The second Beel cabinet was the executive branch of the Dutch Government from 22 December 1958 until 19 May 1959. The cabinet was formed by the Christian-democratic Catholic People's Party (KVP), Anti-Revolutionary Party (ARP), and the Christian Historical Union (CHU) after the fall of the previous Third Drees cabinet. The caretaker cabinet was a centre-right coalition and had a slim majority in the House of Representatives with former Catholic Prime Minister Louis Beel returning as Prime Minister and dual served as Minister of Social Affairs and Health. Prominent Catholic politician Teun Struycken continued as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Property and Public Organisations from previous cabinet and dual served as Minister of Justice.
The cabinet served during final years of the turbulent 1950s. Domestically its primary objective was to make preparations for a snap election in 1959. Following the election the cabinet continued in a demissionary capacity until it was replaced by the De Quay cabinet.
Formation On 11 December 1958 the Third Drees cabinet fell after a crisis between the Labour Party and the Catholic People's Party over the prolonging for a proposed tax increase from the initial two years to only one fiscal year. Following the fall of the cabinet the Labour Party left the coalition and the Catholic People's Party, Anti-Revolutionary Party and Christian Historical Union formed a rump cabinet. Former Prime Minister Louis Beel was appointed as Prime Minister on 22 December 1958.
Cabinet Members Ministers Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party Dr. Louis Beel (1902–1977) Prime Minister General Affairs 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party Minister Social Affairs and Health Teun Struycken (1906–1977) Deputy Prime Minister Interior, Property and Public Organisations 29 October 1956 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party Minister Minister Justice 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 Joseph Luns (1911–2002) Minister Foreign Affairs 13 October 1956 – 6 July 1971 Catholic People's Party Dr. Jelle Zijlstra (1918–2001) Minister Finance 22 December 1958 – 24 July 1963 Anti-Revolutionary Party Minister Economic Affairs 2 September 1952 – 19 May 1959 Kees Staf (1905–1973) Minister War and Navy 15 March 1951 – 19 May 1959 Christian Historical Union Minister Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Supplies 22 December 1958 – 19 May 1959 Jo Cals (1914–1971) Minister Education, Arts and Sciences 2 September 1952 – 24 July 1963 Catholic People's Party Jan van Aartsen (1909–1992) Minister Transport and Water Management 1 November 1958 – 19 May 1959 Anti-Revolutionary Party Herman Witte (1909–1973) Minister Housing and Construction 2 September 1952 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party Dr. Marga Klompé (1912–1986) Minister Social Work 13 October 1956 – 24 July 1963 Catholic People's Party Gerard Helders (1905–2013) Minister Colonial Affairs 16 February 1957 – 19 May 1959 Christian Historical Union State Secretaries Title/Ministry/Portfolio(s) Term of office Party Norbert Schmelzer (1921–2008) State Secretary Interior, Property and Public Organisations • Public Organisations 29 October 1956 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party Dr. Gerard Veldkamp (1921–1990) State Secretary Economic Affairs • Small and Medium-sized Businesses • Consumer Protection • Tourism 10 October 1952 – 17 July 1961 Catholic People's Party Vice admiral Harry Moorman (1899–1971) State Secretary Navy • Navy 1 May 1949 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party René Höppener (1903–1983) State Secretary Education, Arts and Sciences • Youth Care • Nature • Media • Culture • Art • Recreation • Sport 12 November 1956 – 19 May 1959 Catholic People's Party
References Four cabinet members would later be granted the honorary title of Minister of State: Louis Beel (1956), Jelle Zijlstra (1983), Jo Cals (1966) and Marga Klompé (1971).
References
External links Kabinet-Beel II Parlement & Politiek Kabinet-Beel II Rijksoverheid