10 Facts About Kees Staf

Cornelis "Kees" Staf was a Dutch politician of the defunct Christian Historical Union party now merged into the Christian Democratic Appeal party and businessman.

Kees Staf served in the Royal Netherlands East Indies Army as a Sergeant in the Corps of Engineers stationed in Sawah Besar from December 1928 until December 1929.

Kees Staf worked for the land reclamation Dutch Heidemaatschappij Company from December 1929 until January 1941 and was CEO and Chairman of the board of directors from November 1939 until May 1941, and he worked as a civil servant for the province of Gelderland from August 1939 until May 1940.

Kees Staf was elected as a Member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1952, taking office on 15 July 1952.

Kees Staf was appointed as Minister of Colonial Affairs following the death of Willem Kernkamp and dual served in both positions, taking office on 18 July 1956.

On 16 February 1957 Kees Staf resigned as Minister of Colonial Affairs following the appointment of Gerard Helders but continued as Minister of Defence.

Kees Staf served as acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies following the appointment of Sicco Mansholt as the first European Commissioner from the Netherlands, serving from 1 January 1958 until 13 January 1958.

The Cabinet Drees III fell on 11 December 1958 and continued to serve in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Beel II with Kees Staf continuing as Minister of Defence and took over as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies, taking office on 22 December 1958.

In January 1959 Kees Staf announced that he would not stand for the election of 1959.

Kees Staf remained in active politics, he became a Member of the Senate after the death of Gualtherus Kolff, taking office on 9 June 1959.