10 54 the INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

ShortFeature

1BERNARD WIENTJES (67)

2ALEXANDER RINNOOY KAN (61) 3 NOUT WELLINK (67)

PEOPLE YOU NEED TO KNOW IN DUTCH POLITICS

Starting a business in The Netherlands? Want to invest in or take over a Dutch company, but having trouble to interpret the rules and regulations? It can be useful to have friends in high places to help you find your way in the jungle of Dutch politics. But who do you turn to? Below a list of influential people who can help you to get things done or prevented.

Main position chairman of VNO-NCW (Confederation of Dutch Industry and

Employers), vice-president of the SER (Social and Economic Council), co-chairman

of the Joint Industrial Labour Council and vice-president of BUSINESSEUROPE

(Confederation of European Industry and Employers Federations).

Education Dutch Law.

Past director-owner at Wientjes Beheer (1967-1999), board of directors

Villeroy & Boch (1999-2005).

Lobby affairs concerning labour laws, employers.

Wientjes was a successful businessman before he became chair-man at employers’ federation VNO-NCW in 2005. He is a strong advocate for liberalising the law on termination and raising the age limit for the AOW (Dutch state pension) to 67 years. VNO-NCW did some successful lobbying last year when the new gover-nment was formed. They got their long standing wish: a bigger department of Economic Affairs with a powerful minister, Maxi-me Verhagen. Wientjes is a very good negotiator and regularly travels abroad on economic missions. He does not like to be in the headlights though. “Lobbying works better in the background. We only seek publicity if there is no other way,’’ he said when he was voted most influential Dutchman by newspaper de Volkskrant.

Main position president of the SER.

Education Mathematics, Econometrics.

Past professor and rector at the

Erasmus University, chairman VNO-

NCW (1991-1996), board of directors

ING (1996-2006).

Lobby knowledge-driven economy,

innovation.

Rinnooy Kan has been the head

of the SER since 2006. It is the most influential advisory body of the government. Rinnooy Kan is known as a very intel-ligent person, intellectually as well as socially. One of few people with a combined exper-tise on science, business and public administration.”Lobbying is no rocket sci-ence,’’ he said as the head of the innovation platform KIA. ”We just call someone we know, or run into some-one and point out our plans on knowledge economy. We keep reminding them and keep put-ting on the pressure.’’

Main position president of DNB (The

Dutch Central Bank).

Education Dutch Law, Economics.

Past several positions at the Ministry

of Finance (1970-1982).

Lobby banking, finances.

Wellink has been part of the management of DNB since 1982 and became president

in 1997. DNB safeguards the financial stability in Holland and provides economic advice on national and international decisions. Wellink was heavily criticised during the econo-mic crisis, for his role in the take-over of ABN Amro, the bankruptcy of DSB and the problems with Icesave. Though he survived this storm he will not serve another term and will leave DNB this year. The rumour is that he is aiming for the position of Jean-Claude Trichet, president of the ECB (European Central Bank), who-se term ends in November.

Main position board of directors at Royal Dutch Shell, chairman of the board at ING and Philips.

Education Mechanical Engineering, Economics.

Past CEO Shell Chemicals USA (1995-1997), managing director Shell Group (1997-2000), president director Royal Shell and

vice-chairman Shell Group (200-2004), CEO of petroleum corporation Royal Dutch Shell (2004-2009)

Lobby petrochemical industry, energy sector.

If you are doing business in the petrochemical industry you might want to contact Jeroen van der Veer, former CEO at Holland’s most powerful company Royal Dutch Shell. Van der Veer had been working for Shell all over the world since 1971. Retired in 2009, but remains on the board of di-rectors. Advised NATO on new strategies, with Madeleine Albright. Known for his cool Dutch way of doing business. Was asked by the government to spearhead a team that advises about energy affairs.

the INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT 55

5 ANNEMARIE JORRITSMA (60)

7 BOELE STAAL (63) 8 HANS SMITS (60)

6 AGNES JONGERIUS (50)

9 BERNARD (BEN) BOT (74) 10 FRITS WESTER (49)

4 JEROEN VAN DER VEER (63)

Main position chairman of the NVB

(Association of Dutch Banks).

Education Law.

Past chief of police in Almere (1982-

1987), D’66-member of the Senate

(1991-1998), provincial governor of

Utrecht (1998-2006).

Lobby banking, finances.

Boele Staal is chairman of the NVB since 2007. Also a mem-ber of VNO-NCW, the SER and De Nederlandsche Bank. The NVB consults with regulators, the Dutch government and many public organisations and interest groups.

PHOTOGRAPHY DNB, VNG, Shell, VNO NCW

Main position CEO of the Port of Rot-

terdam Authority.

Education Civil Engineering, Business

Administration.

Past secretary-general at Ministry of

Transport, Public Works and Water

Management (1989-1992), president-

director Schiphol (1992-1998),

CEO Rabobank (1999-2002).

Lobby Transport.

Hans Smits has an impressive expertise on transport, as a politician and a businessman. Knows everything about trans-porting people and goods. Took the challenge in 2005 to main-tain and expand Rotterdam’s position as number 1 harbour in Europe. Is also a member of the board of directors of KLM.

Main position consultant at lobby-

agency Meines & Partners.

Education Law.

Past ambassador in East-Berlin (1973-

1976) and Ankara (1986-1988), perma-

nent representative to the European

Union (1992-2003), minister of Foreign

Affairs (2003-2007).

Lobby all-round.

Former minister of Foreign Af-fairs Ben Bot works for Meines & Partners, a company speci-alised in lobbying. They serve clients from all over the world. Ben Bot has an extensive net-work, with contacts in Brus-sels and the diplomatic circuit. A very charming and capable man and a strong negotiator.

Main position Parliamentary reporter

for RTL4.

Education Secondary school.

Past public relations officer at CDA

(1990-1994).

Lobby public opinion.

Maybe odd to name a practi-cing journalist in this list, but Frits Wester knows everyone in political The Hague. This for-mer spindoctor for the Chris-tian Democratic Party CDA is the spider in the political web, knows what goes on behind the scenes and as a result has a lot of scoops. He is also one of the most active Twitterers, and has numerous followers. His influence on the public opi-nion is huge.

Main position chairwoman of the federation of trade unions FNV.

Education Social Economic History.

Past several positions at FNV (1987-2005).

Lobby affairs concerning labour laws, employees, union.

Jongerius is probably the most powerful lady in Dutch lobbying and the first woman to lead FNV. Started out in the transport section of FNV and worked her way up to chairwoman in 2005. Has an extensive network in high places, is very open and approachable. Called the Rutte-government a ‘rich boys’ parliament’. Jongerius is a strong opponent of raising the AOW-age limit [retirement age], but lost that battle to her adversary in Dutch politics Bernard Wientjes of VNO-NCW.

Main position president of the VNG (Union of Dutch municipalities), mayor of Almere.

Education Touristic schooling, French.

Past member of the Lower House (1982-1994), minister of Transport and Waterworks (1994-1998), minister of Economic

Affairs and vice-president (1998-2002).

Lobby local tax policy, land-use plans.

Influential politician for the li beral party VVD. Mayor of Al mere since 2003. Was running for mayor of Amsterdam last year, but lost to Eberhard van der Laan. As local authorities are allocated more and more responsibilities, the VNG’s in fluence is growing. Hosts her own business television show: Jorritsma blikt vooruit (Jorritsma looks ahead).