Jacob Kohnstamm | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kohnstamm in 1989 | |
| Senator of the Netherlands | |
| In office 8 June 1999 – 7 September 2004 | |
| State Secretary for the Interior | |
| In office 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 Serving with Tonny van de Vondervoort | |
| Prime Minister | Wim Kok |
| Preceded by | Dieuwke de Graaff-Nauta |
| Succeeded by | Gijs de Vries (as State Secretary for the Interior and Kingdom Relations) |
| Chairman of the Democrats 66 | |
| In office 30 October 1982 – 20 May 1986 | |
| Leader | See list
|
| Preceded by | Jan van Berkom |
| Succeeded by | Olga Scheltema (ad interim) |
| Member of the House of Representatives | |
| In office 3 June 1986 – 22 August 1994 | |
| In office 10 June 1981 – 16 September 1982 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacob Kohnstamm 14 November 1949 Wassenaar, Netherlands |
| Political party | Democrats 66 (since 1970) |
| Parent |
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| Residence | Amsterdam |
| Alma mater | University of Amsterdam (Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws) |
| Occupation | Politician · civil servant · Jurist · Lawyer · Researcher · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Media administrator · Lobbyist · Activist |
Jacob Kohnstamm (born 14 November 1949) is a retired Dutch politician and jurist who was State Secretary for the Interior from 1994 to 1998. He is a member of the Democrats 66 (D66), which he chaired from 1982 to 1986.
Kohnstamm attended a Gymnasium in The Hague from April 1962 until May 1968 and applied at the University of Amsterdam in June 1971 majoring in Law and obtaining an Bachelor of Laws degree in June 1973 and worked as a student researcher before graduating with an Master of Laws degree in July 1977. Kohnstamm worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Amsterdam from October 1977 until June 1981.
Kohnstamm was elected as a member of the House of Representatives after the election of 1981, taking office on 10 June 1981 serving as a backbencher. After the election of 1982 Kohnstamm was not reelected and he continued to serve until the end of the parliamentary term on 16 September 1982. Kohnstamm again worked as a criminal defense lawyer in Amsterdam from September 1982 until June 1986. Kohnstamm served as Chairman of the Democrats 66 from 30 October 1982 until 20 May 1986.
After the election of 1986 Kohnstamm returned as a member of the House of Representatives, taking office on 3 June 1986 serving as a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for Law enforcement and parliamentary committee for the Ombudsman and spokesperson for the Interior, Justice, Law enforcement, Health, Civil Service and Abortion and deputy spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, European Affairs and the Benelux Union.
After the election of 1994 Kohnstamm was appointed as State Secretary for the Interior under the first cabinet of Prime Minister Wim Kok, taking office on 22 August 1994. He was tasked with public security, emergency services, emergency management and urban planning. In December 1997 Kohnstamm announced that he would not stand for the election of 1998. Following the cabinet formation of 1998, Kohnstamm asked not to be considered for a post in the new cabinet; the First Kok cabinet was replaced by the Second Kok cabinet on 3 August 1998.
Kohnstamm remained in active in national politics; he was elected as a member of the Senate after the 1999 election, taking office on 8 June. He served as a frontbencher and chaired the special parliamentary committee for the European Court of Justice and spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Justice, Health, European Affairs, NATO and the Benelux Union. He left the Senate on 7 September 2004.
| Honours | ||||
| Ribbon bar | Honour | Country | Date | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau | Netherlands | 30 October 1998 | |
