The last few ministerial posts in the next Dutch government were confirmed on Sunday, completing the line-up of ministers and junior ministers in Mark Rutte’s fourth administration

In total, there are 29 ministers and junior ministers, of whom 14 are women – a first in Dutch political history. Among the new faces are Almere mayor Franc Weerwind, who is the minister for legal protection, and Ernst Kuipers, head of the Dutch acute hospital care association, who became a familiar face on television during the coronavirus pandemic.

As expected, Hugo de Jonge is going to housing, where he will be charged with dealing with the shortage of affordable homes in the Netherlands. Wopke Hoekstra, the outgoing finance minister, takes over at foreign affairs.

Rutte will hold talks with all the members of his new team in the coming few days and the ministers will pose with the king on the steps of his Noordeinde palace on January 10.

Just nine of the 29 ministers and junior ministers were in the outgoing cabinet, and apart from Rutte, all those staying put have been moved to new postings.

The complete line up

Prime minister
Mark Rutte (VVD)

Finance
Minister of Finance: Sigrid Kaag (D66)
Junior minister for tax: Marnix van Rij (CDA)
Junior minister for benefits and customs: Aukje de Vries (VVD)

Foreign affairs
Minister of foreign affairs: Wopke Hoekstra (CDA)
Minister for foreign trade and development aid: Liesje Schreinemacher (VVD)

Justice and security
Minister of justice and security: Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD)
Minister for legal protection: Franc Weerwind (D66)
Junior minister for asylum and immigration: Eric van der Burg (VVD)

Home affairs
Minister of home and kingdom affairs: Hanke Bruins Slot (CDA)
Minister for housing: Hugo de Jonge (CDA)
Junior minister for kingdom affairs and digitalization: Alexandra van Huffelen (D66)

Education, culture and science
Minister of education, culture and science: Robbert Dijkgraaf (D66)
Minister for schools: Dennis Wiersma (VVD)
Junior minister of culture and media issues: Gunay Uslu (D66)

Defence
Minister of defence: Kajsa Ollongren (D66)
Junior minister of defence: Christophe van der Maat (VVD)

Infrastructure and waterways
Minister of infrastructure and waterways: Mark Harbers (VVD)
Junior minister of infrastructure and waterways: Vivianne Heijnen (CDA)

Economic affairs and climate
Minister of economic affairs and climate: Micky Adriaansens (VVD)
Minister for climate and energy: Rob Jetten (D66)
Junior minister of mines (the Groningen gas problem): Hans Vijlbrief (D66)

Agriculture and nature
Minister of agriculture, nature and food quality: Henk Staghouwer (CU)
Minister for nature and nitrogen issues: Christianne van der Wal (VVD)

Social affairs and employment
Minister of social affairs and employment: Karien van Gennip (CDA)
Minister for poverty strategy, participation and pensions: Carola Schouten (CU)

Health, welfare and sport
Minister of health, welfare and sport: Ernst Kuipers (D66)
Minister for long term care and sport: Conny Helder (VVD)
Junior minister for youth and prevention: Maarten van Ooijen (CU)

Ministers of something control a budget and effectively run the department while ministers for something are charged with a particular project and are part of the cabinet. Junior ministers (staatsecretarissen) are not members of the cabinet.