Jan Pieter (known as Jan Peter) Balkenende was born in Kapelle on 7 May
1956.
After completing his secondary education he went on to the Free University
of Amsterdam where he studied history (graduating in 1980) and Dutch law
(graduating in 1982). He obtained his doctorate in law in 1992 with a thesis
on government regulation and civil-society organisations.
From 1982 to 1984 he was a legal affairs policy officer at the Netherlands
Universities Council. He then served on the staff of the policy institute of
the Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) until 1998.
Dr Balkenende was a member of Amstelveen municipal council from 1982 to
1998, and leader of its CDA group from 1994. From 1993 to 2002 he was
professor (part-time) of Christian social thought on society and economics
at the Free University.
From 1998 to 2002 he was a member of the House of Representatives of the
States General for the CDA, and leader of the CDA parliamentary party from 1
October 2001.
He has also been a member and vice-chair of the board of the broadcasting
organisation NCRV, a member of the Amsterdam Regional Forum, chair of the
Association of Christian Lawyers, member of the group on socially
responsible business practice in the Royal Association MKB-Nederland, which
represents employers in small and medium-size businesses, and a member of
the board of the Parliamentary History Group.
On 22 July 2002, Dr Jan Peter Balkenende was appointed Prime Minister and
Minister of General Affairs in the first government to bear his
name. He also served as Prime Minister and Minister of General Affairs
in his second and third governments. Since 7 July 2006, he has been Prime
Minister and Minister of General Affairs in the third Balkenende
government.