Hans Hillen

Hans Hillen
Minister of Defence
In office October 14, 2010 – November 5, 2012
Prime Minister	Mark Rutte
Preceded by	Eimert van Middelkoop
Succeeded by	Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert
Member of the Senate
In office June 27, 2007 – October 17, 2010
Member of the House of Representatives
In office March 20, 1990 – May 23, 2002
Personal details
Born	Johannes Stefanus Joseph Hillen (1947-06-17) June 17, 1947 The Hague, Netherlands
Political party	Christian Democratic Appeal
Residence(s)	Hilversum, Netherlands
Alma mater	Utrecht University (M.A.)
Occupation	Politician Civil servant Journalist Columnist Teacher
Website	Ministry of Defence

Johannes Stefanus Joseph "Hans" Hillen (born June 17, 1947) is a Dutch politician of the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA). He served as Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Rutte I from October 14, 2010 until November 5, 2012.

Biography

Early life

Hillen studied sociology at Utrecht University. He has been a (sports) journalist for the Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), teacher and civil servant (in the eighties he was spokesman of minister of Finance Onno Ruding and defender of his outspoken budget cuts) before entering in politics

Politics

From 1990 till 2002 he was a member of the House of Representatives and from 2007 till 2010 a member of the Senate. Since 14 October 2010 he's minister of Defence. He is in favor of a strong defence and close ties with NATO.

Other activities

From 2003 till 2007 Hillen was president of CVZ, the Dutch council for the healthcare, and from 2005 till 2010 a member of the executive board of the Dutch employers' organization VNO-NCW. He also did some writing, he wrote columns for Elsevier and Katholiek Nieuwsblad.

Furthermore he is involved in the Edmund Burke Foundation, a Dutch conservative think tank. In 2004 he left the advisory council because a conflict of opinion with prominent co-member Bart Jan Spruyt, who wanted to found a new political party with Geert Wilders.

Personal life

Hillen is married and resides in Hilversum. He is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

Decorations

• Order of Orange-Nassau
  • Knight (May 22, 2002)

External links

• Template:Nl Drs. J.S.J. (Hans) Hillen (Parlement & Politiek)
• Template:Nl Drs. J.S.J. Hillen (CDA) (Eerste Kamer der Staten-Generaal)