.
From 1971 to 1973 Barend Biesheuvel was prime minister of the Netherlands.
13.
Barend Biesheuvel died in a hospital in Haarlem from cardiovascular disease on 29 April 2001 at the age of 81.