De Meester cabinet

The De Meester cabinet was the cabinet of the Netherlands from 17 August 1905 until 12 February 1908. The cabinet was formed by the political parties Liberal Union (LU) and the Free-thinking Democratic League (VDB) after the election of 1905. The left-wing^[1] cabinet was a minority government in the House of Representatives but was supported by Independent Liberals for a majority. Theo de Meester of the Liberal Union was Prime Minister.^[2]

De Meester cabinet
Cabinet of the Netherlands
Date formed	17 August 1905 (1905-08-17)
Date dissolved	12 February 1908 (1908-02-12) (Demissionary from 21 December 1907 (1907-12-21))
People and organisations
Head of state	Queen Wilhelmina
Head of government	Theo de Meester
No. of ministers	9
Ministers removed	2
Total no. of members	11
Member party	Liberal Union Free-thinking Democratic League Independent Liberals (Confidence and supply)
Status in legislature	Left-wing Minority government
History
Election	1905 election
Outgoing election	1909 election
Legislature terms	1905–1909
Incoming formation	1905
Outgoing formation	1907-1908
Predecessor	Kuyper cabinet
Successor	T. Heemskerk cabinet

Composition

Title	Minister				Term of office
	Image	Name	Party		Start	End
Chairman of the Council of Ministers Minister of Finance		Theo de Meester		LU	17 August 1905	12 February 1908
Minister of Interior		Pieter Rink		LU	17 August 1905	10 February 1908
Minister of Foreign Affairs		Dirk van Tets van Goudriaan		Indep.[a]	17 August 1905	12 February 1908
Minister of Justice		Eduard Ellis van Raalte		VDB	17 August 1905	12 February 1908
Minister of Water Management, Commerce and Industry (1905–1906) Minister of Water Management (1906–1908)		Jacob Kraus		LU	17 August 1905	12 February 1908
Agriculture, Commerce and Industry		Jacob Veegens		VDB	1 July 1906	12 February 1908
Minister of War		Henri Staal		LU	17 August 1905	7 April 1907
		Willem van Rappard		Indep.[a]	7 April 1907	12 February 1908
Minister of the Navy		William Cohen Stuart		Indep.[a]	17 August 1905	5 August 1907
		Jan Wentholt		Indep.[a]	5 August 1907	12 February 1908
Minister of Colonial Affairs		Dirk Fock		LU	17 August 1905	12 February 1908
Source: Parlement & Politiek (in Dutch)

1. Liberal