Hans Gruijters
Encyclopedia
Johannes Petrus Adrianus (Hans) Gruijters (Helmond
, June 30, 1931 – Lelystad
, April 17, 2005) was a Dutch politician
, and a co-founder of the Dutch social-liberal party D66
and political and social sciences at the University of Amsterdam. In 1954 he received a Master degree in psychology
. After that he became the executive secretary with a textile company in Helmond
. Later he was a joint proprietor of various companies in hotel and catering industry in Amsterdam
. From 1960 to 1967 he ran the foreign affairs section of the Dutch paper "Algemeen Handelsblad
". From 1971 to 1973 he was the main editor of the VNU
– a Dutch
media conglomerate
. As a politician
Gruijters was an active member of the VVD. Later he became one of the founders of the D66.
Until 1966 Gruijters was a member of the VVD. As of 1959 he acted as the chairman of the Amsterdam’s JOVD. From November 1962 until March 21, 1966 he was VVD’s representative in the Amsterdam’s
city council. After a conflict which had been provoked by his decision not to attend the wedding ceremony of Princess Beatrix
and Claus von Amsberg
he left the VVD. He thought that the marriage would not contribute to the social role that the royal house should play in society.
Together with Hans van Mierlo
he founded D66 in 1966 . From July 7, 1970 to 1971 he was a member of the Provincial Council of North Holland
. As of December 7, 1972 until May 11, 1973 he was a member of the Dutch House of Representatives. From May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977 he was a minister of public housing and environmental planning in the cabinet of Den Uyl
. In 2004 he left the D66 as he felt no longer to be welcome there.
Helmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
, June 30, 1931 – Lelystad
Lelystad
Lelystad is a municipality and a city in the centre of the Netherlands, and it is the capital of the province of Flevoland. The city, built on reclaimed land, was founded in 1967 and was named after Cornelis Lely, who engineered the Afsluitdijk, making the reclamation possible...
, April 17, 2005) was a Dutch politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and a co-founder of the Dutch social-liberal party D66
Democrats 66
Democrats 66 is a progressive and social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. D66 was formed in 1966 by a group of politically unaligned, young intellectuals, led by journalist Hans van Mierlo. The party's main objective was to democratise the political system; it proposed to create an...
Biography
Hans Gruijters studied psychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and political and social sciences at the University of Amsterdam. In 1954 he received a Master degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. After that he became the executive secretary with a textile company in Helmond
Helmond
Helmond is a municipality and a city in the province of North Brabant in the southern Netherlands.- Quarters and Neighbourhoods :*Quarter 11 Inner City**Neighbourhood 0 Centrum**Neighbourhood 2 Leonardus**Neighbourhood 3 Heipoort...
. Later he was a joint proprietor of various companies in hotel and catering industry in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
. From 1960 to 1967 he ran the foreign affairs section of the Dutch paper "Algemeen Handelsblad
Algemeen Handelsblad
Algemeen Handelsblad was an influential Amsterdam-based liberal daily newspaper, founded in 1828 by J.W. van den Biesen. At the peak of its influence -- from the time of the Boer War, when it championed the Boer cause in South Africa, through World War I -- it was edited by Charles Boissevain.It...
". From 1971 to 1973 he was the main editor of the VNU
VNU
Nielsen is a global marketing and advertising research company headquartered in Lower Manhattan, New York City. Nielsen is active in over 100 countries, and employs some 32,000 people worldwide...
– a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
media conglomerate
Media conglomerate
A media conglomerate, media group or media institution is a company that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet...
. As a politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
Gruijters was an active member of the VVD. Later he became one of the founders of the D66.
Until 1966 Gruijters was a member of the VVD. As of 1959 he acted as the chairman of the Amsterdam’s JOVD. From November 1962 until March 21, 1966 he was VVD’s representative in the Amsterdam’s
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
city council. After a conflict which had been provoked by his decision not to attend the wedding ceremony of Princess Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
and Claus von Amsberg
Claus von Amsberg
Prince Claus of the Netherlands was the prince consort of the current Queen regnant of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix.-Biography:...
he left the VVD. He thought that the marriage would not contribute to the social role that the royal house should play in society.
Together with Hans van Mierlo
Hans van Mierlo
Henricus Antonius Franciscus Maria Oliva "Hans" van Mierlo was a Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 . In 1966 Van Mierlo together with Hans Gruijters founded the Democrats 66...
he founded D66 in 1966 . From July 7, 1970 to 1971 he was a member of the Provincial Council of North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
. As of December 7, 1972 until May 11, 1973 he was a member of the Dutch House of Representatives. From May 11, 1973 until December 19, 1977 he was a minister of public housing and environmental planning in the cabinet of Den Uyl
Netherlands cabinet Den Uyl
The Den Uyl cabinet was a Dutch left-wing cabinet under prime minister Joop den Uyl with ministers from PvdA, PPR, D66, KVP and ARP. The last two parties were actually moderately right-wing, but left-wing elements within these parties supported cabinet den Uyl to create a left-wing majority...
. In 2004 he left the D66 as he felt no longer to be welcome there.