Dick Schoof

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Dick Schoof
Schoof in 2018
Secretary-General of the Ministry of Justice and Security
In office
1 March 2020 – 29 May 2024
Preceded bySiebe Riedstra
Succeeded byRic de Rooij (acting)
Director-General of the General Intelligence and Security Service
In office
20 November 2018 – 10 February 2020
Preceded byRob Bertholee
Succeeded byErik Akerboom
National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism
In office
1 March 2013 – 19 November 2018
Preceded byErik Akerboom
Succeeded byPieter-Jaap Aalbersberg
Chief Director of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service
In office
1 December 1999 – 1 March 2003
Personal details
Born
Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof

(1957-03-08) 8 March 1957 (age 67)
Santpoort, Netherlands
Political partyIndependent (2021–present)
Other political
affiliations		Labour Party (until 2021)
Spouse
Yolanda Senf
​
(divorced)​
Children2
RelativesNico Schoof [nl] (brother)
Residence(s)Zoetermeer, Netherlands
Alma materRadboud University
Occupation

Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria "Dick" Schoof (Dutch: [ɦɛnˈdrikʏs ʋɪlˈɦɛlmʏs maːˈriaː dɪk sxoːf]; born 8 March 1957) is a Dutch civil servant who served as secretary-general of the Ministry of Justice and Security from 2020 to 2024. He previously served as National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism from 2013 to 2018, and director-general of the General Intelligence and Security Service from 2018 to 2020. In May 2024, Schoof was nominated to succeed Mark Rutte as prime minister of the Netherlands following the 2023–2024 government formation.[1]

Early life and education[edit]

Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof was born on 8 March 1957 in Santpoort, North Holland into a Roman Catholic family as the second youngest of seven children.[1][2][3][4] He has one sister, and his father was a municipal civil servant, including for social services.[4][5] At the age of eight, he moved with his family to Hengelo, Overijssel, where he attended Lyceum De Grundel.[6] From 1975 to 1982, he studied urban and regional planning at Radboud University.[2] He was a member of its rowing-oriented student association Phocas and served as its chair.[7]

Career[edit]

Civil service[edit]

Schoof began his career as a policy advisor on education at the Association of Netherlands Municipalities,[7] and became a civil servant at the Ministry of Education and Sciences in 1988.[2] He helped dissolve the primary school construction department, which he headed, under State Secretary Jacques Wallage.[8] He helped broker a compromise between the Christian Democratic Appeal and the Labour Party when both parties disagreed whether schools or municipalities should be responsible for the maintenance of school buildings.[4]

From 1996, Schoof held various senior positions in the field of security.[9] He served as deputy secretary-general at the Ministry of Security and Justice before being appointed chief director of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service in 1999, playing an important role in reforming immigration legislation.[2][10] He became director-general at the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations in 2003, where he was in charge of restructuring the police force from a number of regional organisations into a single National Police Corps.[11]

After serving as director-general at the Ministry of Security and Justice (from 2010 to 2013), Schoof was appointed National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV).[9] He allowed his employees to monitor potential terrorists on social media through fake profiles despite warnings from his attorneys.[4] Following the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, he coordinated the Dutch crisis response, strengthening his relationship with Prime Minister Mark Rutte. When Schoof requested an independent investigation by Twente University into the performance of his office, he was accused of interfering. He exerted pressure to soften its main conclusion.[5][8][12][13] Schoof led the General Intelligence and Security Service as director-general from 2018 to 2020.[9] de Volkskrant wrote that his relatively short tenure was characterized by a culture clash. Schoof unsuccessfully tried to make the agency more outward facing, including through cooperations with institutions and universities. In 2019, he warned the education ministry and the municipality of Amsterdam that supporters of the Salafi movement were on the board of an Islamic school. His message was perceived as a way to assert pressure, and it received criticism for stirring up polarisation.[4][14]

Schoof during a meeting with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in 2022

In December 2019, it was announced that Schoof would succeed Siebe Riedstra as secretary-general of the Ministry of Justice and Security, the most senior non-political position within the ministry.[12][15][16] The appointment took effect on 1 March 2020.[17] In his role, he was involved in negotiations on asylum reform that led to the collapse of the fourth Rutte cabinet in July 2023. Upon reaching the legal retirement age in March 2024, Schoof chose not to retire and was granted an exemption to continue working for three more years.[7]

Political career[edit]

Schoof was a passive member of the Labour Party (PvdA) for over 30 years, until he left the party in early 2021.[5][18] Following the general election victory of the populist Party for Freedom (PVV) of Geert Wilders in November 2023, Schoof called it a signal of distrust towards the government in an interview. He said the people could not have been wrong if they voted for the PVV in such large numbers.[8] On 16 May 2024, the PVV presented a right-wing coalition agreement with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB).[19] As part of the negotiations, the four party leaders agreed none of them would serve as prime minister.[20] The PVV had initially proposed Ronald Plasterk for the position, but he withdrew from consideration due to accusations of fraud.[21][22]

Premiership[edit]

Schoof was subsequently nominated for the office of prime minister on 28 May 2024 by the PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB under formateur Richard van Zwol.[21][23]

Personal life[edit]

Schoof lives in Zoetermeer, South Holland with his partner.[24] With his ex-wife, he has two daughters, Yasmin and Celine, who were adopted from China.[5] He likes running, having completed his first marathon in 1987 and his 18th marathon in 2024.[7][25] Schoof's older brother Nico Schoof [nl] is a former mayor of the municipalities of Akersloot, Limmen, Heiloo and Alphen aan den Rijn of the Democrats 66 party.[3][4][26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Blacquière, Jan; Bovenkamp, Niels van den (28 May 2024). "Geboren katholiek, die door de jaren heen krasjes opliep. Wie is Dick Schoof, de beoogd premier?". Nederlands Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d Harreveld, Mark van; Verbeek, Julian (28 May 2024). "Dit weten we over Dick Schoof, de premierskandidaat van PVV, VVD, NSC & BBB". BNR Nieuwsradio (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Drs. H.W.M. (Dick) Schoof". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Hofs, Yvonne (28 May 2024). "Dick Schoof: topambtenaar met rijke ervaring die steun en toeverlaat was van ministers en premier Rutte" [Dick Schoof: High-ranking official with extensive experience who was the support of ministers and Prime Minister Rutte]. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Hartog, Tobias den; Keultjes, Hanneke; Verweij, Elodie (28 May 2024). "'Dick Donder' en 'Lachende moordenaar': met Dick Schoof krijgt Nederland premier die stiekem best op Rutte lijkt". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  6. ^ "De Hengelose roots van beoogd premier Dick Schoof: 'Bij thuiskomst zag ik allemaal gemiste oproepen en appjes'". 1Twente (in Dutch). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "Dick Schoof zeer ervaren op gebied van justitie en asiel" [Dick Schoof particularly experienced on matters of justice and asylum]. NOS (in Dutch). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Kabel, David (28 May 2024). "IJdele technocraat met enorm netwerk kan rekenen op vertrouwen van Wilders" [Vain technocrat with an enormous network is trusted by Wilders]. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "Dick Schoof". Follow the Money (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  10. ^ Adriaanse, Mark Lievisse (19 December 2019). "AIVD-baas Schoof gaat Justitie leiden". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  11. ^ Keken, Kim van (11 October 2017). "Reconstructie: hoe bij de schepping van de nationale politie alle waarschuwingen werden genegeerd". De Groene Amsterdammer (in Dutch). Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Insider Schoof moet rust brengen op Justitie en Veiligheid". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Kamer eist opheldering na bemoeienis Schoof bij MH17-onderzoek: 'Absolute no go'". RTL Nieuws (in Dutch). 8 February 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  14. ^ Hendrickx, Frank; Modderkolk, Huib (1 June 2024). "Ingewijden over de beoogde premier Dick Schoof: 'Er komt wel een mannetje binnen, met een bepaalde energie'" [Insiders about prime minister-designate Dick Schoof: 'A particular guy is entering, with a particular vibe']. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  15. ^ Adriaanse, Mark Lievisse (19 December 2019). "AIVD-baas Schoof gaat Justitie leiden". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  16. ^ "Dick Schoof vertrekt als directeur van de AIVD". BeveiligingNieuws (in Dutch). 20 December 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  17. ^ "Dick Schoof benoemd tot secretaris-generaal JenV". Rijksoverheid (in Dutch). 20 December 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  18. ^ "Schoof: ik ben niet de PVV-premier, ik ben gevraagd door vier partijen". NOS.nl (in Dutch). 27 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Coalitieakkoord bekend: partijen willen met 'hoop, lef en trots' problemen aanpakken" [Coalition agreement released: Parties want to tackle issues with 'hope, courage, and pride']. NOS (in Dutch). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  20. ^ Goot, Edo van der (13 March 2024). "Wilders geeft premierschap op, leiders PVV, VVD, NSC en BBB niet in kabinet" [Wilders surrenders position of prime minister, leaders of PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB not in cabinet]. NU.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Topambtenaar Dick Schoof (ex-AIVD, ex-NCTV) kandidaat-premier" [High-ranking official Dick Schoof (former AIVD and NCTV) nominated as prime minister]. NOS (in Dutch). 28 May 2024. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  22. ^ "Partijleiders nu definitief akkoord • Presentatie verschoven naar vanochtend" [Party leaders definitively in agreement • Presentation postponed to this morning]. NOS (in Dutch). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  23. ^ Kroet, Cynthia (29 May 2024). "Who is Dick Schoof and why did Geert Wilders choose him as new PM?". euronews. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  24. ^ Kleijwegt, Francis (29 May 2024). "Dick Schoof op hardloopschoenen, Zoetermeer kijkt er niet van op". Omroep West (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  25. ^ Baxmeier, Fleur (29 May 2024). "Beoogd minister-president Dick Schoof liep al 18 marathons" [Prime minister-designate Dick Schoof has walked 18 marathons]. Runner's World (in Dutch). Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  26. ^ Kouwenhoven, Andreas; Versteegh, Kees (14 February 2015). "Mister Veiligheid neemt alle ruimte". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 29 May 2024.

External links[edit]

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