Wouter Koolmees

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Wouter Koolmees

|image = Wouter-koolmees-1307974459 (cropped).jpg

|imagesize =

|caption = Koolmees in 2010

|office = Minister of Social Affairs and Employment

|term_start = 26 October 2017

|term_end = 10 January 2022

|primeminister = Mark Rutte

|predecessor = Lodewijk Asscher

|successor = Karien van Gennip

|office1 = Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands

|alongside1 = Hugo de Jonge
Carola Schouten

|term_start1 = 1 November 2019

|term_end1 = 14 May 2020

|primeminister1 = Mark Rutte

|predecessor1 = Kajsa Ollongren

|successor1 = Kajsa Ollongren

|office2 = Member of the House of Representatives

|term_start2 = 17 June 2010

|term_end2 = 26 October 2017

|birthname =

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|03|20|df=y}}

|birth_place = Capelle aan den IJssel, Netherlands

|death_date =

|death_place =

|nationality = Dutch

|party = Democrats 66 (since 2002)

|spouse =

|children =

|residence = Rotterdam, Netherlands

|alma_mater = Utrecht University
(Bachelor of Economics, Master of Economics)

|occupation = Politician · Civil servant · Economist · Accountant · Financial analyst · Researcher

|signature =

|website = [https://www.government.nl/government/members-of-cabinet/wouter-koolmees Minister of Social Affairs and Employment]

}}

Wouter Koolmees (born 20 March 1977) is a Dutch economist and politician and of the Democrats 66 (D66) party who served as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Third Rutte cabinet from 2017 to 2022. He also served as second Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2019 to 2020 during Kajsa Ollongren's medical leave of absence.{{cite web|url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2199414-cijferaar-wouter-koolmees-d66-minister-van-sociale-zaken.html|title=Cijferaar Wouter Koolmees (D66) minister van Sociale Zaken|publisher=NOS|date=23 October 2017|access-date=11 March 2019|language=nl}} He is also the CEO of Nederlandse Spoorwegen.

Early life and education

Koolmees studied economics at Utrecht University.

Career in the civil service

Before entering politics, he worked for several employers, including as a civil servant at the Ministry of Finance.

Career in national politics

Koolmees was a member of the House of Representatives from 17 June 2010Reed Stevenson and Harro ten Wolde (June 9, 2010), [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dutch-election-idUSTRE65815120100609 Dutch vote in election dominated by austerity theme] Reuters. until his ministerial appointment on 26 October 2017; as a parliamentarian, he focused on matters of finance, transport and water supply.

Following the 2017 general election, Koolmees represented his party's interests alongside then-party leader Alexander Pechtold at the negotiating table with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) to form Mark Rutte's third cabinet. On 26 October 2017, he assumed office as Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, succeeding Lodewijk Asscher.

Following the 2021 national elections, Koolmees and Tamara van Ark of the VVD were chosen to lead their parties' negotiations on a coalition agreement.Eline Schaart and William Adkins (March 25, 202), [https://www.politico.eu/article/kajsa-ollongren-mona-keijzer-coronavirus-positive-utbreak-interrupts-netherlands-coalition-talks-election/ Coronavirus outbreak, resignations interrupt Dutch coalition talks] Politico Europe.