Rob Jetten
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Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten. A name now synonymous with Dutch politics, but his journey began in Veghel, North Brabant, on March 25th, 1987. Growing up in Uden, Rob's early life was shaped by a Dutch family and a solid educational foundation, attending Udens College before pursuing Public Administration at Radboud University, earning both a Bachelor's and Master's degree. His professional path then led him to ProRail, the Dutch railway authority, where he honed his skills as a management trainee, consultant, and regional supply manager.
Jetten's political awakening was swift and impactful. He began as a policy advisor for the D66 faction in the Senate and also chaired the Young Democrats. From 2010 to 2017, he served on the municipal council of Nijmegen, gaining invaluable local experience. His ascent continued as he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2017, quickly becoming the party's voice on crucial issues like climate, energy, and democratic renewal.
A pivotal moment arrived on October 9th, 2018, when Rob Jetten was chosen as the parliamentary leader of D66 in the House of Representatives, succeeding Alexander Pechtold. At just 31, he made history as the youngest-ever parliamentary leader of the party, a distinction that, while celebrated, also brought him under scrutiny in the Dutch media due to his relative youth.
His trajectory reached new heights in January 2022 when he was appointed Minister for Climate and Energy Policy in the fourth Rutte cabinet. Under his tenure, the Dutch government made significant strides, notably announcing a €750 million investment to develop a national hydrogen transportation network.
The political landscape shifted again on July 14th, 2023, when Rob Jetten declared his candidacy for the leadership of D66, stepping in after Sigrid Kaag decided not to lead the party into the 2023 general election, citing the immense pressure of threats and intimidation. Jetten returned to the House of Representatives as parliamentary leader following the election. In January 2024, he assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister, and briefly served as acting Minister of Finance, demonstrating his broad governmental capabilities.
His ministerial term concluded on July 2nd, 2024, with the swearing-in of the Schoof cabinet. In a remarkable display of political maneuvering, Jetten formed an "unholy alliance" with centrist and conservative opposition parties to challenge the €2 billion education cuts proposed in the 2025 budget. Though D66 eventually withdrew from negotiations, his actions highlighted his commitment to his principles. Amidst the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, Jetten has been a strong advocate for increasing Dutch defense spending, emphasizing Europe's need for self-reliance in security matters.
In his personal life, Rob Jetten found love in an unexpected place – a supermarket. In November 2024, he announced his engagement to Argentine field hockey player Nicolás Keenan, a partnership that began three years prior. His distinguished service has also been recognized with the Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit from Spain in April 2024.
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Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten (Dutch: [rɔp ˈjɛtə(n)]; born 25 March 1987) is a Dutch politician who has been the Leader of the Democrats 66 (D66) party since August 2023 and a member of the House of Representatives since December 2023. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands from January 2024 to July 2024 and Minister for Climate and Energy Policy from 2022 to 2024.
== Early life and education ==
Rob Arnoldus Adrianus Jetten was born on 25 March 1987 in Veghel, North Brabant, Netherlands, and grew up in Uden in a Dutch family. Jetten attended his secondary education at Udens College between 1999 and 2005. He then studied at Radboud University between 2005 and 2011, where he obtained a BA and an MA, both in Public Administration. After a period as a management trainee at the Dutch railway authority ProRail, he continued working there as a consultant and as a regional supply manager for the northeastern Netherlands.
== Political career ==
Jetten began his political career as a policy advisor for the D66 faction in the Senate of the States General and as the chairman of the Young Democrats. In addition, between 2010 and 2017, he was a member of the municipal council of Nijmegen. In the 2017 Dutch general election, he was elected as a member of the House of Representatives. Jetten then became his party's spokesperson for climate, energy and gas, railways, democratic renewal and economic affairs.
On 9 October 2018, Jetten was chosen as the new parliamentary leader of D66 in the House of Representatives, succeeding Alexander Pechtold. This did not automatically make him the new party leader as the new leader eventually was to be chosen in the 2020 Democrats 66 leadership election. Aged 31, Jetten became the youngest ever parliamentary leader of D66. After his election, Jetten faced criticism in Dutch media because of his relative young age.
When the fourth Rutte cabinet was sworn in on 10 January 2022, Jetten became Minister for Climate and Energy Policy. Under his leadership, the Dutch government announced plans in 2022 to invest 750 million euros ($789 million) through to 2031 to have the country's gas network operator Gasunie develop a national hydrogen transportation network.
On 14 July 2023, Jetten announced his candidacy to become the next Leader of the D66. He succeeded Sigrid Kaag after she announced that she would not lead D66 into the 2023 general election, due to the impact of the "hate, intimidation and threats" she receives on her family. Jetten returned to the House of Representatives as parliamentary leader after the election. Following Kaag's resignation effective 8 January 2024 to fill a role at the United Nations, Jetten took over her position as Deputy Prime Minister, and he served as acting Minister of Finance for four days. However, his tasks for the latter were in practice delegated to State Secretary for Finance Marnix van Rij.
Jetten's term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when the Schoof cabinet was sworn in. When that cabinet presented its 2025 budget which included €2 billion in education cuts, Jetten formed the self-named "unholy alliance" with centrist and conservative opposition parties. Coalition parties needed additional support in the Senate, but D66 pulled out of negotiations in early December 2024, a week before an agreement was reached to reverse €750 million of the cuts. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he advocated for Dutch defense spending to rise from 2% to 3% of gross domestic product, believing that Europe could no longer rely on the United States for its security following the second inauguration of US president Donald Trump in 2025.
== Personal life ==
Jetten announced his engagement to Argentine field hockey player Nicolás Keenan in November 2024, after they had been together for three years. They met in a supermarket.
== Electoral history ==
== Honours ==
Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (9 April 2024)
== References ==
== External links ==
(in Dutch) Drs. R.A.A. (Rob) Jetten, Parlement.com
(in Dutch) Jetten R.A.A. (D66), Tweede Kamer der Staten-Generaal
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