Hans van Baalen

Hans van Baalen
President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party
In office
21 November 2015 – 29 April 2021
Preceded byGraham Watson
Succeeded byVacant
Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the European Parliament
In office
14 July 2009 – 1 July 2019
Preceded byJules Maaten
Succeeded byMalik Azmani
Member of the European Parliament
In office
14 July 2009 – 1 July 2019
ConstituencyNetherlands
President of the Liberal International
In office
20 April 2009 – 26 April 2014
Preceded byJohn Alderdice
Succeeded byJuli Minoves
Member of the House of Representatives
In office
30 January 2003 – 14 July 2009
In office
28 September 1999 – 23 May 2002
Personal details
Born
Johannes Cornelis van Baalen

(1960-06-17)17 June 1960
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Died29 April 2021(2021-04-29) (aged 60)
Rotterdam, Netherlands
Political partyPeople's Party for Freedom and Democracy (1986–2021)
Spouse
Ineke Sybesma
(m. 2006)
Children1 son
EducationLeiden University (LLB, LLM, MSc)
WebsiteOfficial website (in Dutch)
Military service
Allegiance Netherlands
Branch/serviceRoyal Netherlands Army
Years of service1986–2021 (Reserve)
RankColonel Colonel
UnitNational Reserve Corps

Johannes Cornelis "Hans" van Baalen (17 June 1960 – 29 April 2021) was a Dutch politician of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) who served as a Member of the European Parliament and Leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy in the European Parliament from 2009 until 2019. He also was President of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party from 21 November 2015 until his death.

Van Baalen, a jurist and management consultant by occupation, worked for Deloitte as Director of Public relations from his graduation in 1988 until 1999. He became a Member of the House of Representatives on 28 September 1999 serving until 23 May 2002. After the Dutch general election of 2003 he was re-elected as Member of the House of Representatives serving from 30 January 2003 until 14 July 2009 when he became Member of the European Parliament. Van Baalen served as President of the Liberal International from 20 April 2009 until 26 April 2014.