Pia Dijkstra

Dutch politician and television presenter

Pia Dijkstra

Dijkstra in 2017

Minister for Medical Care
In office
2 February 2024 – 2 July 2024
Prime Minister| Mark Rutte
Preceded by| Conny Helder[a]
Succeeded by| Vicky Maeijer[b]
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
17 June 2010 – 31 March 2021
Personal details
Born|

Pietje Aafke Dijkstra

(1954-12-09) 9 December 1954 (age 69)
Franeker, Netherlands
Political party| Democrats 66
Spouse|

Gerlach Cerfontaine [nl]

(m. 1992)​

Children| 3
Occupation|

* Politician
* television presenter

Pietje Aafke "Pia" Dijkstra (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈpijaː ˈdɛikstraː]; born 9 December 1954) is a Dutch politician of the Democrats 66 (D66) and former television presenter. From 2010 to 2021, she served as a member of the House of Representatives. She was Minister for Medical Care in the demissionary fourth Rutte cabinet from February 2024 until July 2024.

## Early life and career

[edit]

Dijkstra was born in Franeker, and she completed her secondary education in Sneek and Leeuwarden with a gymnasium diploma. She studied theology at the University of Amsterdam between 1974 and 1978, but she did not obtain any degree. She subsequently worked as a producer and spokesperson for Interkerkelijke Omroep Nederland (IKON) for six years and as a creator and host for Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) for four years. Dijkstra became a reporter for the NCRV current affairs program Hier en Nu [nl] in 1986.[1] She was news anchor of the NOS Journaal from 1988 until 2000, and she hosted several television and radio shows such as Vinger aan de Pols [nl] and Het Kinderziekenhuis in the following decade for AVRO.[1][2]

She served as a member of the House of Representatives from 2010 to 2021, focusing on issues such as healthcare, medical ethics, and emancipation. She introduced a bill to have citizens marked as organ donor by default in the donor registry, which was enacted into law after passing both houses of parliament.[3] By 2024, the measure had led to a 50% increase in citizens who had recorded their preference in the registry.[4] Proposed legislation by Dijkstra to allow for euthanasia in the absence of intolerable suffering for those over 75 years of age did not garner enough support. Her initial 2019 plan was criticized by the Council of State.[5][3] Near the end of her last term, she wrote a bill to abolish a five-day waiting period for abortions. Jan Paternotte took over her proposal, and it was approved by the parliament in 2022.[3]

Dijkstra was appointed Minister for Medical Care in the demissionary fourth Rutte cabinet on 2 February 2024, following the resignation of Ernst Kuipers as Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport the month before. Minister for Long-term Care and Sport Conny Helder had succeeded Kuipers in an acting capacity, and continued to lead the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport after transferring the medical care portfolio to Dijkstra.[5] Dijkstra's responsibilities included curative care, health insurance, medication, medical ethics, COVID-19, and pandemic preparedness.[1] Her term as minister ended on 2 July 2024, when the Schoof cabinet was sworn in.[6]

## Personal life

[edit]

Dijkstra married Gerlach Cerfontaine [nl] on 1 September 1992, and they have three children.[1][7]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ As minister responsible for the medical care portfolio, and minister without portfolio within the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport.
2. ^ As State Secretary for Long-term and Social Care

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d "Pia Dijkstra". Government of the Netherlands (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
2. ^ Von Piekartz, Hessel (1 February 2024). "D66-prominent Pia Dijkstra vervangt plots vertrokken Ernst Kuipers als demissionair minister" [Key D66 figure Pia Dijkstra replaces unexpectedly-departed Ernst Kuipers as demissionary minister]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
3. ^ a b c Beverdam, Gerard (1 February 2024). "Ze was bekend van omstreden medisch-ethische plannen. Nu wordt D66'er Pia Dijkstra nog even minister" [She was known for controversial medical ethical plans. D66 member Pia Dijkstra will now be minister for a short while]. Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
4. ^ Kieskamp, Wilma (25 April 2024). "Het nieuwe donorregister werkt: meer dan drie miljoen mensen hebben keuze vastgelegd" [The new donor registry is working: Over three million people have recorded their preference]. Trouw (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 April 2024.
5. ^ a b "Pia Dijkstra wordt minister voor medische zorg" [Pia Dijkstra will become Minister for Medicale Care]. Trouw (in Dutch). ANP. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
6. ^ "Ministers en staatssecretarissen kabinet-Schoof beëdigd" [Ministers and state secretaries of Schoof cabinet sworn in]. NOS (in Dutch). 2 July 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
7. ^ "Familieberichten". NRC Handelsblad (in Dutch). Delpher. 2 September 1992. p. 20. Retrieved 2 February 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Pia Dijkstra at Wikimedia Commons
* Parlement.com biography (in Dutch)

Political offices

Preceded by

Conny Helder
as Minister for Long-term Care and Sport

|  Minister for Medical Care
2024  | Succeeded by

Vicky Maeijer
as State Secretary for Long-term and Social Care

* v
* t
* e

Fourth Rutte cabinet (2022–2024)

Ministers

General Affairs|

* Mark Rutte (2022–2024; Prime Minister)

Interior and Kingdom Relations|

* Hanke Bruins Slot (2022–2023)
* Hugo de Jonge (2023–2024)

Foreign Affairs|

* Wopke Hoekstra (2022–2023; Deputy Prime Minister)
* Hanke Bruins Slot (2023–2024)

Finance|

* Sigrid Kaag (2022–2024; Deputy Prime Minister)
* Steven van Weyenberg (2024)

Justice and Security|

* Dilan Yeşilgöz (2022–2024)

Economic Affairs and Climate Policy|

* Micky Adriaansens (2022–2024)

Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality|

* Henk Staghouwer (2022)
* Piet Adema (2022–2024)

Defence|

* Kajsa Ollongren (2022–2024)

Health, Welfare and Sport|

* Ernst Kuipers (2022–2024)
* Conny Helder (2024)

Education, Culture and Science|

* Robbert Dijkgraaf (2022–2024)

Infrastructure and Water Management|

* Mark Harbers (2022–2024)

Social Affairs and Employment|

* Karien van Gennip (2022–2024; Deputy Prime Minister 2023–2024)

Ministers without portfolio

Housing and Spatial Planning|

* Hugo de Jonge (2022–2024)

Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation|

* Liesje Schreinemacher (2022–2023; 2024)
* Geoffrey van Leeuwen (2023–2024 ad interim)

Legal Protection|

* Franc Weerwind (2022–2024)

Climate and Energy Policy|

* Rob Jetten (2022–2024; Deputy Prime Minister 2024)

Nature and Nitrogen Policy|

* Christianne van der Wal (2022–2024)

Long-term Care and Sport|

* Conny Helder (2022–2024)

Medical Care|

* Pia Dijkstra (2024)

Primary and Secondary Education|

* Dennis Wiersma (2022–2023)
* Mariëlle Paul (2023–2024)

Poverty Policy, Participation and Pensions|

* Carola Schouten (2022–2024; Deputy Prime Minister)

State Secretaries

Kingdom Relations and Digitalisation|

* Alexandra van Huffelen (2022–2024)

Tax Affairs|

* Marnix van Rij (2022–2024)

Benefits and Customs|

* Aukje de Vries (2022–2024)

Asylum and Migration Policy|

* Eric van der Burg (2022–2024)

Extractive Industries|

* Hans Vijlbrief (2022–2024)

Defence|

* Christophe van der Maat (2022–2024)

Culture and Media|

* Gunay Uslu (2022–2023)
* Steven van Weyenberg (2023–2024)
* Fleur Gräper (2024)

Infrastructure and Water Management|

* Vivianne Heijnen (2022–2024)

Health, Welfare and Sport|

* Maarten van Ooijen (2022–2024)

* Preceded by: Third Rutte cabinet
* Succeeded by: Schoof cabinet

* v
* t
* e

Ministers without portfolio of the Netherlands

Cabinet of the Netherlands

Interior|

* Burger
* Van Schaik
* Teulings
* Albregts
* De Bruijn
* Van Boxtel
* De Graaf
* Pechtold
* Nicolaï
* Leers
* Blok
* Van Veldhoven
* Bijleveld
* De Jonge

Foreign Affairs|

* Van Verduynen
* Van Roijen
* Van Kleffens
* Luns

Justice|

* Nawijn
* Verdonk
* Dekker
* Weerwind

Economic Affairs|

* Jetten

Health|

* Rouvoet
* Bruins
* Van Rijn
* Van Ark
* Helder
* Dijkstra

Social Affairs|

* Schouten

Education|

* De Brauw
* Van Veen
* Trip
* Peijnenburg
* Ginjaar
* Van Trier
* Slob
* Wiersma
* Paul

Agriculture|

* Van der Wal

Housing|

* Vogelaar
* Van der Laan
* Van Middelkoop

Colonial Affairs|

* Soejono
* Götzen

* v
* t
* e

Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (2017–2021)

House of Representatives
23 March 2017 – 31 March 2021

People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
(VVD – 32)|

* Dijkhoff
* ‹Van Ark›
* Aartsen
* ‹Azmani›
* Becker
* Bolkestein
* Van den Bosch
* Bosman
* ‹Ten Broeke›
* ‹Dekker›
* R. Dijkstra
* ‹Duisenberg›
* El Yassini
* Van Gent
* Harbers
* Heerema
* ‹Hennis-Plasschaert›
* Hermans
* Koerhuis
* Koopmans
* Laan-Geselschap
* ‹De Lange›
* Van der Linde
* Lodders
* Middendorp
* ‹A. Mulder›
* Nijkerken-de Haan
* ‹Van Oosten›
* Regterschot
* ‹A. Rutte›
* ‹M. Rutte›
* Smals
* Snoeren
* Tellegen
* Tielen
* Veldman
* ‹Visser›
* De Vries
* Weverling
* Wiersma
* Van Wijngaarden
* Wörsdörfer
* ‹Van 't Wout›
* Yeşilgöz-Zegerius
* Ziengs
* ‹Zijlstra›

Party for Freedom
(PVV – 20)|

* Wilders
* Van Aalst
* Agema
* Beertema
* Bosma
* Van Dijck
* E. van Dijk
* Fritsma
* ‹Gerbrands›
* De Graaf
* Graus
* Helder
* Jansen
* De Jong
* Kops
* Madlener
* (Maeijer)
* Markuszower
* E. Mulder
* ‹Popken›
* De Roon
* De Vree
* Van Weerdenburg

Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA – 19)|

* Heerma
* Amhaouch
* Van den Anker
* Van den Berg
* ‹Bruins Slot›
* C. van Dam
* Geluk-Poortvliet
* Geurts
* ‹Van Haersma Buma›
* Van Helvert
* ‹Keijzer›
* ‹Knops›
* Kuik
* Von Martels
* Van der Molen
* A.H. Mulder
* Omtzigt
* Palland
* De Pater-Postma
* Peters
* ‹Rog›
* ‹Ronnes›
* Slootweg
* Terpstra
* Van Toorenburg

Democrats 66
(D66 – 19)|

* Jetten
* Belhaj
* Bergkamp
* Van Beukering
* ‹Den Boer›
* Bouali
* Diertens
* P. Dijkstra
* Van Eijs
* ‹Van Engelshoven›
* De Groot
* Groothuizen
* ‹Koolmees›
* Van Meenen
* Paternotte
* ‹Pechtold›
* Raemakers
* Schonis
* Sienot
* Sjoerdsma
* Sneller
* ‹Van Veldhoven›
* Verhoeven
* Van Weyenberg

GroenLinks
(GL – 14)|

* Klaver
* Bromet
* Van den Berge
* Buitenweg
* ‹Diks›
* Ellemeet
* ‹Grashoff›
* Kröger
* Van der Lee
* Van den Nieuwenhuijzen
* Van Ojik
* ‹Özdil›
* Özütok
* Renkema
* Smeulders
* Snels
* ‹Van Tongeren›
* ‹Voortman›
* Westerveld

Socialist Party
(SP – 14)|

* Marijnissen
* Alkaya
* Beckerman
* J. van Dijk
* Futselaar
* Van Gerven
* Hijink
* Karabulut
* Van Kent
* ‹Kooiman›
* Kwint
* Laçin
* Leijten
* Van Nispen
* Van Raak
* ‹Roemer›

Labour Party
(PvdA – 9)|

* Ploumen
* Arib (Speaker)
* Asscher
* G. van Dijk
* ‹Dijksma›
* ‹Dijsselbloem›
* Van den Hul
* Kerstens
* Kuiken
* Moorlag
* Nijboer

Christian Union
(CU – 5)|

* Segers
* Bruins
* Dik-Faber
* Van der Graaf
* ‹Schouten›
* Voordewind

Party for the Animals
(PvdD – 4)|

* Ouwehand
* ‹Thieme›
* Van Esch
* Van Raan
* Wassenberg

50PLUS
(50+ – 3)|

* Van Brenk
* Van Otterloo
* ‹Van Rooijen›
* Sazias

Reformed Political Party
(SGP – 3)|

* Van der Staaij
* Bisschop
* ‹Dijkgraaf›
* Stoffer

DENK
(DENK – 3)|

* Azarkan
* Kuzu
* Öztürk

Forum for Democracy
(FVD – 2)|

* Baudet
* Van Haga
* ‹Hiddema›
* (vacant)

Member Krol
(Indep. – 1)|

* Krol

Member Van Kooten-Arissen
(Indep. – 1)|

* Van Kooten-Arissen

Bold indicates the parliamentary leader (first mentioned) and the Speaker;  (Brackets) indicate a temporarily absent member;
Italics indicate a temporary member;  ‹Guillemets› indicate a member who has left the House of Representatives
See also: Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2015–2019 · 2019–2023

* v
* t
* e

Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (2012–2017)

House of Representatives
20 September 2012 – 23 March 2017

People's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
(VVD – 40)|

* Zijlstra
* Van Ark
* Azmani
* Berckmoes-Duindam
* ‹Blok›
* De Boer
* Bosma
* Bosman
* Ten Broeke
* Van der Burg
* De Caluwé
* ‹Dijkhoff›
* R. Dijkstra
* Duisenberg
* Elias
* Geselschap
* Harbers
* Heerema
* ‹Hennis-Plasschaert›
* ‹Huizing›
* De Lange
* ‹Leegte›
* ‹De Liefde›
* Van der Linde
* ‹Litjens›
* Lodders
* ‹Lucas›
* Van Miltenburg (Speaker, 2012–15)
* Moors
* A. Mulder
* Neppérus
* ‹Van Nieuwenhuizen›
* Nijkerken-de Haan
* Van Oosten
* Potters
* Van der Ree
* A. Rutte
* ‹M. Rutte›
* ‹Schippers›
* Schut-Welkzijn
* ‹Van der Steur›
* Straus
* Taverne
* Teeven
* Tellegen
* ‹Van Veen›
* Veldman
* ‹Verheijen›
* Visser
* A. de Vries
* Vuijk
* ‹Weekers›
* Van Wijngaarden
* Van 't Wout
* Ziengs

Labour Party
(PvdA – 35)|

* Kuiken
* Arib (Speaker, 2015–17)
* Asante
* ‹Bonis›
* Bouwmeester
* Brouwer
* Çegerek
* ‹Van Dam›
* Van Dekken
* ‹O. van Dijk›
* ‹Dijsselbloem›
* Dikkers
* Eijsink
* Fokke
* Groot
* Günal-Gezer
* ‹Hamer›
* ‹Heijnen›
* ‹Hilkens›
* Hoogland
* Jacobi
* ‹Jadnanansing›
* Kerstens
* ‹Klijnsma›
* Van Laar
* Leenders
* Maij
* Marcouch
* Mohandis
* Nijboer
* Oosenbrug
* ‹Plasterk›
* Recourt
* ‹Samsom›
* Servaes
* Tanamal
* ‹Timmermans›
* ‹Ünver›
* Van der Velde
* Vermeij
* Vermue
* Volp
* J. Vos
* M. Vos
* A.A. de Vries
* Wolbert
* Ypma
* Yücel

Socialist Party
(SP – 15)|

* Roemer
* Bashir
* Van Bommel
* J. van Dijk
* Van Gerven
* Gesthuizen
* ‹Jansen›
* Karabulut
* Kooiman
* Leijten
* Merkies
* Van Nispen
* Van Raak
* Siderius
* Smaling
* ‹Smits›
* ‹Swinkels›
* Ulenbelt
* ‹De Wit›

Christian Democratic Appeal
(CDA – 13)|

* Van Haersma Buma
* Amhaouch
* Bruins Slot
* Geurts
* Heerma
* Van Helvert
* ‹Van Hijum›
* Keijzer
* Knops
* A.H. Mulder
* Omtzigt
* ‹Oskam›
* Rog
* Ronnes
* ‹De Rouwe›
* Van Toorenburg

Party for Freedom
(PVV – 12)|

* Wilders
* Agema
* Beertema
* Bosma
* Van Dijck
* Fritsma
* ‹Gerbrands›
* De Graaf
* Graus
* Helder
* Klever
* Madlener
* De Roon

Democrats 66
(D66 – 12)|

* Pechtold
* Belhaj
* Bergkamp
* ‹Berndsen›
* P. Dijkstra
* ‹Hachchi›
* Koolmees
* Koşer Kaya
* Van Meenen
* ‹Schouw›
* Sjoerdsma
* Swinkels
* Van Veldhoven
* Verhoeven
* Van Weyenberg

Christian Union
(CU – 5)|

* Segers
* Bruins
* Dik-Faber
* Schouten
* ‹Slob›
* Voordewind

GroenLinks
(GL – 4)|

* Klaver
* ‹Ellemeet›
* Grashoff
* ‹Van Ojik›
* ‹Sap›
* Van Tongeren
* Voortman

Reformed Political Party
(SGP – 3)|

* Van der Staaij
* Bisschop
* Dijkgraaf

Party for the Animals
(PvdD – 2)|

* Thieme
* Ouwehand
* ‹Wassenberg›

50PLUS
(50+ – 1)|

* Krol
* ‹Baay-Timmerman›

Bontes/Van Klaveren Group
(Indep. – 2)|

* Bontes
* Van Klaveren

Kuzu/Öztürk Group
(Indep. – 2)|

* Kuzu
* Öztürk

Member Van Vliet
(Indep. – 1)|

* Van Vliet

Member Klein
(Indep. – 1)|

* Klein

Member Houwers
(Indep. – 1)|

* Houwers

Member Monasch
(Indep. – 1)|

* Monasch

Abc signifies the parliamentary leader (first mentioned) and the Speaker;  (Abc) signifies a temporarily absent member;
Abc signifies a temporary member;  ‹Abc› signifies a member who prematurely left the House of Representatives
See also: Members of the Senate of the Netherlands, 2011–2015 · 2015–2019

* v
* t
* e

Members of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (2010–2012)

House of Representatives, 17 June 2010 – 19 September 2012

People's Party for Freedom
and Democracy (31)|

* Blok
* Aptroot
* Van Ark
* Azmani
* Van Beek
* Berckmoes-Duindam
* De Boer
* Bosman
* Ten Broeke
* Van der Burg
* De Caluwé
* <Dezentjé Hamming-Bluemink>
* Dijkhoff
* Elias
* Harbers
* Hennis-Plasschaert
* Houwers
* Huizing
* <De Krom>
* Leegte
* De Liefde
* Lodders
* Lucas
* Van Miltenburg
* Mulder
* Neppérus
* <Nicolaï>
* Van Nieuwenhuizen
* <Rutte>
* Schaart
* <Schippers>
* Snijder-Hazelhoff
* Van der Steur
* Straus
* Taverne
* <Teeven>
* <Weekers>
* Ziengs
* <Zijlstra>

Labour Party (30)|

* Samsom
* Albayrak
* Arib
* Bouwmeester
* Çelik
* <Cohen>
* Van Dam
* Van Dekken
* Dijksma
* Dijsselbloem
* Dikkers
* Eijsink
* Groot
* Hamer
* Heijnen
* Hilkens
* Jacobi
* Jadnanansing
* Klijnsma
* <Kraneveldt>
* Kuiken
* De Lange
* <Leerdam>
* Marcouch
* Monasch
* Plasterk
* Recourt
* Smeets
* <Spekman>
* Timmermans
* Van der Veen
* Verbeet (Speaker)
* Vermeij
* Wolbert

Christian Democratic
Appeal (21)|

* Van Haersma Buma
* <Atsma>
* <Bijleveld>
* <Bijsterveldt>
* Biskop
* Blanksma-van den Heuvel
* Van Bochove
* Bruins Slot
* Çörüz
* Ferrier
* Haverkamp
* Van Hijum
* Holtackers
* <De Jager>
* <Joldersma>
* <Klink>
* Knops
* Koopmans
* Koppejan
* Omtzigt
* Ormel
* De Rouwe
* Smilde
* Sterk
* Van Toorenburg
* Uitslag
* <Verburg>
* <Verhagen>
* Van der Werf

Party for Freedom (20)|

* Wilders
* Agema
* Beertema
* Van den Besselaar
* Bontes
* Bosma
* Van Dijck
* Dille
* Driessen
* Elissen
* Fritsma
* Gerbrands
* Graus
* Helder
* De Jong
* Van Klaveren
* Lucassen
* De Mos
* De Roon
* <Sharpe>
* Van Vliet

Socialist Party (15)|

* Roemer
* Bashir
* Van Bommel
* Van Dijk
* Van Gerven
* Gesthuizen
* Irrgang
* Jansen
* <Janssen>
* Karabulut
* Kooiman
* Leijten
* Van Raak
* Smits
* Ulenbelt
* De Wit

Democrats 66 (10)|

* Pechtold
* Berndsen
* Dijkstra
* Hachchi
* Van der Ham
* Koolmees
* Koşer Kaya
* Schouw
* Van Veldhoven
* Verhoeven

GroenLinks (10)|

* Sap
* <Van den Berge>
* Braakhuis
* Dibi
* El Fassed
* Van Gent
* Grashoff
* <Halsema>
* Klaver
* Peters
* Van Tongeren
* Voortman

Christian Union (5)|

* Slob
* Ortega
* <Rouvoet>
* Schouten
* Voordewind
* Wiegman

Reformed Political Party (2)|

* Van der Staaij
* Dijkgraaf

Party for the Animals (2)|

* Thieme
* <Hazekamp>
* Ouwehand

Independents (4)|

* Groep Kortenoeven/Hernandez
* Kortenoeven
* Hernandez
* Lid-Brinkman
* Brinkman
* Lid-Van Bemmel
* Van Bemmel

See also: Members of the House of Representatives, 2006–2010, Members of the House of Representatives, 2012–2017, Members of the Senate, 2011–2015

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Netherlands

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