14 Facts About Gerrit Zalm

Shortly after the election, party leader and parliamentary leader Hans Dijkstal announced he was stepping down and Gerrit Zalm was unanimously selected as his successor as leader on 16 May 2002, and became parliamentary leader on 23 May 2002.

On 27 November 2004 Gerrit Zalm announced he was stepping down as party leader in favor of and parliamentary leader Jozias van Aartsen.

The Balkenende II cabinet fell on 30 June 2006 and was replaced by the caretaker Balkenende III cabinet, with Gerrit Zalm continuing his offices.

Gerrit Zalm retired from active politics at 54 and became active in the private sector as a corporate director, and worked as a banker for the DSB Bank, Fortis Bank and ABN AMRO from July 2007 until February 2017.

Gerrit Zalm is known for his abilities as a skilful manager and effective debater and as of 2025 continues to comment on political affairs.

Gerrit Zalm holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Finance, with 11 years and 240 days, in Dutch history.

Gerrit Zalm was born on 6 May 1952 in Enkhuizen, Netherlands.

In that capacity Gerrit Zalm had, although not formally a politician, a significant influence on politics.

On 26 November 2006, Gerrit Zalm announced in the Sunday morning talk show Buitenhof that he would step down from politics and would probably seek employment in the private sector.

Three months after his 2007 retirement from politics, Gerrit Zalm went to work for DSB Bank, a company that he had criticized in his earlier role as finance minister for what he considered misleading advertising for consumer credit.

Gerrit Zalm initially held the position of chief economist, but quickly became CFO of the faltering bank after the Dutch central bank DNB had threatened to curtail DSB's financial autonomy.

On 21 November 2008 it was announced by Prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende that Gerrit Zalm will be the new CEO of the bank resulting from the merger of ABN and Fortis Netherlands, two recently nationalized banks.

Gerrit Zalm is a fan of the game of pinball and during his second term as Minister of Finance he had a pinball machine in his department.

Gerrit Zalm is an honorary member of the Dutch Pinball Association.