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==Private life== |
==Private life== |
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*Van der Laan is a [[vegetarian]]. |
*Van der Laan is a [[vegetarian]]. |
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*She is married to [[Dennis Hesseling]] <ref>[[NRC Handelsblad]] newspaper(Zaterdags Bijvoegsel) ''Hollands Dagboek'' |
*She is married to [[Dennis Hesseling]] <ref>Source: [[NRC Handelsblad]] newspaper(Zaterdags Bijvoegsel) ''Hollands Dagboek'', [http://www.d66.nl/news/item/test3/3716?mid= available online on the website of D66] </ref>, who studied [[mathematics]].<ref>Source: [http://www.kennislink.nl/web/show?id=114771 Kennislink](Retrieved Feb. 2006)</ref> They have one son whom they called [[Helix]].<ref>Source: [[Algemeen Dagblad]], also published at [http://www.d66.nl/news/item/tet/3440?mid= D66.nl] (Retrieved Feb. 2006) </ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
Revision as of 20:31, 22 August 2006
Louse Wies Sija Anne Lilly Berthe (Lousewies) van der Laan (Rotterdam, February 18, 1966) is a Dutch politician and the leader of the parliamentary group of the social liberal Democrats 66 (D66) in the Lower House. She was a Member of the European Parliament between 1999 and 2003 in the ELDR group.
Career before politics
In her youth, Van der Laan lived in the United States, Germany and Belgium. She finished high school at the German School in Washington, DC. She obtained an international baccalaureate at Armand Hammer United World College of the American West (In Montezuma, New Mexico). After graduating in 1984, Van der Laan moved to the Netherlands to study law at the University of Leiden. She specialized in International and European Law and graduated in 1990. Between 1990 and 1991 she studied international relations at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University at Bologna. After an internship at Greenpeace in Brussels, she became an intern at the cabinet of Dutch European Commissioner Frans Andriessen.
Between 1991 and 1994 she worked for TACIS of the European Commission, where she was responsible for environmental projects. In 1995 she worked as an environmental specialist for the EBRD in London. Between 1995 and 1997 she worked for the Cabinet of Dutch European Commissioner for External Relations, Hans van den Broek. In 1997 she became his spokesperson.
Political career
In 1999 she became head of the D66 list for the European Elections. She became chairwoman of the parliamentary party and member of the parliamentary party board of the ELDR. In the European Parliament she was active on a range of issue focusing on civil liberties, environmental affairs, budget and foreign affairs. In the European Parliament she was vice-chairwoman of the Committee on Budget Control between 1999 and 2002, vice-chairwoman of the Committee on Liberties and Civil Rights, Justice and Home Affairs between 2002 and 2003. She was member of the Committee on the Rights of the Woman and Equal Chances between 1999 and 2003, the delegation for relations with the Palestinian Authority between 1999 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2002 she was a substitute for the Committee on Environmental Protection, Public Health and Consumers' Policy and a substitute for the delegation for relations with the Slovak Republic. Between 2002 and 2003 she was a substitute for the Budget Committee. She founded the Intergroup on Food Safety, the Campaign for Parliamentary Reform.
In 2003 she switched to the Dutch Parliament. She was the spokeswoman of her party on foreign affairs, higher education, justice, technology, European affairs and gay rights. She was the vice-chairwoman of the parliamentary party and the chairwoman of the parliamentary committee on technology policy and vice-chairwoman of the committee on European affairs. In 2004 she temporarily left parliament, to give birth to her son Helix.
She assumed the parliamentary leadership of D66 in the Lower House on February 3 2006, succeeding Boris Dittrich. Dittrich stepped down after making tactical and political errors in the debate on sending Dutch troops to the Afghan province of Uruzgan.
Lousewies van der Laan lost out to Alexander Pechtold in the June 2006 D66 leadership election.
Van der Laan played a significant role in the downfall of the Second Balkenende cabinet by supporting a motion of no confidence against Minister Rita Verdonk. On August 4, 2006, she announced that she will retire from Dutch parliament after the 2006 elections.
Private life
- Van der Laan is a vegetarian.
- She is married to Dennis Hesseling [1], who studied mathematics.[2] They have one son whom they called Helix.[3]
References
- ^ Source: NRC Handelsblad newspaper(Zaterdags Bijvoegsel) Hollands Dagboek, available online on the website of D66
- ^ Source: Kennislink(Retrieved Feb. 2006)
- ^ Source: Algemeen Dagblad, also published at D66.nl (Retrieved Feb. 2006)