Atzo Nicolaï (22 February 1960 â€" 19 August 2020[1]) was a Dutch
politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and
businessman.Nicolaï attended a Montessori Gymnasium Rotterdam from
April 1972 until May 1980 and applied at the Free University Amsterdam
in June 1980 majoring in Law and Political science and obtaining a
Bachelor of Laws degree and a Bachelor of Social Science degree in
Political science in June 1982 before graduating with a Master of Laws
degree and a Master of Social Science degree in Political science in
July 1987. Nicolaï worked as a civil servant for the department of
Arts and Culture of the Ministry of Welfare, Health and Culture from
August 1987 until December 1990, and as Director-General of the
Council for Arts from December 1990 until November 1995 and as
Director-General of the Council for Culture from November 1995 until
May 1998. Nicolaï worked as a management consultant for the Ministry
of Education, Culture and Science from March 1997 until May
1998.Nicolaï was elected as a House of Representatives member after
the election of 1998, taking office on 19 May 1998 serving as a
frontbencher and the spokesperson for Justice, Law enforcement, Media,
Culture and deputy spokesperson for Social Affairs and Social Work.
After the election of 2002 Nicolaï was appointed as State Secretary
for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Balkenende I, taking office on 22
July 2002. The Cabinet Balkenende I fell just four months later on 16
October 2002 after tensions in the coalition over the stability of the
Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) and continued to serve in a demissionary
capacity. After the election of 2003 Nicolaï returned as a Member of
the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 January 2003.
Following the cabinet formation of 2003 Nicolaï continued as State
Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Balkenende II, taking
office on 27 May 2003. The Cabinet Balkenende II fell on 30 June 2006
after the Democrats 66 (D66) had lost confidence in the functioning of
Minister of Integration and Asylum Affairs Rita Verdonk and continued
to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of
2006 when it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Balkenende III with
Nicolaï appointed as Minister for Governmental Reform and Kingdom
Relations, taking office on 7 July 2006. After the election of 2006
Nicolaï again returned as a Member of the House of Representatives,
taking office on 30 November 2006. The Cabinet Balkenende III was
replaced by the Cabinet Balkenende IV following the cabinet formation
of 2007 on 22 February 2007 and he continued to serve in the House of
Representatives as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign
Affairs, Social Affairs, European Affairs, NATO, Benelux Union,
Aviation and deputy spokesperson for Kingdom Relations and Social
Work. After the election of 2010 Nicolaï was appointed Minister of
Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Rutte I but during the cabinet
formation of 2010 his appointment was blocked by the coalition partner
Party for Freedom (PVV) and he continued to serve in the House of
Representatives chairing the parliamentary committee for Foreign
Affairs.In May 2011, Nicolaï was named as Chairman of the Board of
directors of the DSM Company, and he resigned as a Member of the House
of Representatives the same day he was installed as Chairman on 1 June
2011. Nicolaï also became active in the public sector and occupied
numerous seats as a nonprofit director on several boards of directors
and supervisory boards (National History Museum, Bird Protection
Foundation). Nicolaï also worked as a trade association executive for
the Chemical Industry association serving as Vice Chairman of the
Executive Board from 1 June 2011 until 1 October 2019 and for the
Industry and Employers confederation (VNO-NCW).[2]
politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and
businessman.Nicolaï attended a Montessori Gymnasium Rotterdam from
April 1972 until May 1980 and applied at the Free University Amsterdam
in June 1980 majoring in Law and Political science and obtaining a
Bachelor of Laws degree and a Bachelor of Social Science degree in
Political science in June 1982 before graduating with a Master of Laws
degree and a Master of Social Science degree in Political science in
July 1987. Nicolaï worked as a civil servant for the department of
Arts and Culture of the Ministry of Welfare, Health and Culture from
August 1987 until December 1990, and as Director-General of the
Council for Arts from December 1990 until November 1995 and as
Director-General of the Council for Culture from November 1995 until
May 1998. Nicolaï worked as a management consultant for the Ministry
of Education, Culture and Science from March 1997 until May
1998.Nicolaï was elected as a House of Representatives member after
the election of 1998, taking office on 19 May 1998 serving as a
frontbencher and the spokesperson for Justice, Law enforcement, Media,
Culture and deputy spokesperson for Social Affairs and Social Work.
After the election of 2002 Nicolaï was appointed as State Secretary
for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Balkenende I, taking office on 22
July 2002. The Cabinet Balkenende I fell just four months later on 16
October 2002 after tensions in the coalition over the stability of the
Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) and continued to serve in a demissionary
capacity. After the election of 2003 Nicolaï returned as a Member of
the House of Representatives, taking office on 30 January 2003.
Following the cabinet formation of 2003 Nicolaï continued as State
Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Balkenende II, taking
office on 27 May 2003. The Cabinet Balkenende II fell on 30 June 2006
after the Democrats 66 (D66) had lost confidence in the functioning of
Minister of Integration and Asylum Affairs Rita Verdonk and continued
to serve in a demissionary capacity until the cabinet formation of
2006 when it was replaced by the caretaker Cabinet Balkenende III with
Nicolaï appointed as Minister for Governmental Reform and Kingdom
Relations, taking office on 7 July 2006. After the election of 2006
Nicolaï again returned as a Member of the House of Representatives,
taking office on 30 November 2006. The Cabinet Balkenende III was
replaced by the Cabinet Balkenende IV following the cabinet formation
of 2007 on 22 February 2007 and he continued to serve in the House of
Representatives as a frontbencher and spokesperson for Foreign
Affairs, Social Affairs, European Affairs, NATO, Benelux Union,
Aviation and deputy spokesperson for Kingdom Relations and Social
Work. After the election of 2010 Nicolaï was appointed Minister of
Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet Rutte I but during the cabinet
formation of 2010 his appointment was blocked by the coalition partner
Party for Freedom (PVV) and he continued to serve in the House of
Representatives chairing the parliamentary committee for Foreign
Affairs.In May 2011, Nicolaï was named as Chairman of the Board of
directors of the DSM Company, and he resigned as a Member of the House
of Representatives the same day he was installed as Chairman on 1 June
2011. Nicolaï also became active in the public sector and occupied
numerous seats as a nonprofit director on several boards of directors
and supervisory boards (National History Museum, Bird Protection
Foundation). Nicolaï also worked as a trade association executive for
the Chemical Industry association serving as Vice Chairman of the
Executive Board from 1 June 2011 until 1 October 2019 and for the
Industry and Employers confederation (VNO-NCW).[2]
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