Henk Staghouwer
{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1962)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image = Henk Staghouwer, January 2022.jpg
| caption = Staghouwer in 2022
| office3 = Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality
| term_start3 = 10 January 2022
| term_end3 = 5 September 2022
| predecessor3 = Carola Schouten
| successor3 = Piet Adema
| office5 = Provincial executive of Groningen
| term_start5 = 24 April 2013
| term_end5 = 10 January 2022
| office6 = Group leader of the Christian Union in the Provincial Council of Groningen
| term_start6 = 2007
| term_end6 = 2013
| office7 = Member of the
Provincial Council of Groningen
| term_start7 = 2002
| term_end7 = 2013
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|2|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = Hoogkerk, Netherlands
| party = Christian Union
}}
Henk Staghouwer (born 14 February 1962){{cite web | url=https://www.nu.nl/politiek/6176229/overzicht-hier-kun-je-de-nieuwe-ministers-van-kennen.html | title=Overzicht: Hier kun je de nieuwe ministers van kennen | date=January 2, 2022 }} is a Dutch administrator and Christian Union politician. He served as Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the fourth Rutte cabinet from 10 January to 5 September 2022. From 24 April 2013 to 10 January 2022 he was a member of the provincial executive of Groningen.
Education and career
Staghouwer went to middle school from 1974 to 1978, and from 1978 to 1982 he followed a vocational training course at the present Noorderpoort in Groningen, and from 1981 to 1982, he followed an entrepreneurial course at the present Piter Jelles in Leeuwarden. From 1978 to 1989, he worked at a bakery in Zuidhorn, and from 1989 to 2012, he was director and owner of bakery chain Staghouwer.
Until 2013, Staghouwer also held various additional positions, such as board member of the Company Pension Fund for the Bakery, Kredietunie Nederland, and the Kredietunie voor de Bakkerij. Until April 2015, he was a part-time deputy, and he was also treasurer of the Dutch Bread and Pastry Bakers Association NBOV, and advisor to the PUM, Program Broadcast Managers.{{cite web | url=https://www.westerkwartier.nu/nieuwe-eigenaar-bakkerij-staghouwer/ | title=WesterkwartierNU | Nieuwe eigenaar Bakkerij Staghouwer | date=September 25, 2011 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.vinkhuizen.nl/rondom-2/in-de-wijk/diversen/winkelcentrum/3082-bakkerij-staghouwer-vinkhuizen-wordt-overgenomen | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021033846/https://www.vinkhuizen.nl/rondom-2/in-de-wijk/diversen/winkelcentrum/3082-bakkerij-staghouwer-vinkhuizen-wordt-overgenomen | archive-date=October 21, 2019 | title=Wijkwebsite Vinkhuizen - Bakkerij Staghouwer Vinkhuizen wordt overgenomen }}{{cite web | url=https://www.bakkerswereld.nl/4264/bakkerij-van-esch-neemt-deel-staghouwer-over | title=Bakkerij van Esch neemt deel Staghouwer over | date=January 5, 2015 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/nieuws/nederland/artikel/5277948/kabinetsformatie-ministers-rutte-4 | title=Dit zijn de beoogde bewindslieden van het kabinet-Rutte IV | date=January 2, 2022 }}
Political career
Staghouwer was a member of the Provincial Council of Groningen from 2002 to 2013, becoming the Christian Union's group leader in 2007. From 2013, he was deputy of Groningen, succeeding Wiebe van der Ploeg. His portfolio included topsoil (damage, reinforcement, governance), agriculture and fisheries, nature and landscape, Wadden and Wadden Fund, internationalization and area North Groningen (Het Hogeland, Eemsdelta). Since the departure of Deputy Nienke Homan on 1 December 2021 he also had climate adaptation and water in his portfolio.{{Cite web | title=Henk Staghouwer, ChristenUnie - Provincie Groningen | url=https://www.provinciegroningen.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/gedeputeerde-staten/henk-staghouwer-christenunie/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428065846/https://www.provinciegroningen.nl/bestuur-en-organisatie/gedeputeerde-staten/henk-staghouwer-christenunie/ | access-date=2024-12-18 | archive-date=2019-04-28}}
In November 2021, Deputy Staghouwer came under fire because of a letter he sent on his own initiative in June to outgoing Minister of Economic Affairs Stef Blok as chairman of the Groningen Reinforcement Consultation (VOG).{{cite web | url=https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/866305/sp-wil-spoeddebat-over-brief-van-provinciebestuur-niet-bij-minister-op-schoot-zitten | title=SP wil spoeddebat over brief van provinciebestuur: 'Niet bij minister op schoot zitten' | date=November 4, 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/827163/gasberaad-ergert-zich-aan-rol-van-minister-blok-in-gaswet | title=Gasberaad ergert zich aan rol van minister Blok in Gaswet | date=June 16, 2021 }} This was a letter of support not to implement the amendments of Socialist lawmaker Sandra Beckerman. These amendments adopted by the House of Representatives (changes to a bill) were intended to support Groningen residents who are dealing with the consequences of gas extraction by means of legal assistance, and to offer them the opportunity to take control of the reinforcement process themselves.
Minister Blok wanted to ignore this amendment to the law because members of parliament Paul van Meenen (D66) and Agnes Mulder (CDA) accidentally voted for one of the two proposals on behalf of their group, resulting in a majority in the House.{{cite web | url=https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/817126/minister-bemoeit-zich-met-stemming-tweede-kamer-dat-hoort-niet | title=Minister bemoeit zich met stemming Tweede Kamer: 'Dat hoort niet' | date=May 12, 2021 }} At the request of outgoing Minister Blok of Economic Affairs, Staghouwer sent this letter of support on behalf of the Groningen Reinforcement Consultation (VOG), without consulting other Groningen administrators.{{cite news | url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/11/04/ministerie-ez-schakelde-gedeputeerde-in-voor-steun-in-kamerdebat-a4064256 | title=Ministerie EZ schakelde gedeputeerde in voor steun in gasdebat Tweede Kamer | newspaper=NRC | date=4 November 2021 | last1=Stokmans | first1=Derk | last2=Luyendijk | first2=Wubby }}{{cite web | url=https://dvhn.nl/groningen/Brieven-op-bestelling-Hoe-gedeputeerde-Henk-Staghouwer-van-Groningen-zich-liet-gebruiken-door-het-ministerie-van-Economische-Zaken-27126877.html | title=Brieven op bestelling: Hoe gedeputeerde Henk Staghouwer van Groningen zich liet gebruiken door het ministerie van Economische Zaken | date=4 November 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/868052/oppositie-in-staten-geeft-gedeputeerde-staghouwer-tik-op-de-vingers | title=Oppositie in Staten geeft gedeputeerde Staghouwer tik op de vingers | date=November 10, 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rtvnoord.nl/nieuws/866568/groninger-gasberaad-reageert-met-verbazing-op-brief-staghouwer-dit-doe-je-toch-niet-als-groninger | title=Groninger Gasberaad reageert met verbazing op brief Staghouwer: 'Dit doe je toch niet als Groninger?' | date=November 4, 2021 }}
Staghouwer was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the fourth Rutte cabinet on 10 January 2022, succeeding party colleague Carola Schouten.{{cite web | url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2411370-kabinet-rutte-iv-bijna-rond-bekende-gezichten-in-echt-nieuw-team | title=Kabinet-Rutte IV bijna rond: 'Bekende gezichten in echt nieuw team' | date=December 30, 2021 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/01/10/ontslagverlening-en-benoeming-kabinet | title=Ontslagverlening en benoeming kabinet - Nieuwsbericht - Rijksoverheid.nl | date=January 10, 2022 | access-date=July 12, 2022 | archive-date=May 11, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511114519/https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/actueel/nieuws/2022/01/10/ontslagverlening-en-benoeming-kabinet | url-status=dead }} As a minister, his portfolio includes agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, food quality, animal welfare and animal health (DGF), plant breeders' rights, and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority. He resigned on 5 September 2022, citing insufficient parliamentary confidence.{{Cite web |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2443445-staghouwer-stapt-op-als-minister-van-landbouw |title=Staghouwer stapt op als minister van Landbouw |date=September 5, 2022}} Carola Schouten, now also minister for Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions, returned as acting agriculture minister.{{cite web|url=https://www.nieuweoogst.nl/nieuws/2022/09/05/staghouwer-stapt-op-schouten-neemt-taken-waar|title=Staghouwer stapt op, Schouten neemt taken waar|last=Smit|first=Peter|date=5 September 2022|website=NieuweOogst.nl|access-date=6 September 2022}} On 3 October former Christian Union party chairman Piet Adema took office as minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.{{cite news|last=Marée|first=Koen|date=3 October 2022|title=Piet Adema (ChristenUnie) nieuwe minister van Landbouw|url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/10/03/piet-adema-christenunie-nieuwe-minister-van-landbouw-a4143899|language=nl|work=NRC|location=The Hague|access-date=3 October 2022}}
Staghouwer became chair of Food Banks Netherlands in January 2023.{{Cite news |url = https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5481728/13-bewindslieden-van-kabinet-rutte-iv-hebben-nog-geen-nieuwe-baan |date = 24 November 2024 |access-date = 28 November 2024 |language = nl |website = RTL Nieuws |title = 13 bewindslieden van kabinet-Rutte IV hebben nog geen nieuwe baan |trans-title = 13 cabinet members of the fourth Rutte cabinet are still without a job }}{{Cite press release |url = https://voedselbankennederland.nl/henk-staghouwer-nieuwe-voorzitter-voedselbanken-nederland/ |date = 3 December 2023 |access-date = 28 November 2024 |language = nl |website = Food Banks Netherlands |title = Henk Staghouwer nieuwe voorzitter Voedselbanken Nederland |trans-title = Henk Staghouwer new chair of Food Banks Netherlands }}
Private life
Staghouwer is married and has three children.