Halbe Zijlstra

Half Zijlstra ( born January 21, 1969 in Oosterwolde, community Ooststellingwerf, Friesland Province) is a Dutch politician and, since October 14, 2010 Secretary of State for Education, Culture and Science in the Cabinet Rutte I. Zijlstra part of the market liberal- conservative Volkspartij voor de Vrijheid Democracy at (VVD ).

Life and career

Zijlstra was born in 1969 in Oosterwolde the son of a police commissioner. His grandfather was a restaurateur in nearby Warfstermolen. In his early years he was in the pigeon sport and active for three years secretary of a carrier pigeon association. After studying sociology at the University of Groningen his doctorate in that subject in 1996. Alongside he also studied at the located in Groningen Hanze Marketing. After completing his doctoral work Zijlstra moved to Utrecht, where he still lives. Zijlstra is married. Privately, he gives of himself that he likes cycling and after debates in parliament like Metallica listening.

Political career

Zijlstra 1994 member of the VVD, at that time under the influence of Frits Bolkestein. After moving to Utrecht in 1996, he was a candidate in 1998 for the local council and was elected. Because of a professional activity abroad, he gave up the mandate in 2001, but returned again in 2003 in the Council back before he had to resign again due to work commitments, the mandate shortly after the re-election in 2006.

In autumn 2006, Zijlstra was chosen as the 19th on the list of VVD in the Second Chamber of the States General. He brought in that legislature, among other things, a law to curb violence at football matches ( hooliganism ) a. At the 2010 elections Zijlstra was re-elected to Parliament. On 14 October 2010 Prime Minister Mark Rutte called him as Secretary of State for Education, Culture and Science in his cabinet.

As State Secretary Zijlstra developed in the course of 2011, plans for savings in subsidized cultural projects, which earned him much criticism from artists. Among others, there were demonstrations of several thousand people in Amsterdam. Should be deleted 200 million euros from the 900 - million-euro budget. In addition, Zijlstra spoke out in favor students for their studies take too long to impose an extra tax.