Career
From 28 July 1971 to 23 April 1973, he served as Secretary of State for culture, recreation and social work. He was mayor of Utrecht and Queen"s Commissioner to Groningen. He had also directed various institutions including the Industrial Relations Center (CAOP) until 1 January 2007, the Executive Board of the Royal Library in The Hague (1996–2004), General Dutch Association of Manufacturers and Wholesalers and Soft Drinks Beverages (BBM) and various supervisory bodies.
He was an uncle of Theo van Gogh.