History of Mark Rutte in Timeline

Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician who served as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024, making him the longest-serving prime minister in Dutch history. He was also the leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) from 2006 to 2023. In October 2024, Rutte assumed the role of the 14th secretary general of NATO. His tenure as prime minister was marked by navigating various coalition governments and overseeing significant economic and social policies within the Netherlands.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Challenges & Struggles

October 1909: Birth of Izaäk Rutte

In October 1909, Izaäk Rutte, Mark Rutte's father, was born. He later worked as a merchant.

March 1910: Birth of Petronella Hermanna Dilling

In March 1910, Petronella Hermanna Dilling, the first wife of Izaäk Rutte and sister to Hermina Cornelia Dilling, was born.

1918: Last Liberal Prime Minister Before Rutte

In October 2010, Rutte was sworn in as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, becoming the first Liberal to serve in the role since Pieter Cort van der Linden in 1918.

November 1923: Birth of Hermina Cornelia Dilling

In November 1923, Hermina Cornelia Dilling, Mark Rutte's mother, was born. She later worked as a secretary.

July 1945: Death of Petronella Hermanna Dilling

In July 1945, Petronella Hermanna Dilling, the first wife of Izaäk Rutte, died while interned in a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II.

February 1967: Mark Rutte Born

In February 1967, Mark Rutte was born. He later became the Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 2010 to 2024.

1974: Publication of "The Power Broker"

In 1974, American historian Robert Caro published the biography of Robert Moses, "The Power Broker", which Rutte admires.

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York

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1979: Attends Maerlant Lyceum

In 1979, Mark Rutte began attending the Maerlant Lyceum.

1985: Graduates from Maerlant Lyceum

In 1985, Mark Rutte graduated from the Maerlant Lyceum, specializing in the arts.

April 1988: Death of Izaäk Rutte

In April 1988, Izaäk Rutte, Mark Rutte's father, passed away. Rutte later described the deaths of his brother and his father as events that changed the course of his life.

1988: Joins Youth Organization Freedom and Democracy

In 1988, Rutte became a board member of the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy, the youth organization of the VVD.

1991: End of Rutte's term as chair of Youth Organisation

In 1991, Rutte ended his term as chair of the Youth Organisation Freedom and Democracy.

1992: Obtains MA Degree

In 1992, Rutte obtained an MA degree in history from Leiden University.

1993: Member of the National Board of VVD

Between 1993 and 1997, Rutte was a member of the national board of the VVD.

1994: First Kok Cabinet

Rutte's second cabinet completed its full four-year term without collapsing or losing a vote of no confidence, becoming the first cabinet to do so since the First Kok cabinet, which lasted from 1994 to 1998.

1997: End of Term on the National Board of VVD

Between 1993 and 1997, Rutte was a member of the national board of the VVD.

1997: Staff Manager at Van den Bergh Nederland

Between 1997 and 2000, Rutte was staff manager of the Unilever subsidiary, Van den Bergh Nederland.

1998: First Full Term Cabinet Since 1998

Following the collapse of Rutte's government in April 2012 and subsequent election, the second cabinet became the first to complete a full four-year term since 1998.

1998: First Kok Cabinet

2000: Member of Corporate Human Resources Group

In 2000, Rutte became a member of the Corporate Human Resources Group at Unilever.

July 2002: Appointed State Secretary

In July 2002, Rutte was appointed as State Secretary at the Social Affairs and Employment Ministry in the First Balkenende cabinet, responsible for municipal welfare and occupational safety and health.

2002: Rutte Enters National Politics

In 2002, Mark Rutte entered national politics as a member of Jan Peter Balkenende's cabinets.

2002: Human Resource Manager for IgloMora Groep

In 2002, Rutte became human resource manager for IgloMora Groep, another subsidiary of Unilever.

May 2003: Briefly a Member of the House of Representatives

From January 30 to May 27, 2003, Rutte was briefly a member of the House of Representatives.

2003: Rutte Supported Invasion of Iraq

In 2003, Rutte supported the US-led invasion of Iraq.

2003: Advice on Checking Somali Residents for Fraud

In 2003, during his time as State Secretary, Rutte advised municipalities to check Somali residents for social assistance fraud, leading to legal challenges and accusations of discrimination.

June 2004: Appointed State Secretary for Higher Education

In June 2004, Rutte was appointed State Secretary for Higher Education and Science, aiming to make the Dutch higher education system more competitive internationally.

June 2004: End of Term as State Secretary

In June 2004, Rutte's term as State Secretary at the Social Affairs and Employment Ministry ended.

May 2006: Elected as Lead Candidate of VVD

On May 31, 2006, Mark Rutte was announced as the next lijsttrekker of the VVD, after winning an internal election with 51.5% of the party members' votes.

June 2006: Resigns to Return to House of Representatives

In June 2006, Rutte resigned from his position as State Secretary to return to the House of Representatives, soon becoming the parliamentary leader of the VVD.

2006: Rutte Elected VVD Leader

In 2006, Mark Rutte won the VVD leadership election, marking a significant step in his political career.

2006: 2006 General Election

In the 2006 general election, the VVD campaign with Rutte as leader faced challenges, and Rutte was overshadowed by other party members. Rita Verdonk received more votes than Rutte.

September 2007: Expulsion of Rita Verdonk

On 13 September 2007, Rutte expelled Rita Verdonk from the party's parliamentary faction after repeated criticisms of VVD policy.

October 2010: Appointed Formateur and Prime Minister

In October 2010, Rutte was appointed as formateur and subsequently as Prime Minister of the Netherlands, becoming the first Liberal to serve in the role since 1918.

2010: Rutte Becomes Prime Minister

In 2010, Mark Rutte became the prime minister of the Netherlands after his party, the VVD, won the general election.

2010: VVD Wins General Election

In the 2010 general election, Rutte led the VVD to win 31 seats, becoming the largest party in the House of Representatives for the first time. This led to lengthy cabinet formation negotiations.

2011: VVD secured Status in Government

After a victory in the 2011 provincial elections, the VVD secured its status as the lead party within the government.

March 2012: Budget Talks and Deficit Reduction

In March 2012, Rutte began talks on budget cuts to comply with EU requirements to reduce the nation's deficit, seeking to cut 16 billion euros of government spending.

April 2012: Government Collapses

In April 2012, Rutte's government collapsed due to an impasse on budget negotiations.

November 2012: Rutte Returns as Prime Minister

On 5 November 2012, Rutte returned as prime minister, leading the Second Rutte cabinet after the VVD negotiated a coalition agreement with the Labour Party.

2014: G7 Special Meeting in The Hague

In 2014, The Hague hosted a Group of Seven special meeting after the Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was shot down in Ukraine, which included 193 Dutch nationals.

April 2016: Appointed to High-Level Panel on Water

In April 2016, Rutte was appointed to the High-Level Panel on Water by the United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the World Bank Group, to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).

November 2016: Ban on Islamic Burqa Approved

In November 2016, the House of Representatives approved a ban on the Islamic burqa in some public spaces, including schools and hospitals, with the support of the VVD.

October 2017: Sworn in as Prime Minister for Third Term

On 26 October 2017, Rutte presented his third cabinet and was sworn in as prime minister for a third term, after a record-long formation period of 225 days.

2017: VVD Largest Party After Election

In 2017, although the VVD lost seats in the general election, it remained the largest party, leading to Rutte's appointment to lead his third cabinet after a record-length formation period.

March 2018: Dutch Intelligence and Security Services Act referendum

In March 2018, the Dutch Intelligence and Security Services Act referendum was held, resulting in a rejection.

2019: VVD suffered a blow in provincial elections

In 2019, Rutte's VVD suffered a blow following the victory of right-wing populist newcomer Forum for Democracy (FvD) in the provincial elections.

May 2020: Death of Hermina Cornelia Dilling

In May 2020, Hermina Cornelia Dilling, Mark Rutte's mother, passed away.

2020: Rutte as leader of the Frugal Four and EU dissolution suggestion

During the negotiations for the COVID-19 recovery fund in the European Union in 2020, Rutte was considered the unofficial leader of the Frugal Four. In September 2020, Rutte suggested the EU could dissolve and reform without Poland and Hungary due to concerns about their governments dismantling the rule of law.

January 2021: Resignation of the third Rutte cabinet

On 15 January 2021, the third Rutte cabinet collectively resigned after the publication of research centered around the childcare subsidies scandal in the Netherlands. Rutte offered his resignation to King Willem-Alexander, accepting responsibility for the scandal.

December 2021: Presentation of coalition agreement

On 15 December 2021, after the 2021 Dutch general election, Rutte presented a coalition agreement with D66, CDA and CU, the same combination as his previous government, after the longest formation process in Dutch history.

2021: VVD Wins General Election

In 2021, despite Rutte's cabinet resigning in response to the Dutch childcare benefits scandal, the VVD won the general election.

October 2022: Rutte calls for investigation of war crimes in Nagorno-Karabakh

In October 2022, Rutte stated that alleged war crimes and human rights violations committed during the Armenian-Azerbaijani war in Nagorno-Karabakh should be investigated.

2022: Rutte Begins Fourth Term

In 2022, Rutte began his fourth term as prime minister after another record-length formation period.

January 2023: Agreement to limit chip exports to China

In January 2023, the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands reached an agreement to limit certain advanced chip exports to China.

March 2023: Dutch restrictions on chip exports

In March 2023, the Dutch government placed restrictions on chip exports to protect national security, affecting ASML.

July 2023: Government's resignation

On 7 July 2023, the parties within the coalition failed to reach an agreement on immigration policy and unanimously decided that they could not continue working together, leading to Rutte offering the resignation of his government. Rutte announced his departure from national politics three days later in July 2023.

July 2023: Government Resigns Over Migration

On July 7, 2023, Rutte's government resigned after failing to reach an agreement on how to handle migration, leading Rutte IV to continue as a caretaker cabinet.

October 2023: Announcement of candidacy for NATO Secretary General

In October 2023, Rutte announced his candidacy for the position of Secretary General of NATO.

October 2023: Support to Israel and visit to Jerusalem

On 7 October 2023, Rutte condemned the Hamas attack on Israel and expressed support to Israel, becoming the first foreign leader to speak with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on that day. Later in October 2023, he visited Israel to express solidarity, meeting with Netanyahu in Jerusalem.

November 2023: Early general elections

Due to the resignation of the cabinet, early general elections were held on 22 November 2023, with the VVD under the leadership of Dilan Yeşilgöz.

2023: End of Rutte's Leadership of VVD

In 2023, Mark Rutte ended his term as the leader of the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).

January 2024: Further restrictions on chip-making equipment to China

In January 2024, the Dutch government placed further restrictions on the shipment of some advanced chip-making equipment to China.

February 2024: Visit to Saudi Arabia and Ukraine summit in Paris

In February 2024, Rutte visited Saudi Arabia to discuss cooperation with Mohammed bin Salman. Later in February 2024, he attended an emergency summit in Paris concerning the situation in Ukraine and pledged €100 million to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

February 2024: Public support for Rutte's NATO candidacy

In February 2024, Rutte's bid to become Secretary General of NATO received public support from the governments of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France.

February 2024: Court order to stop exporting F-35 parts to Israel

In February 2024, a court in the Netherlands ordered the Dutch government to stop exporting parts for F-35 fighter jets to Israel, despite the Netherlands providing military aid.

March 2024: Xi Jinping's remarks on China's technological progress

On 27 March 2024, Chinese president Xi Jinping told Rutte that "no force can stop the pace of China’s scientific and technological progress".

April 2024: Condemnation of Iranian strikes against Israel

On 14 April 2024, Rutte condemned the Iranian strikes against Israel and reiterated the necessity for sanctions against Iran. Rutte stated that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) should be added to the EU's terrorism blacklist.

June 2024: Ukraine peace summit

In June 2024, Rutte attended the Ukraine peace summit and interpreted Putin's proposal for peace talks as a sign of panic.

June 2024: Iohannis dropping out of NATO race

Rutte's only opponent, Romanian president Klaus Iohannis, dropped out of the race for NATO Secretary General in June 2024, a week before Rutte's official appointment.

July 2024: Schoof Cabinet Sworn In

On July 2, 2024, the Schoof cabinet was sworn in, succeeding Rutte IV, which had been fulfilling a caretaker function.

October 2024: Rutte Becomes Secretary General of NATO

In October 2024, Mark Rutte assumed the role of the 14th secretary general of NATO.

October 2024: Remarks on Russian casualties in Ukraine

In October 2024, Rutte stated that more than 600,000 Russian soldiers had been killed or wounded during the war against Ukraine.

October 2024: Rutte succeeds Stoltenberg as NATO Secretary General

On 1 October 2024, Rutte succeeded Jens Stoltenberg as Secretary General of NATO during a ceremonial handover at the NATO Headquarters in Brussels.

2024: Move to Brussels

Before moving to Brussels in 2024 following his appointment as Secretary General of NATO, Rutte lived in an apartment in Benoordenhout, a neighbourhood of The Hague, for several decades.

March 2025: Views on NATO membership for Ukraine

In March 2025, following the new Trump administration's announcement that it does not support NATO membership for Ukraine, Rutte stated that Ukraine had never been promised NATO membership as part of a peace agreement, and that Europe and the US should eventually normalize relations with Russia after a peace agreement.

2025: Inaugural Hague NATO summit

On 24–25 June, 2025 The Hague will host a NATO summit. This summit will be Rutte's inaugural summit as the Secretary General and it is expected that Rutte will have to mediate between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.