Dirk Stefan Beljaarts (Dutch: [dɪrk bɛlˈjaːrts]; born 8 February 1978) is a Dutch hotelier, lobbyist, and politician of the right-wing populist Party for Freedom (PVV).[1]
Dirk Beljaarts | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Economic Affairs | |
| Assumed office 2 July 2024 | |
| Prime Minister | Dick Schoof |
| Preceded by | Micky Adriaansens |
| Honorary consul of Hungary in the Netherlands | |
| In office 2015–2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Dirk Stefan Beljaarts 8 February 1978 Roosendaal, Netherlands |
| Citizenship | Netherlands Hungary (1978–2024) |
| Political party | Party for Freedom |
| Occupation |
|
Life
editBeljaarts was born in Roosendaal, and he studied at the Maastricht Hotel Management School.[2][3] He became hotel manager of the Loosdrecht location of the Golden Tulip chain in 2007. He later headed several more Golden Tulip locations in the Netherlands and Germany as well as the Amsterdam art'otel and Novotel.[4]
Starting in 2019, he served as general director of Royal Hospitality Netherlands (KHN), a trade association of the hospitality industry.[4] When the sector was impacted by measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic such as lockdowns, Beljaarts called them disproportionate. A subsidiary bookkeeping firm offering services to hospitality businesses was established under his leadership, and Beljaarts served as co-director. After its bankruptcy in May 2023, the trustee announced an investigation into charges for unperformed services. During his cabinet confirmation hearing, Beljaarts declared that he had been a non-executive director until January 2023 and that a criminal complaint had only been filed against the other co-director.[5][6] Beljaarts announced in early 2024 that he would vacate his position at KHN.[2] de Volkskrant later reported that the association's members council had asked him to resign, partly because of the bankruptcy.[6] Beljaarts held secondary positions as member of the Social and Economic Council starting in 2019 and as member of the Frans Hals Museum's advisory board.[2][7]
In June 2024, he was nominated to serve as Minister of Economic Affairs in the new Schoof cabinet on behalf of the PVV.[2]
Personal life
editBeljaarts has a Hungarian mother, and he initiated a procedure to renounce his Hungarian citizenship upon his ministerial appointment. He was a honorary consul of the country between 2015 and 2024.[2][4][8]
References
edit- ^ "D.S. (Dirk) Beljaarts". Parlement.com (in Dutch). Retrieved 22 June 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Horeca-voorman Dirk Beljaarts richt zich voor de PVV op de economie" [Hospitality leader Dirk Beljaarts will focus on the economy for the PVV]. NOS (in Dutch). 13 June 2024. Retrieved 15 June 2024.
- ^ "Alle ministers nieuwe kabinet bekend: dit zijn ze en dit is hun ervaring" [All ministers of the new cabinet known: These are all of them with their experience]. Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). 13 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
- ^ a b c Derix, Steven; Van den Dool, Pim; Stokmans, Derk; Vermeer, Oscar; Klumpenaar, Sjoerd; König, Eppo; Pelgrim, Christiaan; Bouwman, Boris (13 June 2024). "Van diplomaat tot Boer zoekt Vrouw-kandidaat: dit zijn de beoogde ministers van het kabinet-Schoof" [From diplomat to Farmer Wants Wife contender: These are the ministers-designate of the Schoof cabinet]. NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ De Horde, Cor (24 June 2024). "Beljaarts noemt ophef rond faillissement 'storm in glas water'" [Beljaarts calls controversy about bankruptcy a 'storm in a teacup']. Het Financieele Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ a b Du Pré, Raoul (24 June 2024). "Beljaarts voorziet geen hindernissen voor ministerschap: 'Ik zit hier met een schoon geweten'" [Beljaarts does not foresee issues for his ministerial position: 'I am sitting here with a clear conscience']. de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Beljaarts als eerste aan de beurt" [Beljaarts kicks off hearings]. NU.nl (in Dutch). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "Beljaarts doet afstand van Hongaarse nationaliteit" [Beljaarts renounces Hungarian citizenship]. NOS (in Dutch). 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.