Overview

Virginie Norbertina Maria Korte-van Hemel (8 May 1929 – 3 April 2014) was a Dutch politician associated with the Christian Democratic Appeal. Over several decades she held positions in municipal and national government, including service in both chambers of the Dutch parliament and as State Secretary for Justice in the cabinets led by Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers.

Political career

Korte-van Hemel began her political career in local government and later moved to national office. She served as an alderman in the municipality of Bussum from 1970 to 1974, taking part in the municipal executive during a period of local postwar development. Subsequently she became active at the national level, sitting in both the House of Representatives and the Senate at different times. In the 1980s she was appointed State Secretary for Justice in the first and second Lubbers cabinets, a period of government reform and policy adjustments in the Netherlands.

Roles and responsibilities

The title State Secretary in the Dutch context denotes a deputy minister who leads particular portfolios within a ministry. As State Secretary for Justice, Korte-van Hemel would have been responsible for helping to shape and implement policy in areas overseen by the Ministry of Justice and Security, working on legislation, administrative oversight and coordination with other parts of government. Her parliamentary work also involved scrutiny of laws, committee work and representing her party's positions in debates.

Early life and local work

Born in Bergen op Zoom, Korte-van Hemel's public service included important local experience that informed her later national responsibilities. As an alderman in Bussum she participated in municipal decision-making and the practical administration of local services, a common path to higher office for many Dutch politicians.

Legacy and notable facts

Throughout a long career she was identified with the Christian Democratic Appeal and its predecessors, reflecting centrist, socially engaged political traditions in the Netherlands. Her tenure in both chambers of the States General and in the executive branch illustrates the range of roles available to Dutch parliamentarians and ministers in the late 20th century. Korte-van Hemel died in Bussum in 2014 at the age of 84.

  • Full name: Virginie Norbertina Maria Korte-van Hemel
  • Political affiliation: Christian Democratic Appeal
  • Alderman of Bussum (1970–1974)
  • Member of the House of Representatives and the Senate
  • State Secretary for Justice in the Lubbers I and Lubbers II cabinets