POLITICIAN

Frits Bolkestein

1933 - 2025

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Frederik "Frits" Bolkestein (Dutch: [ˈfreːdərɪk frɪts ˈbɔlkəstɛin] ; 4 April 1933 – 17 February 2025) was a Dutch politician and energy executive who served as Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 1990 to 1998 and European Commissioner for Internal Market from 1999 until 2004 under Romano Prodi. Bolkestein worked as a corporate director for Royal Dutch Shell from May 1960 until July 1976 and as a manager for an engineering company in Amsterdam from September 1976 until January 1978. Bolkestein became a member of the House of Representatives shortly after election of 1977 taking office on 16 January 1978 serving as a frontbencher and spokesman for Economic Affairs. After the election of 1982 Bolkestein was appointed State Secretary for Economic Affairs in the Cabinet Lubbers I taking office on 5 November 1982. Read more on Wikipedia

His biography is available in different languages on Wikipedia. Frits Bolkestein is the 7,579th most popular politician (up from 9,536th in 2019), the 306th most popular biography from Netherlands (up from 421st in 2019) and the 52nd most popular Dutch Politician.

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Among POLITICIANS

Among politicians, Frits Bolkestein ranks 7,579 out of 19,576. Before him are Max Koegel, Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus, Nepherites II, Wilhelm Ohnesorge, Azarmidokht, and Marcus Antonius Creticus. After him are Peire Vidal, Paul Wolfowitz, Senjūrō Hayashi, Jean Rey, Sobekhotep IV, and Bruno Streckenbach.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1933, Frits Bolkestein ranks 143. Before him are Sandra Milo, Shigeo Yaegashi, Maurice André, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, Luis Bacalov, and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici. After him are Princess María Teresa of Bourbon-Parma, John Gurdon, Bob Bennett, Fred Haise, Laura Mancinelli, and Viktor Patsayev. Among people deceased in 2025, Frits Bolkestein ranks 92. Before him are Werner Leimgruber, Dick McTaggart, Zoltán Horváth, Suchinda Kraprayoon, Fabio Cudicini, and Margarita Xhepa. After him are Jerry Butler, Priscilla Pointer, Eleonora Giorgi, Harry Bild, Eva Klein, and Andreas, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.

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In Netherlands

Among people born in Netherlands, Frits Bolkestein ranks 306 out of 1,646. Before him are Floris IV, Count of Holland (1210), Karel Doorman (1889), Philip William, Prince of Orange (1554), Esaias van de Velde (1587), Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1622), and Jan de Bont (1943). After him are C. H. D. Buys Ballot (1817), Jan van der Heyden (1637), Willem van de Velde the Younger (1633), Jan Joosten van Lodensteijn (1556), Herman Snellen (1834), and Isaac Titsingh (1745).

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Among POLITICIANS In Netherlands

Among politicians born in Netherlands, Frits Bolkestein ranks 52. Before him are Alexander, Prince of Orange (1851), Floris I, Count of Holland (1025), Countess Louise Henriette of Nassau (1627), Pieter van der Aa (1659), Floris IV, Count of Holland (1210), and Philip William, Prince of Orange (1554). After him are Joop den Uyl (1919), Henk Sneevliet (1883), Frederick William, Prince of Nassau-Weilburg (1768), Dirk V, Count of Holland (1053), Joseph Luns (1911), and Princess Carolina of Orange-Nassau (1743).

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