Achille Van Acker

Achille Van Acker
Van Acker in 1958
Prime Minister of Belgium
In office
23 April 1954 – 26 June 1958
MonarchBaudouin
Preceded byJean Van Houtte
Succeeded byGaston Eyskens
In office
31 March 1946 – 3 August 1946
MonarchLeopold III
RegentPrince Charles
Preceded byPaul-Henri Spaak
Succeeded byCamille Huysmans
In office
12 February 1945 – 13 March 1946
MonarchLeopold III
RegentPrince Charles
Preceded byHubert Pierlot
Succeeded byPaul-Henri Spaak
President of the Chamber of Representatives
In office
27 April 1961 – 30 April 1974
Preceded byPaul Kronacker
Succeeded byAndré Dequae
Personal details
Born(1898-04-08)8 April 1898
Bruges, Belgium
Died10 July 1975(1975-07-10) (aged 77)
Bruges, Belgium
PartyBelgian Labour Party (1918–44)
Belgian Socialist Party (1944–)

Achille Van Acker (8 April 1898 – 10 July 1975) was a Belgian politician who served three terms as the prime minister of Belgium between 1945 and 1958. A moderate from Flanders, Van Acker was a member of the Belgian Socialist Party (PSB–BSP) and played an important role in the creation of the Belgian welfare state. He also organized the successful “coal battle” which stimulated coal production following the end of World War II and helped Belgium to recover rapidly economically.