Thierry AartsenMinister for the Environment and Public Transport
Born on 19 December 1989 in Breda, partner, 1 child
Party: People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD)
Everyone in the Netherlands should be able to count on good, safe and reliable public transport. And on a clean and healthy living environment that supports vibrant communities. That’s what I’ll be working on going forward.
The environment: noise pollution, environmental safety and risks, hazardous substances, non-agricultural use of biocides and plant protection products, air quality, circular economy, traffic emissions and fuels. This does not include climate policy.
Soil
Public transport and railways
International public transport
Cycling policy
Sustainable transport
Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI)
Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS)
Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)
19 June 2025
Appointed Minister for the Environment and Public Transport in the Schoof government
13 September 2018 – 19 June 2025
Member of the House of Representatives for the VVD; member of parliamentary commission of inquiry on anti-fraud policy and government services (2023 – 2024) and chair of the parliament building users’ committee that advises on the renovation (2022 – 2025)
2018 (until 12 September)
Adviser to Bert Wijbenga-van Nieuwenhuizen, member of Rotterdam municipal executive
September 2013 – September 2018
Programme manager and account manager of Taskforce Health Care, FME-CWM
September 2013 – March 2016
International business programme manager, FME-CWM
March 2008 – March 2013
Salesperson, Wijnkoperij Van Bilsen, Tilburg
2007 - 2016
BA in European Studies, The Hague University of Applied Sciences
2022 – 2023
Leader of the VVD municipal (2022) and provincial (2023) election campaigns
2020 – 2025
Member of the committee of recommendation of Kielegats Carnival Museum
2010 – 2018
Member and (from August 2015) leader of the VVD group in Breda municipal council; lead candidate for the VVD in the 2016 municipal elections
2009 – 2010
Member of the executive (responsible for publicity and membership recruitment) of the Young Liberals (JOVD)
