Career
Since 1 July 2011 she is Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations organizations for Food and Agriculture in Rome (Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development and World Food Program) succeeding former Capital Development Authority politician Agnes van Ardenne. She also served as Minister of Agriculture in the fourth Balkenende cabinet from 2007 to 2010. As an Member of Parliament she focused on matters of social affairs, the European Union and energy and innovation policy.
Verburg began to work for Christian Rural Youth as general-secretary.
In 1982 she began to work for the National Federation of Christian Trade Unions in the Netherlands. Between 1982 and 1986 as youth worker of the construction trade union and between 1986 and 1990 as chair of the CNV-youth labour union.
Between 1990 and 1997 she was on the union"s board and she represented the union in the Social Economic Council and the European Trade Union Confederation. Between 1997 and 1998 she worked as a businesswoman in communication and projects.
She has served on the executive committee of the European Trade Union Confederation, and on the boards of the Interchurch Organisation for Development Cooperation, the Royal Dutch Equestrian Sports Federation (KNHS) and Stichting Geuzenverzet.
She was one of the few Christian Democratic Appeal members who voted in favour of the legalisation of gay marriages. In 2003 she was candidate for President for the House of Representatives, but she was defeated by People"s Party for Freedom and Democracy candidate Frans Weisglas. She was the chair of the Christian Democratic Appeal commission on social affairs
From 22 February 2007 until 14 October 2010 she was Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality in the Cabinet Balkenende IV, and the first openly lesbian Minister of Christian Democratic signature in a Dutch Cabinet.
Private life
Verburg is openly lesbian and lives with her partner Willy Westerlaken in Woerden.