Dirk Stikker

Dirk Uipko Stikker ( born February 5, 1897 in Winschoten; † 23 December 1979 Wassenaar ) was a Dutch banker, industrialist, politician, diplomat and badminton players.

Early life

He studied law at the University of Groningen. After studying Stikker got into the banking business. In 1935 he became director of Heineken. He held until 1948 this post. In 1945 he was one of the founders of Stichting van de Arbeid (Dutch advisory body between employer and employee ) and thus laid the foundation for collective bargaining in the post-war low- lands. 1964 Dirk Stikker was awarded an honorary doctorate from Brown University.

Political career

Stikker committed in 1945 for the first time in politics. On 23 March 1946 he was a founding member of the Partij van de Vrijheid ( Freedom Party ) along with former members of the pre-war Liberal Party Staatspartij (Liberal State Party). On January 24, 1948, the Freedom Party of the Volkspartij voor de Vrijheid Democracy (VVD, People's Party for Freedom and Democracy ), which today is the main liberal party in the Netherlands. Stikker was the first chairman of the VVD.

Secretary of State

1948 Stikker Foreign Minister in the government of Willem Drees. This office practiced Stikker from to 1951. Because a motion of censure due to the colonial policies ( New Guinea) the government Stikker resigned on January 23, 1951, but returned less than two months later, back in his office. The Netherlands played during Stikkers tenure an important role in the creation of NATO and the Coal and Steel Community.

Other political offices

After his ministerial office was Dirk Stikker 1952-1958 Dutch ambassador to Britain. He also acted as representative of the Netherlands in the Atlantic Alliance and the " Organisation for European Economic Co - operation" (OEEC ), the predecessor of the OECD (1958 - 1961). On April 21, 1961 Dirk Stikker was the successor of Paul -Henri Spaak, Secretary General of NATO. Due to health problems he resigned on August 1, 1964 from the post back.

Sporting career

Stikker won in badminton 1932 national champion in men's doubles. In the Dutch Open in 1931, he finished second in the doubles at the 1933 Dutch Open third parties.