Gerrit Zalm

Gerrit Zalm
Zalm in 2006
Minister of Economic Affairs
In office 3 July 2006 – 7 July 2006 Acting
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Laurens Jan Brinkhorst
Succeeded by	Joop Wijn
Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands
In office 27 May 2003 – 22 February 2007 Serving with Thom de Graaf (2003–2005) Laurens Jan Brinkhorst (2005–2006)
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Johan Remkes Roelf de Boer
Succeeded by	Wouter Bos André Rouvoet
Parliamentary leader in the House of Representatives
In office 23 May 2002 – 27 May 2003
Preceded by	Hans Dijkstal
Succeeded by	Jozias van Aartsen
Parliamentary group	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy
In office 16 May 2002 – 27 November 2004
Preceded by	Hans Dijkstal
Succeeded by	Jozias van Aartsen
Member of the House of Representatives
In office 23 May 2002 – 27 May 2003
In office 19 May 1998 – 3 August 1998
Minister of Finance
In office 27 May 2003 – 22 February 2007
Prime Minister	Jan Peter Balkenende
Preceded by	Hans Hoogervorst
Succeeded by	Wouter Bos
In office 26 June 1996 – 22 July 2002
Prime Minister	Wim Kok
Preceded by	Hans Wijers (ad interim)
Succeeded by	Hans Hoogervorst
In office 22 August 1994 – 4 June 1996
Prime Minister	Wim Kok
Preceded by	Wim Kok
Succeeded by	Hans Wijers (ad interim)
Director of the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis
In office 1 January 1989 – 22 August 1994
Preceded by	Peter de Ridder
Succeeded by	Henk Don
Personal details
Born	Gerrit Zalm (1952-05-06) 6 May 1952 (age 72) Enkhuizen, Netherlands
Political party	People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (from 1982)
Other political affiliations	Labour Party (1971–1981)
Spouses	First wife ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1978)​ Lydia Brouwer ​ (m. 1982)​
Children	3 sons and 2 daughters
Relatives	Pier Gerlofs Donia (relative)
Residence(s)	The Hague, Netherlands
Alma mater	Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (BEc, M.Econ)
Occupation	Politician civil servant economist businessperson banker corporate director nonprofit director author professor

Gerrit Zalm (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɣɛrɪt ˈsɑl(ə)m]; born 6 May 1952) is a retired Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and businessman.^[1][2][3]

Zalm studied Economics at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, obtaining a Master of Economics degree, and worked as a civil servant for the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis from June 1975 until August 1994, and as a professor of Political economy at his alma mater from January 1990 until August 1994. After the 1994 general election, Zalm was appointed Minister of Finance in the Kok I cabinet, taking office on 22 August 1994. After the 1998 general election, Zalm continued his position in the Kok II cabinet. In the 2002 general election, Zalm was elected to the House of Representatives on 23 May 2002. Shortly after the election, party leader and parliamentary leader Hans Dijkstal announced he was stepping down and Zalm was unanimously selected as his successor as leader on 16 May 2002, and became parliamentary leader on 23 May 2002. For the 2003 general election, Zalm served as lead candidate, and following a successful cabinet formation that formed the Balkenende II cabinet was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of Finance, taking office on 27 May 2003. On 27 November 2004 Zalm announced he was stepping down as party leader in favor of and parliamentary leader Jozias van Aartsen. The Balkenende II cabinet fell on 30 June 2006 and was replaced by the caretaker Balkenende III cabinet, with Zalm continuing his offices. In August 2006, Zalm announced his retirement, stating he would not stand for the 2006 general election.

Zalm retired from active politics at 54 and became active in the private sector as a corporate director, and worked as a banker for the DSB Bank, Fortis Bank and ABN AMRO from July 2007 until February 2017. Following his retirement Zalm became active in the public sector as a non-profit director and served on several state commissions and councils on behalf of the government, and worked as a occasional mediator for coalition agreements. Zalm is known for his abilities as a skilful manager and effective debater and as of 2024 continues to comment on political affairs. He holds the distinction as the longest-serving Minister of Finance, with 11 years and 240 days, in Dutch history.^[4][5][6]