Dick Schoof

Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria "Dick" Schoof (born 8 March 1957) is a Dutch politician who is the Prime Minister of the Netherlands since 2024. He was the secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security from 2020 to 2024.^[1] Schoof was a member of the Labour Party (PvdA) for over 30 years, until he left in early 2021.^[2]

Dick Schoof
Schoof in 2025
Prime Minister of the Netherlands
Caretaker
Assumed office 2 July 2024
Monarch	Willem-Alexander
Deputy	Gidi Markuszower Sophie Hermans Eddy van Hijum Mona Keijzer
Preceded by	Mark Rutte
Other positions held 1999‍–‍2024 Secretary General of the Ministry of Justice and Security In office 1 March 2020 – 28 May 2024 Preceded by Siebe Riedstra Succeeded by Ric de Rooij (acting) Director-General of the General Intelligence and Security Service In office 20 November 2018 – 10 February 2020 Preceded by Rob Bertholee Succeeded by Erik Akerboom National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism In office 1 March 2013 – 19 November 2018 Preceded by Erik Akerboom Succeeded by Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg Chief Director of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service In office 1 December 1999 – 1 March 2003
Personal details
Born	Hendrikus Wilhelmus Maria Schoof (1957-03-08) 8 March 1957 (age 68) Santpoort, Netherlands
Political party	Independent (2021–present)
Other political affiliations	PvdA (until 2021)
Spouse(s)	Yolanda Senf (div.)
Children	2
Relatives	Nico Schoof [nl] (brother)
Alma mater	Radboud University (MSc)
Occupation	Civil servant
Signature

Political career

Schoof started his career at the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG). He then became a civil servant at the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science in 1988. He was deputy secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security in 1996.

Schoof later led the Immigration and Naturalisation Service. When he was in charge of the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism, he was criticized over the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 investigation.

In 2019, Schoof was announced as secretary-general at the Ministry of Justice and Security to fix the scandals in the Ministry.^[3]

Prime Minister

Schoof was nominated as Prime Minister of the Netherlands on 28 May 2024 by the Party for Freedom (PVV), People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD), New Social Contract (NSC), and the Farmer–Citizen Movement (BBB).^[4] As part of negotiations, the four party leaders agreed none of them would serve as prime minister.^[5] He was nominated as prime minister after Ronald Plasterk withdrew from consideration.^[6][7] He was sworn in on 2 July by King Willem-Alexander.^[8]

In August 2024, Schoof announced he would ban members of his cabinet from using cellphones during meetings to reduce the threat of espionage.^[9]

In the wake of the November 2024 Amsterdam riots, Schoof said that he was "ashamed" and "horrified by the antisemitic attacks on Israeli citizens." He called the situation "completely unacceptable," adding that "the perpetrators will be identified and prosecuted."^[10][11] He blamed a specific group of young people with a migration background for the attacks.^[12] Schoof cancelled his attendance of the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference to lead the Dutch government's response.^[13]

On 3 June 2025, the PVV withdrew from Schoof's cabinet after failing to come to an agreement with coalition partners over changing the country's asylum rules. This led to Schoof's resignation as prime minister.^[14]

Personal life

Schoof was born in Santpoort, Netherlands in 1957. He studied at Radboud University.

Schoof has a girlfriend and two daughters adopted from China with his ex-wife, Yolanda Senf.^[15]