Career
In 1963 he was first elected to the Dutch House of Representatives for the Katholieke Volkspartij (Katholieke Volks Partij (Catholic People's Party)). He served as Minister of Agriculture (1967–1973), during which time he served as the Dutch Coordinator of Affairs and Provision of Aid and Assistance Concerning Suriname and the Netherlands Antilles from 1972–1973. Thereafter he was appointed European Commissioner (1973–1977).
From 1977 to 1986 he was the chairman of the Rabobank.