The minister of education, culture and science () is the head of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and a member of the Cabinet and the Council of Ministers. The current minister of education, culture and science is Gouke Moes of Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB). The minister of education, culture and science is often assigned a state secretary who is tasked with specific portfolios, currently Koen Becking of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD). In the past, there have been ministers without portfolio assigned to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science.
List of ministers of education Education, arts and sciences (1918–1965) PortraitName Term of officePartyCabinet Johannes Theodoor de Visser (1857–1932) 25 September 1918 – 4 August 1925 Christian Historical Union Ruijs de Beerenbrouck I, II Victor Rutgers (1877–1945) 4 August 1925 – 8 March 1926 Anti-Revolutionary Party Colijn I Marius Waszink (1881–1943) 8 March 1926 – 10 August 1929 Roman Catholic State Party De Geer I Jan Terpstra (1888–1952) 10 August 1929 – 26 May 1933 Anti-Revolutionary Party Ruijs de Beerenbrouck III Henri Marchant (1869–1956) 26 May 1933 – 18 May 1935 Free-thinking Democratic LeagueColijn II Jan Rudolph Slotemaker de Bruïne (1869–1941) 18 May 1935 – 25 July 1939 Christian Historical Union Colijn III, IV Bep Schrieke (1890–1945) 25 July 1939 – 10 August 1939 Independent Liberal Colijn V Gerrit Bolkestein (1871–1956) 10 August 1939 – 25 June 1945 Free-thinking Democratic League De Geer II Gerbrandy I, II, III Gerard van der Leeuw (1898–1981) 25 June 1945 – 3 July 1946 Social Democratic Workers' Party Schermerhorn–Drees Labour Party Jos Gielen (1898–1981) 3 July 1946 – 7 August 1948 Catholic People's Party Beel I Theo Rutten (1899–1980) 7 August 1948 – 2 September 1952 Catholic People's Party Drees–Van Schaik Drees I Jo Cals (1914–1971) 2 September 1952 – 24 July 1963 Catholic People's Party Drees II, III Beel II De Quay Theo Bot (1911–1984) 24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965 Catholic People's Party Marijnen
Education and sciences (1965–1994) PortraitName Term of officePartyCabinet Dr. Isaäc Arend Diepenhorst (1916–2004) 14 April 1965 – 5 April 1967 Anti-Revolutionary Party Cals Zijlstra Dr. Gerard Veringa (1924–1999) 5 April 1967 – 6 July 1971 Catholic People's Party De Jong Chris van Veen (1922–2009) 6 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 Christian Historical Union Biesheuvel I, II Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020) 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977 Labour Party Den Uyl Arie Pais (1930–2022) 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Van Agt I Jos van Kemenade (1937–2020) 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 Labour Party Van Agt II Wim Deetman (born 1945) 29 May 1982 – 14 September 1989 Christian Democratic Appeal Van Agt III Lubbers I Lubbers II Gerrit Braks (1933–2017) 14 September 1989 – 7 November 1989 Christian Democratic Appeal Jo Ritzen (born 1945) 7 November 1989 – 22 August 1994 Labour Party Lubbers III
Education, culture and science (since 1994) PortraitName Term of officePartyCabinet Dr. Jo Ritzen (born 1945) 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 Labour Party Kok I Loek Hermans (born 1951) 3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Kok II Maria van der Hoeven (born 1949) 22 July 2002 – 22 February 2007 Christian Democratic Appeal Balkenende I, II, III Dr. Ronald Plasterk (born 1957) 22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 Labour Party Balkenende IV André Rouvoet (born 1962) 23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010 Christian Union Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961) 14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012 Christian Democratic Appeal Rutte I Dr. Jet Bussemaker (born 1961) 5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017 Labour Party Rutte II Ingrid van Engelshoven (born 1966) 26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022 Democrats 66 Rutte III Dr. Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960) 10 January 2022 – 2 July 2024 Democrats 66 Rutte IV Eppo Bruins (born 1969) 2 July 2024 – 22 August 2025 New Social Contract Schoof Sophie Hermans (born 1981) 22 August 2025 – 5 September 2025 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Gouke Moes (born 1991) 5 September 2025 – Incumbent Farmer–Citizen Movement
List of ministers without portfolio Portrait Name Portfolio(s) Term of officeParty Cabinet Jonkheer Mauk de Brauw (1925–1984) • Higher Education • Science Policy 6 July 1971 – 21 July 1972 Democratic Socialists '70 Biesheuvel I Chris van Veen (1922–2009) 21 July 1972 – 11 May 1973 Christian Historical Union Biesheuvel II Boy Trip (1921–1990) • Science Policy 11 May 1973 – 19 December 1977 Political Party of Radicals Den Uyl Rinus Peijnenburg (1928–1979) • Science Policy 19 December 1977 – 1 April 1979 Catholic People's Party Van Agt I Leendert Ginjaar (1928–2003) 1 April 1979 – 3 May 1979 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Ton van Trier (1926–1983) 3 May 1979 – 11 September 1981 Independent Catholic Catholic People's Party Christian Democratic Appeal Not in use (1981–2017) Arie Slob (born 1961) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Preschool • Media 26 October 2017 – 10 January 2022 Christian Union Rutte III Dennis Wiersma (born 1986) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Preschool • Media 10 January 2022 – 22 June 2023 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Rutte IV Mariëlle Paul (born 1966) 21 July 2023 – 2 July 2024 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Not in use (since 2024)
List of state secretaries for education Education, arts and sciences (1950–1965) Portrait Name Portfolio(s) Term of officeParty Cabinet Jo Cals (1914–1971) • Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport 15 March 1950 – 2 September 1952 Catholic People's Party Drees–Van Schaik Drees I Dr. Anna de Waal (1906–1981) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education • Youth Care 2 February 1953 – 16 March 1957 Catholic People's Party Drees II Drees III René Höppener (1903–1983) • Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport 12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party Beel II Gerard Stubenrouch (1918–1962) • Primary Education • Secondary Education 16 June 1959 – 22 April 1962 Catholic People's Party De Quay Dr. Harry Janssen (1910–1982) 4 June 1962 – 24 July 1963 Catholic People's Party Ynso Scholten (1918–1984) • Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport 16 June 1959 – 24 July 1963 Christian Historical Union Hans Grosheide (1930–2022) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education 3 September 1963 – 14 April 1965 Anti-Revolutionary Party Marijnen Louis van de Laar (1921–2004) • Social Services • Youth Care • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport 24 October 1963 – 14 April 1965 Catholic People's Party
Education and sciences (1965–1994) Portrait Name Portfolio(s) Term of officeParty Cabinet Hans Grosheide (1930–2022) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education 14 April 1965 – 6 July 1971 Anti-Revolutionary Party Cals Zijlstra De Jong Kees Schelfhout (1918–1983) • Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool 28 July 1971 – 11 May 1973 Catholic People's Party Biesheuvel I, II Dr. Ger Klein (1925–1998) • Higher education 11 May 1973 – 8 September 1977 Labour Party Den Uyl Dr. Antoon Veerman (1916–1993) • Secondary Education • Special Education 11 May 1973 – 1 September 1975 Anti-Revolutionary Party Klaas de Jong Ozn. (1926–2011) 1 September 1975 – 19 December 1977 Anti-Revolutionary Party • Secondary Education 19 December 1977 – 11 September 1981 Van Agt I Ad Hermes (1929–2002) • Primary Education 9 January 1978 – 29 May 1982 Catholic People's Party Christian Democratic Appeal Van Agt II • Primary Education • Special Education 29 May 1982 – 4 November 1982 Van Agt III Wim Deetman (born 1945) • Secondary Education • Adult Education 11 September 1981 – 29 May 1982 Christian Democratic Appeal Van Agt II Nell Ginjaar-Maas (1931–2012) • Secondary Education • Adult Education 5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Lubbers I • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Adult Education 14 July 1986 – 7 November 1989 Lubbers II Gerard van Leijenhorst (1928–2001) • Primary Education 8 November 1982 – 14 July 1986 Christian Democratic Appeal Lubbers I Jacques Wallage (1946–2026) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education 7 November 1989 – 9 June 1993 Labour Party Lubbers III Dr. Roel in 't Veld (born 1942) • Secondary Education • Higher education • Science Policy 9 June 1993 – 19 June 1993 Labour Party Dr. Job Cohen (born 1947) • Higher education • Science Policy 2 July 1993 – 22 August 1994 Labour Party
Education, culture and science (since 1994) Portrait Name Portfolio(s) Term of officeParty Cabinet Tineke Netelenbos (born 1944) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 Labour Party Kok I Aad Nuis (1933–2007) • Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art 22 August 1994 – 3 August 1998 Democrats 66 Karin Adelmund (1949–2005) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Special Education 3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002 Labour Party Kok II Dr. Rick van der Ploeg (born 1956) • Media • Culture • Art 3 August 1998 – 22 July 2002 Labour Party Annette Nijs (born 1961) • Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy 22 July 2002 – 9 June 2004 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Balkenende I Balkenende II Mark Rutte (born 1967) 17 June 2004 – 27 June 2006 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Bruno Bruins (born 1963) 29 June 2006 – 3 July 2006 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy • Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy 3 July 2006 – 22 February 2007 Balkenende III Cees van Leeuwen (born 1951) • Media • Culture • Art 22 July 2002 – 27 May 2003 Pim Fortuyn List Balkenende I Medy van der Laan (born 1968) • Media • Culture • Art 27 May 2003 – 3 July 2006 Democrats 66 Balkenende II Marja van Bijsterveldt (born 1961) • Secondary Education 22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 Christian Democratic Appeal Balkenende IV • Higher Education • Secondary Education • Science • Media • Culture • Art • Emancipation 23 February 2010 – 14 October 2010 Sharon Dijksma (born 1971) • Primary Education • Special Education • Preschool 22 February 2007 – 23 February 2010 Labour Party Halbe Zijlstra (born 1969) • Higher Education • Adult Education • Science Policy • Culture • Art 14 October 2010 – 5 November 2012 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Rutte I Sander Dekker (born 1975) • Higher Education • Science Policy • Media • Culture • Art 5 November 2012 – 26 October 2017 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Rutte II Vacant Dr. Gunay Uslu (born 1972) • Culture • Media • Art 10 January 2022 – 1 December 2023 Democrats 66 Rutte IV Robbert Dijkgraaf (born 1960) 1 December 2023 – 6 December 2023 Democrats 66 Steven van Weyenberg (born 1973) 6 December 2023 – 12 January 2024 Democrats 66 Fleur Gräper (born 1974) 12 January 2024 – 2 July 2024 Democrats 66 Mariëlle Paul (born 1966) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Equal Opportunities 2 July 2024 – 5 September 2025 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Schoof Koen Becking (born 1969) • Primary Education • Secondary Education • Equal Opportunities 5 September 2025 – Incumbent People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
List of ministers of social work Social work (1952–1965) Portrait Name Term of officeParty Cabinet Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) 2 September 1952 – 9 September 1952 Catholic People's Party Drees II Frans-Jozef van Thiel (1906–1993) 9 September 1952 – 13 October 1956 Catholic People's Party Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986) 13 October 1956 – 24 July 1963 Catholic People's Party Drees III Beel II De Quay Jo Schouwenaar-Franssen (1909–1995) 24 July 1963 – 14 April 1965 People's Party for Freedom and Democracy Marijnen
Culture, recreation and social work (1965–1982)