Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment

Melanie Schultz van Haegen-Maas Geesteranus,
Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment

Personal details

Given names (informal name): Melanie Henriëtte (Melanie)
Place and date of birth: Laag-Soeren, 28 June 1970
City of residence: Leiden
Marital status: married, 2 children

Education

1988: Gymnasium-B (pre-university school), Lisse
1988-1994: Public Administration at the Rijksuniversiteit Leiden and the Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam
2008: INSEAD Fontainebleau; European Health Leadership Course
2010: IECD Bled Senior Leadership Course

Career

Melanie Schultz van Haegen worked as a consultant at B&A Groep (policy studies & consulting) in The Hague. Up until 1999 she was an inspector for the Inspectorate of Government Finances at the Ministry of Finance.

From 1999 to May 2002, Schultz van Haegen was alderperson responsible for Economic Affairs for the Municipality of Leiden.

Melanie Schultz van Haegen became State Secretary of Transport, Public Works and Water Management on 22 July 2002 in the first Cabinet of Prime Minister Balkenende. She held this position in the Cabinets of Balkenende II and III as well. She was responsible for railways (since May 2003), aviation and water management. Also, from 30 January 2003 to 27 May 2003, she was a member of the Dutch Lower House for the VVD (People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, i.e. Liberal Party). 

From April 2007 until her appointment as Minister, Schultz van Haegen was a director of health care purchasing at Achmea Zorg.

Ms drs. M.H. Schultz van Haegen-Maas Geesteranus was appointed as the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Rutte on 14 October 2010.

Party-political positions and additional positions

From 1991 to 1994, Melanie Schultz van Haegen was an assistant to the parliamentary party VVD in the city council of Leiden. From 1994 to 2002, she was a member of the city council of Leiden. In 1999 she also served as the chairperson of the VVD for a few months.

Ms Schultz van Haegen has been a Supervisory Director at Ballast Nedam, member of the board of the Foundation Life Sciences Incubator Leiden, Chairperson of the Netherlands Institute for Image and Sound, and Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of the World Population Foundation.