Caspar Veldkamp

Caspar Veldkamp
Veldkamp in 2016
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Assuming office
2 July 2024
Prime MinisterDick Schoof
SucceedingHanke Bruins Slot
Member of the House of Representatives
Assumed office
6 December 2023
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Greece
In office
2015–2019
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Israel
In office
2011–2015
Personal details
Born
C. C. J. Veldkamp

(1964-04-23) 23 April 1964 (age 60)
Etten-Leur, Netherlands
Political partyNew Social Contract (2023–present)
Other political
affiliations
Christian Democratic Appeal (formerly)
SpouseAnne
Children4
ResidenceThe Hague
Alma materErasmus University Rotterdam
Leiden University
OccupationDiplomatPolitician

Caspar C. J. Veldkamp (born 23 April 1964) is a Dutch politician and former diplomat. A member of New Social Contract (NSC), he has served as a member of the House of Representatives since 2023.

Career[edit]

Veldkamp started working as a policy officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993.[1] He later had postings in Warsaw, Washington, DC, Brussels, and London, and he served as Ambassador of the Netherlands to Israel (2011–2015) and to Greece (2015–2019).[2][3] In the latter role, he cooperated with Minister of Finance and Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem on the Greek government-debt crisis. His last diplomatic position was as a Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.[2]

Veldkamp was a long-time member of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) before he joined New Social Contract (NSC) to participate in the 2023 general election.[2][4] During the campaign, Veldkamp said to be critical of the "transfer of powers" towards the European Union (EU). He presented the newly-founded party he joined as an "optimistic party for the dissatisfied citizen".[5] He was elected to the House of Representatives, where his focus as a parliamentarian has been on foreign affairs and migration.[6]

He was nominated in June 2024 to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the new Schoof cabinet.[2]

Electoral history[edit]

Electoral history of Caspar Veldkamp
Year Body Party Pos. Votes Result Ref.
Party seats Individual
2023 House of Representatives New Social Contract 4 2,386 20 Won [7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Derix, Steven; Van den Dool, Pim; Stokmans, Derk; Vermeer, Oscar; Klumpenaar, Sjoerd; König, Eppo; Pelgrim, Christiaan; Bouwman, Boris (13 June 2024). "Van diplomaat tot Boer zoekt Vrouw-kandidaat: dit zijn de beoogde ministers van het kabinet-Schoof" [From diplomat to Farmer Wants Wife contender: These are the ministers-designate of the Schoof cabinet]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d "Oud-ambassadeur Veldkamp wordt minister Buitenlandse Zaken" [Former Ambassador Veldkamp will become Minister of Foreign Affairs]. NOS (in Dutch). 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
  3. ^ Van Slooten, Bert (27 September 2023). "Wie is Omtzigts kandidaat Caspar Veldkamp?". Brusselse Nieuwe (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  4. ^ "Drs. C.C.J. (Caspar) Veldkamp". www.parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  5. ^ Wolzak, Martine (26 September 2023). "Nummer vier lijst-Omtzigt: 'Mijn collega's vinden Kamerlidmaatschap geen promotie'". Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 21 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Woordvoerderschappen Nieuw Sociaal Contract" [New Social Contract spokespersonships] (PDF). New Social Contract (in Dutch). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 January 2024 – via Wayback Machine.
  7. ^ "Proces-verbaal van de uitslag van de verkiezing van de Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal 2023 d.d. 4 december 2023" [Report of the results of the election of the House of Representatives on 4 December 2023] (PDF). Dutch Electoral Council (in Dutch). 4 December 2023. pp. 185–186. Retrieved 21 December 2023.

See also[edit]