Education
Leiden University.
Leiden University.
He served as Party chair of the People"s Party for Freedom and Democracy from 22 May 2011 until 14 June 2014.
He served as a Member of the House of Representatives from 16 September 1982 until 3 August 1998 when he became Minister of Justice in the Cabinet Kok II serving until 22 July 2002. He again served a short period as a Member of the House of Representatives from 23 May 2002 until 22 July 2002 when he became Minister of Defence in the Cabinet Balkenende I until his resignation on 12 December 2002.