Wim van Eekelen

Wim van Eekelen
Van Eekelen in 1978
Member of the Senate
In office
13 June 1995 – 10 June 2003
Parliamentary groupPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
Secretary General of the
Western European Union
In office
15 May 1989 – 15 November 1994
Preceded byAlfred Cahen
Succeeded byJosé Cutileiro
Minister of Defence
In office
14 July 1986 – 6 September 1988
Prime MinisterRuud Lubbers
Preceded byJob de Ruiter
Succeeded byPiet Bukman (Ad interim)
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs
In office
5 November 1982 – 14 July 1986
Prime MinisterRuud Lubbers
Preceded byHans van den Broek
Succeeded byRené van der Linden
State Secretary for Defence
In office
20 January 1978 – 11 September 1981
Serving with Cees van Lent
Prime MinisterDries van Agt
Preceded byCees van Lent
Succeeded byBram Stemerdink
Jan van Houwelingen
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
3 June 1986 – 14 July 1986
In office
25 August 1981 – 5 November 1982
In office
8 June 1977 – 20 January 1978
Parliamentary groupPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy
Personal details
BornWillem Frederik van Eekelen
(1931-02-05)5 February 1931
Utrecht, Netherlands
Died25 June 2025(2025-06-25) (aged 94)
The Hague, Netherlands
PartyPeople's Party for
Freedom and Democracy

(from 1955)
Alma materUtrecht University
(Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Doctor of Philosophy)
Princeton University
(A.B.)
OccupationPolitician · Diplomat · civil servant · Jurist · Political scientist · Researcher · Political consultant · Corporate director · Nonprofit director · Lobbyist · Author
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/serviceRoyal Netherlands Army
Years of service1956–1957 (Conscription)
1957–1961 (Reserve)
Rank Lieutenant
UnitRegiment Huzaren van Boreel
Battles/warsCold War
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Willem Frederik van Eekelen (5 February 1931 – 25 June 2025) was a Dutch politician, diplomat and political scientist.